Making a will gives you a say in who inherits your money, property and possessions, but understanding the cost can feel less straightforward. From inexpensive DIY templates to personalised solicitor advice, the options vary considerably, and the right choice depends on your family, assets and wishes.
So, how much does a will cost, and what are you paying for? A straightforward solicitor-drafted will typically costs £180 to £420, while a more complex will at a high street firm can cost £420 to £900. DIY options can be free or inexpensive, and specialist legal work can cost considerably more. Your circumstances and the service included determine the final price.
This guide compares the main options for making a will, explains what can increase the fee and highlights the questions to ask before choosing a provider, helping you plan with confidence.
How Much Does a Will Cost in the UK?
The following 2026 comparison separates general guidance from individual provider examples. Keep in mind that these are general estimates, not Axis Solicitors’ prices. Check the total payable, including VAT where applicable, before instructing a provider. The legal information in this guide focuses on England and Wales; different rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| Type of will or service | Current cost guidance | Suitable for |
| DIY will | up to £30 for a DIY template | Very straightforward wishes, where you can complete all formalities correctly |
| Online will service | £100 for a single online will | Simple estates within the service’s scope |
| Professional will-writing service | £50 to £350 for a basic will | People wanting drafting assistance; advice and protections vary |
| Solicitor-drafted will | £180 to £420 for a straightforward will | People wanting tailored legal advice |
| Mirror wills | charges £160 online or £380 by telephone for couples | Couples with broadly matching wishes; solicitor prices require a separate quote |
| Complex will or estate planning | £420 to £900 at a high street firm, or over £1,800 at a larger more trusted firm | Cases requiring more detailed legal work |
DIY Will Cost
A simple DIY will can cost under £100, even as low as £0 and £40. However, the purchase price only covers the template or kit, not personalised advice about your estate.
DIY wills are suitable for very simple circumstances only. Common mistakes include unclear gifts, failing to deal with everything left in the estate, and incorrect witnessing. A low purchase price offers little value if the document does not achieve your intentions.
Online Will Service Cost
Online services usually guide you through a questionnaire. Check whether the price includes a human review and whether that review covers legal suitability or only checks your answers for inconsistencies. Online will writing services typically charge between £20 and £150.
The £100 online example above is for an individual will. Farewill separately advertises an optional £10 annual update subscription. An online service is not automatically a solicitor service, so check who is responsible for the document.
Will-Writing Service Cost
Professional willwriters may offer telephone or face-to-face assistance as well as online drafting. The cost of will preparation can vary based on the provider’s experience and expertise. Professional will-writing firms charge about £149 to £250 for a single will.
Ask a will writing firm whether its quote covers your actual circumstances. A basic package may exclude trusts, tax advice or foreign assets. Professional qualifications, insurance and complaints arrangements also deserve attention when comparing writing services.
Solicitor Will Cost
Although they are costly upfront, solicitor-drafted wills offer the best legal protection.
The cost of making a legally valid will with a solicitor includes professional time spent understanding your instructions and addressing relevant legal issues. Ask for the scope of that work in writing, particularly where a headline fee applies only to basic wills.
Solicitor-drafted wills usually cost between £200 and £600. Complex wills with trusts may cost between £500 and £1,500 or more, depending on specifics. A reputable solicitor should inform clients about fee structures and potential costs upfront.
How Much Does a Will Cost With a Solicitor?
Solicitor fees for wills depend on the work required, rather than simply the number of pages in the final document. A short will can still require detailed advice about ownership, dependants or family arrangements.
How much does a simple will cost?
A simple will usually deals with straightforward gifts and the appointment of executors. Before asking for a quote, list your assets, intended beneficiaries and any personal possessions you want to leave to particular people.
A will allows you to appoint guardians for your children. If this is needed, mention it when requesting the fee so the instructions cover both inheritance and guardianship. GOV.UK guidance on writing your will.
How much do mirror wills cost?
Mirror wills are popular for couples with similar wishes. They are two separate wills with broadly matching provisions, often leaving assets to the surviving partner and then to agreed beneficiaries.
Mirror wills are slightly more expensive than single wills but cheaper than buying two separate documents. Mirror wills for couples usually range from £200 to £400. A combined quote can reflect the shared information and similar drafting, but ask whether the price covers both people and all requested provisions.
What are the Charges for a Complex Will?
Complex estates require specialised legal drafting and can significantly increase costs. Explain any unusual conditions or competing family needs before accepting a quote, so the solicitor can assess the full assignment.
For example, leaving a home for one person to occupy while ultimately preserving an inheritance for someone else requires different planning from an outright gift.
Trusts and Estate Planning
Trust-based wills require decisions about trustees, beneficiaries and how assets should be managed. A property protection trust should be assessed against the ownership of the family home and your intended outcome, rather than selected simply because it appears in a package.
