Making a will: your options, the rules and free schemes
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A will sets out who gets your money, home and belongings, and who sorts everything out after you die. Without one the law decides, and the result can be a long way from what you wanted. A straightforward will through a solicitor is not expensive, and charity schemes offer one free or for a donation.
Why make a will
- You choose who inherits, including friends, charities and stepchildren, who get nothing under the standard rules.
- You protect an unmarried partner. Living together, however long, gives no automatic right to inherit.
- You choose your executors, the people who carry out the will. Pick people you trust who are likely to outlive you, and ask them first.
If there is no will: the intestacy rules in outline
Dying without a valid will is called dying "intestate". A fixed order of relatives then inherits. The rules differ across the UK and include money limits that change from time to time, so this is an outline only.
England and Wales
If you are married or in a civil partnership and have no children, your spouse inherits everything. If you have children, your spouse receives your personal possessions, a fixed sum set by law and half of anything above it; the children share the rest. If there is no spouse, the estate goes to children, then parents, then brothers and sisters, and so on down a set list. GOV.UK has a tool that works it out: who inherits if someone dies without a will.
Scotland
The law is quite different. A surviving spouse or civil partner has "prior rights" to the home, furnishings and a cash sum, each up to a limit, and then the spouse and children have "legal rights" to shares of the rest (apart from land and buildings). Legal rights apply even where there is a will, so in Scotland you cannot completely disinherit a spouse or child. A partner you lived with can apply to the court for a share, but must do so within a strict time limit.
Northern Ireland
The rules are broadly similar in shape to England and Wales, with a spouse receiving possessions, a fixed sum and a share of the rest, but the figures and shares are different. See making a will on nidirect.
Three ways to make a will
| Route | Good for | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | Anyone, and essential for anything complicated | Regulated and insured, with a complaints route to an ombudsman. Ask for a fixed fee. |
| Will-writing firm | Simple wills, often at home or online | Will-writing is not a regulated activity in itself. Check the firm belongs to a recognised trade body with a code of practice and insurance, and be wary of add-ons. |
| Do it yourself | Only the very simplest situations | Cheapest, but mistakes are common and usually only come to light when it is too late to fix them. |
Use a solicitor if you own property abroad, have a business, have children from more than one relationship, want to provide for someone who cannot manage money, think someone might challenge the will, or your estate may be liable for inheritance tax.
Free and low-cost wills
- Will Aid. Each November, participating solicitors write basic wills without charging their usual fee, and ask you to make a donation to charity instead. The Will Aid website confirms the 2026 campaign is running and gives its suggested donation as £120 for a single basic will or £200 for a pair of matching "mirror" wills, at the time of writing (November 2026). Appointments are limited. See willaid.org.uk.
- Free Wills Month. Runs in March and October in selected areas, for people aged 55 and over (for a couple, only one of you needs to be 55). Solicitors write a simple will free; the charities taking part hope you will leave them a gift, but there is no obligation. The organisers say the next campaign begins on 1 March 2027. See freewillsmonth.org.uk.
Making it legally valid
GOV.UK sets out the requirements for England and Wales. Your will must be:
- made by someone aged 18 or over, voluntarily and of sound mind
- in writing
- signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are both over 18
- signed by those two witnesses in your presence
The rules in Northern Ireland are similar. In Scotland, a will needs one witness and should be signed on every page; a Scottish solicitor will make sure it is done properly.
Keeping it up to date
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, getting married or entering a civil partnership normally cancels an earlier will. In Scotland it does not, but you should still review it.
Tell your executors where the original is kept, and keep a note with your other papers: see organising your paperwork. A will only takes effect when you die. To let someone act for you during your lifetime you need a lasting power of attorney.
If you want to set money aside for the funeral, see funeral plans and over-50s life insurance.
Common questions
How much does a will cost?
Prices vary by firm, area and complexity, so we do not quote a figure. Ask two or three solicitors for a fixed fee for a single will or a pair of mirror wills, and compare that with the charity schemes above.
Who can be an executor?
Any adult, including someone who inherits under the will. Many people name two, such as a partner and a grown-up child. A solicitor can act, but will charge.
Where can I get free advice?
Citizens Advice and Age UK both publish clear guides, and GOV.UK has an overview at making a will.