Is a DIY will legally valid in the UK?

Yes — a DIY will is legally valid in England and Wales if it meets three requirements: (1) it is in writing, (2) it is signed by the person making the will (the testator) in the presence of two witnesses, and (3) both witnesses sign the will in the presence of the testator. The witnesses must be over 18 and must NOT be beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries. Scotland has different rules — you only need one witness, but the will should be self-proving.

How much does it cost to write a will with a solicitor UK?

A simple solicitor-drafted will costs £150–£300 for an individual or £250–£500 for a couple (mirror wills). Complex wills involving trusts, business assets, or overseas property can cost £500–£1,500+. Free Wills Month (March and October) offers free simple wills from participating solicitors for people aged 55+.

What happens if you die without a will UK?

If you die without a will (intestate), your estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules. Your spouse or civil partner receives everything up to £322,000 plus half of the remainder — children receive the other half. Unmarried partners receive NOTHING regardless of how long you have lived together. This is the most important reason to make a will.

Do I need to register my will UK?

There is no legal requirement to register your will. However, you should store it safely and tell your executors where to find it. Options include keeping it at home in a fireproof safe, with your solicitor, at a bank, or with a will storage company (around £35–£80 for life). The National Will Register (Certainty) lets you register the location of your will for a small fee.

How to Write a Will Without a Solicitor UK — DIY Guide | PocketWise

If you are planning wills, attorney roles, probate steps, and family handover tasks together, use the Estate Planning Hub for the full route map.

Writing a will does not have to be expensive. For straightforward estates, a DIY will is perfectly valid — as long as you follow the legal requirements precisely. Here is how to do it correctly.

Legal Requirements for a Valid Will

Requirement	Details
In writing	Handwritten or typed — both are valid
Signed by the testator	The person making the will must sign it
Signed in the presence of two witnesses	Both must watch you sign (or acknowledge your signature)
Both witnesses sign in the presence of the testator	They sign while you are present
You must be 18 or over	Under 18 only in very limited circumstances (active military service)
You must have mental capacity	You must understand what a will is, what you own, and who might expect to benefit
The will must be made voluntarily	No coercion or undue influence

Witness Rules

Rule	Details
Must be 18 or over	Under 18 cannot witness
Must not be a beneficiary	If a beneficiary witnesses the will, their gift is void (the rest of the will stands)
Must not be married to a beneficiary	Same rule — their spouse’s gift would be void
Must be present at the same time	Both witnesses should ideally be in the room when you sign
They do not need to read the will	They are only witnessing your signature

When a DIY Will Is Suitable

Suitable for DIY	Get professional help
Simple estate (property, savings, personal possessions)	Business assets or shares in a private company
Leaving everything to spouse then children	Blended families (children from different relationships)
No complex tax planning needed	Estate likely to exceed IHT threshold (£325,000 + £175,000 residence)
No overseas assets	Property or assets in another country
No trusts needed	Want to set up trusts for children or disabled beneficiaries
No disputes expected	Family disagreements likely
UK property only	Agricultural or business property relief

Step-by-Step: Writing Your Will

Step 1: Take Stock of Your Assets

Asset type	Examples
Property	Your home, buy-to-let properties, overseas property
Savings and investments	Bank accounts, ISAs, Premium Bonds, shares
Pensions	Note: pensions usually pass via a nomination form, NOT your will
Life insurance	Check if written in trust (bypasses estate)
Personal possessions	Car, jewellery, furniture, collections
Digital assets	Online accounts, cryptocurrency, domain names
Debts	Mortgage, loans — these reduce your estate

Step 2: Decide Who Gets What

Decision	Considerations
Residuary beneficiary	Who gets the bulk of your estate (usually spouse/partner, then children)
Specific gifts	Named items or amounts to specific people
Charitable gifts	Can reduce IHT if you leave 10%+ to charity
Substitute beneficiaries	What happens if a beneficiary dies before you
Gifts to children under 18	Must be held in trust until they reach 18 (or an age you specify, usually 18 or 25)

Step 3: Choose Your Executor(s)

Role	Details
What an executor does	Manages your estate — collects assets, pays debts, distributes to beneficiaries
How many	1–4, but 2 is recommended
Who to choose	Trusted family member or friend who is organised and reliable
Can an executor also be a beneficiary?	Yes — this is very common
Professional executor	Solicitor or bank — they charge fees (often 1–4% of estate)
What if your executor dies before you?	Name a substitute executor