A will can help reduce potential inheritance tax liabilities. However, savings depend on the arrangements and applicable rules; a trust does not automatically reduce tax and can create its own tax obligations. Ask whether inheritance tax planning is included or separately charged.
For advice extending beyond the will itself, explore our estate planning services.
What Affects the Cost of Making a Will?
Factors influencing the price of wills include estate complexity and family structure. The number of beneficiaries, conditions attached to gifts and amount of advice required also affect the work involved.
Family Circumstances
Blended families, a second marriage and children from previous relationships can require a careful balance between different beneficiaries. Explain who depends on you financially and whether anyone may expect provision that you do not intend to make.
Without a will, your partner may inherit nothing if unmarried. In England and Wales, an unmarried partner has no automatic entitlement under the intestacy rules, although jointly owned assets and possible legal claims need separate consideration.
Property and Overseas Assets
The solicitor needs to understand how you own your property. Multiple properties, shared ownership and overseas property can require further investigation or coordination with advice in another jurisdiction.
Making wills involving business assets or overseas property may necessitate professional advice. GOV.UK specifically identifies foreign property, businesses and certain family or ownership arrangements as reasons to seek legal advice.
Business Interests
Tell the provider whether you hold company shares, a partnership interest or assets used in a business. Ask whether the quotation includes reviewing relevant ownership documents or whether business succession advice is a separate service.
This helps distinguish the cost to draw up a will from the cost of wider planning around business assets.
Trusts and Tax Planning
Specialist wills may need arrangements for vulnerable beneficiaries or instructions about when someone can receive an inheritance. Request a breakdown separating drafting, tax advice and any later trust administration.
Other practical influences include the provider’s location, experience and meeting arrangements. Comparing local solicitors can be useful, but make sure each quote covers the same work.
What Is Included in the Cost of a Will?
Before agreeing a fee, ask the provider to confirm which stages and documents it covers:
- An initial discussion and recording your instructions.
- Advice appropriate to the agreed scope.
- Preparation of the draft legal document.
- Changes requested before the document is finalised.
- Guidance on signing and witnessing.
- Your final copy and arrangements for the original will.
- Storage or later amendments, if offered within the price.
Do not assume a basic drafting fee includes detailed tax planning, a letter of wishes or unlimited revisions. A quote should make the boundary between included work and optional services easy to understand.
A properly drafted document must also be executed correctly. In England and Wales, the person making the will must generally be 18 or over, act voluntarily and have the required mental capacity. Signing and witnessing requirements must also be met. Paying a professional does not remove those requirements.
DIY Will vs Online Service vs Will Writer vs Solicitor
The right option depends on the support you need as well as the upfront cost. Online describes how a service is delivered, so check whether the provider is a regulated legal practice or a non-solicitor business.
| Comparison | DIY will | Online service | Professional will writer | Solicitor |
| Price basis | Template or kit | Usually a package | Package or individual quote | Quote based on legal work |
| Legal advice | None included | Check the scope | Depends on qualifications and service | Advice within the agreed retainer |
| Regulation | No professional provider responsible for your drafting | Depends on provider | Not necessarily legally regulated | Check the relevant legal regulator |
| Support | Instructions only | Digital, email or telephone support may be available | Personal assistance varies | Direct professional involvement |
| Complexity | Very simple wishes | Limited by service design | Limited by competence and scope | Select relevant specialist experience |
| Main risk to check | Wording and execution errors | Important issues outside the questionnaire | Gaps in advice or protections | Matters excluded from the agreed work |
| Amendments | Your responsibility | May require a new payment or subscription | Check terms | Agree a fee or included allowance |
| Storage | Arrange yourself | Check availability and access | Check arrangements | Ask what is offered and charged |
Will-writing itself is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales. Non-solicitor providers remain subject to consumer law, but may not offer the same level of professional regulation and redress as a regulated firm. Check qualifications, insurance and complaints procedures rather than relying on the label “professional”.
How Much Do Mirror Wills Cost?
There is no universal mirror wills cost. The published examples in the comparison table show how fees change with the delivery method, even within one provider. Ask a solicitor for a quote covering both documents.
Married couples, civil partners and cohabiting couples may find mirror wills useful when their intentions align. They remain individual wills, rather than a single document covering both estates.
People sometimes call these “joint wills”, but clarify what is being offered. An ordinary mirror will does not prevent the surviving partner from changing their own will later. If you want to protect children’s inheritance after the first death, discuss whether different provisions and separate advice are needed.
How Much Does a Complex Will Cost?
The cost depends on the problem the drafting needs to solve. A will involving a trust, overseas assets or competing inheritance arrangements can require substantially more work than a straightforward gift to one beneficiary.
When requesting prices for complex wills, ask the provider to identify:
- The issues included in the advice.
- Any documents or specialist opinions needed.
- Whether separate tax or foreign legal advice is required.
