How Much Does a Will Cost in the UK in 2026?

The honest answer to "how much does a will cost?" is: it depends entirely on how you get it done. The range runs from free — with all the risks that implies — to several thousand pounds for complex estates. For most people with straightforward circumstances, the right answer is somewhere in the middle, and considerably cheaper than it used to be.

Option 1: Free Will Templates

Free will templates are widely available online. The cost is zero. The risk, however, is significant. A template cannot ask whether your circumstances require additional clauses — it simply gives you a blank structure to fill in. If you miss a required element, use the wrong witnesses, or fail to include a residuary clause, your will may be invalid. The financial saving is real. The potential cost to your family — an invalid will, contested estate, or full intestacy — can dwarf it.

Free templates also do not include professional review, signing instructions tailored to your document, or any form of quality assurance. For those with no assets, no dependants, and no complexity, the risk may be manageable. For anyone else, it rarely is.

Option 2: High Street Solicitor

The traditional route. A will writing solicitor will charge between £150 and £300 for a straightforward single will, and between £250 and £500 for mirror wills for couples. These are 2026 figures for simple estates — any complexity, and hourly rates apply on top.

According to the MoneyHelper will writing cost guide, the average cost for a professionally drafted single will in the UK is around £190. Mirror wills average closer to £350–£400 combined. Appointments are typically required in person, waiting times vary, and any subsequent amendments are usually billed again at the same rate.

What you get for this cost is genuine legal expertise, professional liability if something goes wrong, and a document drafted specifically for your situation. For complex estates — business interests, overseas assets, discretionary trusts — this level of professional involvement is warranted. For a straightforward estate, it is increasingly hard to justify.

Option 3: Will Writing Services (Non-Solicitor)

Will writing is not a regulated profession in England and Wales — meaning anyone can legally offer it, without legal qualifications or professional indemnity insurance. A number of unregulated will writing companies operate in this space, typically charging £50–£150 for a single will.

The Citizens Advice guidance on making a will explicitly cautions against using unregulated providers, noting there is no recourse if something goes wrong. Before using any will writing service, check whether it holds professional indemnity insurance and whether its documents are reviewed by a qualified solicitor.

Option 4: Online Will Writing Services

This is the category that has changed the market. Reputable online will writing services combine the affordability of digital delivery with the legal rigour of professionally drafted documents. The result is a legally binding will at a fraction of the traditional cost — without sacrificing the quality that matters.

Prices in this category typically range from £20 to £100 for a single will, depending on the provider and level of service. The key differentiator is not price alone — it is whether the document is reviewed by a qualified solicitor, whether the signing process is clearly guided, and whether the output meets the requirements of the Wills Act 1837.

What Wills Assured Costs — and What That Gets You

A single will from Wills Assured costs £19.99. Mirror wills for couples — two complementary, legally independent documents — cost £29.99 combined. There are no hidden fees, no hourly charges, and no additional cost for amendments.

For that price, every document includes:

• A guided plain-English questionnaire covering every decision your will needs to reflect
• A professionally structured document compliant with the Wills Act 1837
• A revocation clause, executor and guardian appointments, specific gift provisions, and a full residuary estate clause
• An inheritance tax executor clause directing how any IHT liability is settled
• Trust provisions for children, including vesting age and maintenance powers
• A compliant attestation clause and step-by-step signing and witnessing instructions
• Secure digital storage and access

That list covers everything a traditionally drafted solicitor's will contains for a standard estate. The difference is not what is in the document — it is how it is delivered and what it costs to produce it.

The Real Cost Comparison

To make this concrete, here is what the same outcome costs across different routes in 2026:

• Free template: £0 — but no professional review, no guidance, high error risk
• Unregulated will writer: £50–£150 — no regulated recourse if something goes wrong
• Wills Assured: £19.99 (single) / £29.99 (mirror) — structured, guided, legally sound
• High street solicitor: £150–£500 — appropriate for complex estates
• Specialist solicitor (complex): £500–£2,000+ — trusts, overseas assets, business succession

For the majority of UK adults — those with a home, savings, a partner, and children — the decision sits clearly between an online service and a solicitor. The question is whether the additional cost of a solicitor is justified by any additional benefit for your specific circumstances. For straightforward estates, the honest answer is usually no. For complex ones, the Law Society's Find a Solicitor tool connects you with an accredited wills and probate specialist.

Is Cheap the Same as Cutting Corners?

This is the question most people are really asking when they search for will writing costs. The answer depends entirely on the provider — not the price. A well-designed online will writing service produces a document that is structurally identical to one from a solicitor's office. The cost difference reflects the delivery model, not the legal quality.

What to look for in any online will writing service: a guided questionnaire that covers all mandatory elements, clear signing instructions, an attestation clause in the final document, and transparent information about how the will is reviewed. A low price and a poor process are a bad combination. A low price and a rigorous process are exactly what the market has been waiting for.