Trustpilot
Show More

Ask an Expert

How much does it cost to write a will?

If you want to ensure that your assets and prized possessions goes to the people of your choosing when you die, you must write a will. But this legal process can often be quite drawn out and complicated, and you may also have to pay for the service. But how much do the cost?

Depending on how you choose to write a will and how complicated your estate and wishes are, the will-writing process varies in cost from free to several hundred pounds.

Many people choose the DIY path when writing their wills. They use templates or will packs, which can be purchased from stationery shops and online services for under £30. They may also follow guides available for free online. While you can save significant amounts of money by making a will yourself, you need to follow the instructions closely, especially about witnesses, for your will to be legally admissible.

Furthermore, will packs are generally only suitable if your financial and personal situation is straightforward, for instance, if you intend to leave everything to your spouse or your children. They won't be suitable if your case is more complicated. Specifically, you shouldn’t use a will template if:

  • You intend to leave money to people outside your immediate family

  • You have foreign property, bank accounts, or investments

  • Your heirs may face Inheritance Tax

  • You own a business you’re leaving to someone

  • You want to include wishes that could potentially be misunderstood

In these cases, you should turn to a professional to prepare your will. Wills can be produced by solicitors, banks, and will writers. Prices range from around £80 to £750, depending on how complex your financial affairs and wishes are.

If you and your partner want wills that are largely the same - known as mirror wills - you can get a discount for writing them both at once. If you want to include a trust in your will, expect to pay more (often £400+). 

More than 150 charities, including some of the best-known in the UK, run will drafting services, often in the hopes that you include a bequest to them. These services may be free or low-cost in the immediate: any bequest will be taken after your death and is Inheritance Tax deductible. However, you typically need to have donated to the charity in the past or be a member to qualify for the free service. These services may also not be suitable for those who need more complex wills.

Prices vary widely between different solicitors and will-writing services so it’s worthwhile to gather multiple quotes before handing over any money.

Related guides

10 Reasons Your Life Insurance Won't Pay Out

Life insurance acts as a security blanket for your loved ones when you’re no longer around to provide for them. So, when policies don’t pay out as expected, it can be very distressing for everyone involved.The good news is that most life insurance claims are successful, and when claims are denied, there’s usually a good reason behind that decision. To give your family the best chance at receiving their intended payout, pay close attention to these 10 reasons life insurance won’t pay out.Much of what invalidates life insurance can easily be prevented with a little bit of planning and extra care when taking out a life insurance policy. Others may be unavoidable, but it’s best to educate yourself and those around you so nobody is caught out unprepared.

Endowment Policies

Endowments are an old-fashioned type of investment, originally created to pay off mortgages. As pay outs from life policies are tax free, the idea was to build investments within the policy for the tax benefit.This was the only tax-free investment you could make back in the 80s, but since then ISAs have evolved and replaced endowments. As a mortgage repayment vehicle they failed, as the expectations of investment growth in the 80s (high inflation=higher investment returns) did not continue into the late 90s and beyond, making them an unreliable and expensive product.No one should now be buying an endowment. It ties up your savings and is an expensive form of life insurance. The usual alternative is to have separate life insurance and separate ISA savings.

Life Insurance With a Heart Condition: Can You Still Get Covered?

A heart condition does not automatically mean that you can't get life insurance. Many people in the UK live long, stable lives after a diagnosis, and insurers recognise that medical treatment for heart conditions has improved significantly. This reduces insurers' risk, which in turn makes them much happier to provide life insurance to people with heart conditions.However, if you do have a heart condition, you should expect detailed medical questions and, in some cases, higher premiums. The key to working out whether or not it's worth it to take out a life insurance policy or critical illness cover is understanding how insurers assess risk, and which type of policy best suits your situation.Here, we'll explain how life insurance works if you have a heart condition, what affects your chances of approval, and how to improve your prospects of getting covered.