Step 4: Consider Guardians for Children

Detail	Information
Needed if	You have children under 18
How many	Name 1 or 2 guardians
Their role	Legal responsibility for your children if both parents die
Must they agree?	The appointment only takes effect if both parents have died — tell them and check they are willing
Can be different from financial trustees	Yes — you can separate the role of caring for children from managing their money

Step 5: Write the Will

A will should contain:

Section	What to include
Opening statement	“This is the last will and testament of [Full Name] of [Address]”
Revocation clause	“I revoke all previous wills and codicils”
Executor appointment	“I appoint [Name, Address] as my executor”
Guardian appointment (if applicable)	“I appoint [Name] as guardian of my minor children”
Specific gifts	“I leave [item/amount] to [name, address, relationship]”
Residuary estate	“I leave the residue of my estate to [name(s)]”
Substitute beneficiaries	“If [beneficiary] predeceases me, their share passes to [alternative]”
Signing and witness block	Space for your signature, date, and witnesses’ signatures and addresses

Step 6: Sign and Witness

Step	Detail
1	Gather your two witnesses (not beneficiaries or their spouses)
2	All three of you must be in the same room
3	You sign the will first while both witnesses watch
4	Each witness then signs and prints their name and address
5	Date the will
6	Do not staple, fold, or attach anything to the will afterwards — any changes may invalidate it

DIY Will Options

Option	Cost	Pros	Cons
Handwritten (holographic) will	Free	No cost, immediate	Easy to make mistakes, harder to read
Printed template (stationery shop)	£10–£30	Guided format, structured	May not cover your specific situation
Online will service	£20–£100	Step-by-step guidance, typically reviewed	Limited personalisation
Will-writing software	£20–£50	Comprehensive, can save and edit	No legal advice included
Solicitor-drafted will	£150–£500+	Tailored, professional, legally checked	Most expensive option
Free Wills Month (March/October)	Free	Professional will, no cost	Only for age 55+, simple wills only

Common DIY Will Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
Beneficiary witnesses the will	Their gift is invalidated (rest of will stands)
Only one witness	The will is invalid
Not signed properly	The will may be invalid
Vague language (“my stuff”)	Disputes about what you meant
Not updating after marriage	Marriage automatically revokes a will in England and Wales
Not updating after divorce	Divorce removes your ex-spouse as a beneficiary (but check carefully)
Forgetting to revoke previous wills	Could cause confusion if multiple wills exist
Not accounting for shared property	Joint tenancy property passes automatically by survivorship — regardless of your will
Forgetting pension nominations	Pensions do not pass through your will — update nomination forms separately
Storing the will where no one can find it	Your executors need to know where it is

When Your Will Needs Updating

Life event	Action
Marriage	Marriage revokes an existing will — make a new one
Divorce	Removes ex-spouse as beneficiary and executor — but make a new will anyway
Birth of a child	Update to include the new child
Death of a beneficiary or executor	Update to name replacements
Buying or selling property	Update if you made specific property gifts
Significant change in wealth	Review who gets what
Moving to Scotland or abroad	Rules differ — get professional advice

Storing Your Will

Storage option	Cost	Safe?	Notes
Home (fireproof safe)	Free / cost of safe	Medium	Risk of loss in fire, flood, or being thrown away
With your solicitor	Often free if they draft it	High	Contact firm to collect
Bank safe deposit box	£20–£200/year	High	Executor needs access — may need probate first
Will storage company	£35–£80 (one-off or annual)	High	National Will Safe, Iron Mountain, etc.
Probate Registry (deposit)	£0 (currently free)	Very high	Contact HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Always tell your executors where the original will is stored.

Scotland — Key Differences

Feature	England and Wales	Scotland
Witnesses needed	2	1 (for a self-proving will)
Legal rights of children/spouse	Can be challenged under Inheritance Act	Children and spouse have automatic “legal rights” to a share of moveable estate — cannot be fully disinherited
Formalities	Must be in writing, signed by testator and 2 witnesses	Must be in writing, signed by testator and 1 witness

Related guides:

How to Write a Will Without a Solicitor UK — DIY Guide

Contents