Will Writing Costs in the UK

Expect to pay roughly up to £30 for an online template, £180–£420 for a straightforward solicitor will, and far more once trusts or tax planning enter the picture. Your first step is simple: ask whether your situation counts as straightforward, then request a fixed fee in writing. MoneyHelper’s solicitor guidance explains why an estimate can drift.

TL;DR:

Templates cost up to about £30, will writing services charge about £50–£350, and solicitors charge £180–£420 for straightforward wills, with complex matters costing more.

Which? found an average spend of £287, rising to £328 among people who used a lawyer, while one in 10 paid nothing through free schemes.

Templates or free schemes can suit simple estates if signing and witnessing are handled correctly; trusts, tax planning, or overseas property call for a solicitor.

Before paying, get a written fixed fee that states whether VAT, revisions, witnessing, copies, storage, later changes, and executor charges are included.

Never sign under pressure; check for executor, subscription, and storage charges, confirm the complaints route, and keep the quote and terms in writing.

What does will writing cost by provider type?

Prices depend far more on who writes the will than on the document itself. Here is how the main routes compare:

Solicitors: MoneyHelper reports £180–£420 for a straightforward will, £420–£900 for a more complex one at a high-street firm, and more than £1,800 at larger firms.
Will-writing services: MoneyHelper’s cost comparison puts basic wills at around £50–£350, with solicitors generally starting at around £200 for simple matters.
Online and DIY templates: these can cost up to about £30. Check whether a template includes legal review.

For a sense of what people actually spend, Which? polling found an average of £287, rising to £328 for those who used a lawyer. One in 10 people paid nothing thanks to free schemes.

A cheap price is only a good price if the service fits your family and assets. A £30 template and a £400 solicitor will are not the same product, so compare like with like.

Illustrative costs for two will-writing options

Which factors push the price up?

A will is cheap when your affairs are simple and costly when the drafting needs judgement. The usual drivers are:

Trusts, tax planning and Inheritance Tax work: these need specialist drafting and more of the solicitor’s time, which MoneyHelper lists among the main complexity factors.
Overseas property or foreign beneficiaries: these add legal questions. Gov that the rules differ between UK jurisdictions, so confirm which one your provider covers.
Business interests, contested estates and bespoke clauses: each takes more time, and time is what you are billed for.
Multiple revisions: further rounds of changes can be charged on top of the headline fee.
Optional extras: storage, retrieval or amendment fees, and a firm acting as your executor. Executor charges can be hourly, fixed or a percentage of the estate.

Pro Tip: Ask for every extra to be listed in writing before you agree the fee. A low headline price that excludes copies, witnessing and storage can end up costing more than a higher all-inclusive quote.

What should a quote include before you pay?

Work through these questions with every provider, and keep the answers in writing:

Is the price a fixed fee or an estimate, and is VAT included? Gov recommends checking both.
What is covered: consultation, drafting, revisions, signing and witnessing, copies and storage?
What would it cost to change the will later?
Will the firm expect to be named as executor, and how would it charge for that work?
Is the provider a member of a professional body, what is its complaints route, and does it hold insurance if something goes wrong?

If a provider cannot answer these plainly, treat that as information about the provider.

Where can you get a will for free or at a reduced cost?

Several legitimate schemes exist, and they suit people with simple affairs:

Free Wills Month and Will Aid: participating solicitors draft simple wills for free or for a donation, as Which? explains.
Charity and employer schemes: these can cover or reduce fees for a basic will. MoneyHelper also notes that some workplace and union schemes offer free or reduced-cost wills.
The National Free Wills Network: another route to a basic will at reduced or no cost.

Check in advance what is covered. Charities and schemes may charge if your situation turns out to be complicated or the work grows beyond a basic will.

How do you avoid scams and hidden fees?

Will writing is not restricted to regulated legal professionals, so the checks fall to you. Keep these safeguards in mind:

Never sign on the spot. MoneyHelper’s scam guidance describes doorstep pressure selling and fake charity offers as common tactics.
Watch for hidden executor fees, automatic subscription renewals and storage charges. Ask what happens to your stored will if the business stops trading.
Screenshot quotes, ask for the terms in writing and keep them.
Check professional memberships and the complaints procedure before paying. Which? reports that the Competition and Markets Authority raised concerns about misleading fees and unfair contract terms at unregulated firms.

If a deal only works when you decide today, walk away.

Which route suits your situation?

Match the provider to the complexity of your affairs, not just the price:

Straightforward estates: an online template or a free scheme can work if you are comfortable with the formalities. In England and Wales that means correct signing and witnessing, so verify how both will be handled.
Moderately complex affairs: a will-writing firm or a solicitor, depending on whether you need legal advice on trusts or tax.
Complex estates: a solicitor is the sensible choice where you have trusts, tax planning or overseas property, and you should expect the higher fees described above.
Before committing: confirm a fixed fee, what is included, the complaints route and how executor charges work.

Pro Tip: When two quotes differ, ask each provider to itemise drafting, legal review, witnessing and storage. The cheaper quote often leaves something out.

Where we fit in the cost picture

We built WillFull so that writing a legally valid will does not have to start with a bill. You can create your will for free with our guided questions, and if you want your records kept current, you can add optional estate tracking later.

An online-first route can lower the headline cost, and it leaves room to upgrade as your life gets more complicated. Whichever route you choose, use the checklists above when you compare any quote, ours included.

— the WillFull team

How can you start with a will that costs nothing upfront?

Willfull

If you want a low upfront cost with a guided process, you can start your will with us for free and decide later whether you need more. Here is what we offer:

Will: free, legally valid will creation with step-by-step guidance in plain English.
Will + Connected estate: £9.99 per month, keeping your estate details updated so your executors have what they need.
Adviser directory: if your affairs are complex, we help you find a solicitor or adviser for a professional review.

Ready to begin? Create your will with WillFull and keep your records in one place from day one.

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Consult a qualified legal professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to draw up a will?

A will-writing template is usually the lowest-cost paid route, at up to about £30 according to MoneyHelper. Free schemes can cost nothing for simple estates. Neither route includes much legal advice, so they suit straightforward affairs.

Where can I write a will for free?

You can use Free Wills Month, Will Aid or a charity or employer scheme, which pair you with participating solicitors for simple wills. You can also create a will for free with our guided platform. Check in advance whether extra work could carry a charge.

What is the biggest mistake in a will?

The most damaging mistakes are usually errors of execution, such as signing and witnessing the will incorrectly. GOV.UK explains that England and Wales require formal signing and witnessing. A will that is not properly executed may not be valid.

Which month do solicitors do free wills?

Free Wills Month and Will Aid are schemes through which participating solicitors offer simple wills free or for a donation. These schemes suit straightforward estates, so ask what is covered before you book.

Will Writing Costs in the UK: £30 Templates, Hidden Fees