Best Online Will Writing Services UK 2026: Reviewed & Compared

More than 60% of UK adults do not have a will — a statistic that represents millions of families left exposed to the intestacy rules and the potential heartbreak of watching assets go to the wrong people. The good news is that writing a valid will has never been more accessible or affordable, thanks to a new generation of online will writing services tailored specifically to UK law.

In this guide, we review the best online will writing services available in the UK in 2026, compare them to traditional solicitors, examine costs in GBP, and help you decide which option is right for your situation. Whether you need a straightforward single will, mirror wills for you and your partner, or something more complex involving trusts, this comparison has you covered.

Why Every UK Adult Needs a Will

Under the Wills Act 1837, a will is the only legally recognised document through which you can direct what happens to your estate after death. Without one, the Rules of Intestacy (as updated by the Inheritance and Trustees' Powers Act 2014) dictate who receives what — and the results can be deeply unfair.

Consider these scenarios:

• Unmarried couples: A cohabiting partner of 20 years receives nothing under intestacy, regardless of shared assets or children.
• Stepchildren: Are not automatically entitled to inherit unless legally adopted.
• Friends and charities: Receive nothing unless specified in a valid will.
• Complex families: Second marriages, children from previous relationships, and blended families can lead to costly and painful disputes.

A will also lets you appoint guardians for minor children, name an executor you trust, and potentially reduce your Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability. The IHT nil-rate band remains at £325,000 per individual (2026), with a further £175,000 Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB) available when passing a main home to direct descendants.

How We Evaluated UK Online Will Services

We assessed each service on the following criteria:

• Legal compliance: Does the resulting will satisfy the Wills Act 1837?
• Ease of use: Is the questionnaire clear for non-lawyers?
• Document scope: Can it handle mirror wills, guardianship, specific bequests?
• LPA provision: Does it offer Lasting Power of Attorney documents?
• Storage and updates: Can you update your will online?
• Price: What is the actual cost in GBP?
• Customer support: Is expert guidance available?

Top Online Will Writing Services in the UK 2026

1. LegalWills.co.uk — Best Overall for Most UK Residents

LegalWills.co.uk has operated since 2000 and is one of the most trusted names in UK online will writing. The platform uses a guided questionnaire to walk you through every aspect of your will, from naming executors and beneficiaries to specific bequests and funeral wishes. The resulting document is compliant with the Wills Act 1837 and ready to print, sign, and witness at home.

Key features:

• Single will: from £29.99
• Mirror wills (couples): from £49.99
• Unlimited updates included
• Secure online storage
• LPA documents available as add-on
• Guardian appointment for children
• Funeral wishes section
• Testamentary trust provisions

Who it's best for: The vast majority of UK adults with straightforward to moderately complex estates. If you own property, have children, or want to ensure an unmarried partner is provided for, LegalWills.co.uk covers all these needs at a fraction of solicitor cost.

Limitations: Not suitable for very complex estates involving offshore assets, business succession planning, or disputed family situations that may require legal intervention.

2. Farewill — Best for Simplicity

Farewill markets itself as the UK's most popular will writing service and has a strong reputation for a clean, user-friendly interface. Wills start at around £90 for a one-year subscription model, with the ability to update annually. The service is FCA-regulated and offers telephone support from trained advisers.

Costs: £90/year (subscription) or £149 one-time payment for the premium plan. Mirror wills are available at a higher tier.

Who it's best for: Those who want a modern, mobile-friendly experience and are comfortable with a subscription model.

3. Traditional Solicitor — Best for Complex Estates

A high street solicitor remains the gold standard for complex wills. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), solicitors can advise on inheritance tax planning, trusts, and contested estates. Costs vary significantly:

Mirror Wills: What UK Couples Need to Know

Mirror wills are one of the most popular will types for couples in the UK. Each partner creates an identical (or "mirrored") will, typically leaving everything to the other and then to specified beneficiaries (often their children) if the first spouse predeceases.

Key considerations:

• Mirror wills are not the same as mutual wills. Mirror wills can be changed at any time without the other partner's consent.
• If you want to lock in the terms so a surviving spouse cannot change them (e.g., to protect children from a previous relationship), you need mutual wills, which are more complex and require a solicitor.
• Online services like LegalWills.co.uk make mirror wills straightforward — each partner completes their own will through the same account.

Lasting Power of Attorney: Don't Overlook It

A will only operates after death. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is equally important — it appoints someone to manage your affairs if you lose mental capacity during your lifetime. There are two types:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA: Covers bank accounts, investments, property transactions, and paying bills.
• Health and Welfare LPA: Covers medical decisions, care choices, and where you live.

An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The registration fee is £82 per LPA (as of 2026), so £164 for both types. This is in addition to any professional fees or online service costs.

LegalWills.co.uk and some other online platforms include LPA documents as an add-on. However, the OPG registration process must still be completed manually. For complex situations or concerns about capacity challenges, a solicitor should be involved.

What Makes a UK Will Legally Valid?

Under the Wills Act 1837, a valid will in England and Wales must:

1. Be in writing (typed or handwritten)
2. Be signed by the testator (the person making the will) at the end of the document
3. Be witnessed by two independent adults, both present at the same time, who also sign the will
4. The testator must have testamentary capacity — understand the nature of making a will, the extent of their property, and who might reasonably expect to inherit

Important: A witness or their spouse/civil partner cannot be a beneficiary of the will. If they are named as beneficiaries, the gift to them fails (though the rest of the will remains valid).

Scotland has different requirements under the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 — only one witness is required, and there is no requirement that the witness be independent.

The Intestacy Problem: What Happens Without a Will

Under the Rules of Intestacy (England and Wales), if you die without a will, your estate is distributed according to a strict formula:

• Married/civil partner with children: Spouse receives first £322,000 plus half of the remainder; children share the other half equally.
• Married/civil partner without children: Spouse inherits everything.
• Unmarried, no children: Parents inherit; then siblings; then other relatives.
• Unmarried partner: Receives nothing, regardless of length of relationship.
• No living relatives: Estate passes to the Crown (bona vacantia).

The £322,000 statutory legacy was updated in February 2020 and remains at this level. It is not indexed to inflation, meaning its real value has declined over time.

Inheritance Tax Planning Through Your Will

A well-drafted will can reduce your Inheritance Tax liability. Key strategies include:

• Spouse exemption: All assets passing to a UK-domiciled spouse or civil partner are IHT-free.
• Nil-rate band transfer: Any unused nil-rate band (up to £325,000) from a deceased spouse can be transferred to the survivor.
• Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB): An additional £175,000 when passing a main residence to direct descendants, giving a couple up to £1 million before IHT applies.
• Charitable legacies: Leaving 10% or more of your net estate to charity reduces the IHT rate from 40% to 36%.
• Discretionary trusts: Can provide flexibility and tax efficiency for larger estates, though these require professional advice.

For estates comfortably below the combined IHT threshold, an online will service is perfectly adequate. For estates approaching or exceeding £1 million, professional tax planning advice alongside will drafting is strongly recommended.

Our Verdict: Which UK Will Service Should You Choose?

For the majority of UK adults — those with straightforward assets, a spouse or partner, children or specified beneficiaries — LegalWills.co.uk offers excellent value, legal compliance, and the ability to update your will as circumstances change. The cost saving versus a solicitor is substantial, and the resulting document is fully valid under UK law.

Use a solicitor if you have business assets, offshore property, a complex family structure, a large estate with IHT concerns, or if you anticipate any dispute about your estate.

Whatever route you choose, the most important thing is to have a will. Every year you delay is a year your loved ones are left unprotected.

Frequently Asked Questions