- Which circumstances would change the quoted fee.
This makes quotes more useful than a single broad price range. It also helps distinguish the cost of writing a will from a larger estate planning engagement.
How Much Does It Cost to Update a Will?
There is no standard fee for updating an existing will. A small change may be made through a codicil, while substantial changes usually call for a new will. Obtain a quote after explaining exactly what has changed.
Review your will every five years and after significant life events. Marriage or entering a civil partnership generally revokes an existing will in England and Wales, subject to exceptions, including appropriately drafted provisions anticipating that event. Divorce has different effects, so seek advice rather than assuming the entire will is cancelled.
Avoid handwritten alterations to a signed will. A codicil or replacement must meet the necessary formalities. Where updates are sold through a subscription, check the annual fee, exclusions and cancellation terms.
Are There Additional Costs When Making a Will?
Additional documents, such as powers of attorney, can increase overall will preparation costs. Other potential charges include extra advice, later amendments, storage fees or obtaining supporting evidence where capacity is in question.
Ask for a written breakdown covering VAT, optional services and any recurring charges. Check how your original will can be retrieved and what happens if the provider closes. Professional executor fees relate to work after death and should be explained separately from the drafting fee.
A lasting power of attorney serves a different purpose from a will. If you are considering both, our guides to LPA forms and choosing an LPA certificate provider explain the separate process.
Can You Make a Will for Free?
Free Wills Month offers free wills for those aged 55 and over. It covers simple wills through participating solicitors, with availability depending on the campaign and appointments. For couples making mirror wills, only one partner needs to be at least 55. Gifts to participating charities are encouraged but not compulsory.
Will Aid operates differently. Participating solicitors waive their usual fee for a basic will during November and invite a voluntary charitable donation. For 2026, the suggested donation is £120 for a single basic will or £200 for a pair of basic mirror wills.
Check eligibility and exclusions whenever a scheme advertises free wills. Do not assume a campaign is available year round or covers complex arrangements. These schemes are separate from Axis Solicitors’ services.
How to Compare Will Writing Costs
Use the same description of your circumstances when approaching each provider. Then ask:
- Who will draft my will, and what relevant experience do they have?
- Is the provider regulated, insured and accountable through a complaints process?
- Is the quoted amount a fixed fee or an estimate?
- Does it include VAT, advice, revisions and execution support?
- What are the storage, retrieval and future amendment charges?
- What could increase the price?
The CMA recommends examining the service and protections alongside the price. A low cost offer should still clearly explain what you are buying.
Are cheap wills worth considering? They can be, if the service suits your needs. The useful comparison is the total cost of appropriate support, rather than the smallest advertised number.
Why Use a Solicitor to Make Individual Will?
A solicitor can help translate your intentions into suitable provisions and identify issues that a template may miss. This can be especially useful where family members have different needs or your instructions are difficult to express clearly.
SRA-regulated firms must maintain professional indemnity insurance under the applicable rules. This provides protection associated with professional services, but does not guarantee that a will can never be challenged.
A will dispute, also known as a will contest, is a legal challenge to the validity or terms of a deceased person’s will. It can involve questioning whether the will was validly made, if the deceased had the capacity to make it, or if it was the product of undue influence or fraud.
If you have any concerns about a will, read our guide to contesting a will.
Get Axis Solicitors Will Writing Service
Axis Solicitors provides standard wills, mirror wills, Shariah-compliant wills, trusts within wills and inheritance tax planning. We also assist with letters of wishes, charitable bequests and reviewing or updating existing wills.
Our services include standard wills, mirror wills for couples and Shariah-compliant wills, alongside trusts within wills and inheritance tax planning. We also assist with letters of wishes, charitable bequests and reviewing documents after changes in your life. Your fee and the services included should be confirmed for your particular instructions.
To discuss the cost of making a will for your circumstances, explore our will drafting services or call 0800 404 5655 to arrange an initial assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to write a will?
Your own will may cost little to prepare, while professional drafting involves a service fee. Compare the advice and support included, rather than treating all documents as equivalent.
Can I make a will for free?
Eligible applicants can use charity schemes, subject to their terms and availability. Free Wills Month and Will Aid have different arrangements, and additional complexity may fall outside the basic service.
Why does the cost of a will vary?
The provider, amount of advice, family circumstances and complexity all affect the fee. Trusts, business interests and overseas assets can require additional work.
How much does it cost to update a will?
Ask for a quote based on the proposed changes. Check whether a codicil, replacement will or an existing update package offers the most suitable approach.
Are there additional costs when making a will?
There may be charges for extra advice, later amendments, storage or separate documents. Request a written breakdown before proceeding and check recurring fees.
Is a solicitor worth the cost of making a will?
Professional advice can be valuable if you need tailored provisions or help identifying legal issues. For simple circumstances, compare other suitable options alongside regulated solicitor services.
