If you are asking, “Can I write my will myself?”, the short answer is yes. In England and Wales, you do not usually need a solicitor for a will to be legally valid. You can write one by hand, type it at home or use an online will-writing service. What matters is not the cost of the document or how formal it looks. It is whether your wishes are clear and whether you follow the signing rules exactly.
That said, a will is one of those documents where a small mistake can create a large problem later. A missing witness, unclear gift or overlooked change in family circumstances may leave the people you care about facing delay, expense and disagreement. Writing your own will can be a sensible option, provided your affairs are straightforward and you understand the decisions you are making.
Can I Write My Will Myself and Make It Legal?
Yes. A homemade will can be legally valid if it meets the requirements set out in the Wills Act 1837. It does not need legal language, a solicitor’s stamp or special paper. A handwritten will can be valid too.
For a standard will, you must be at least 18, understand what you are doing and make the will voluntarily. The document must be in writing, and you must sign it, or acknowledge your signature, in the presence of two witnesses who are both present at the same time. Those witnesses must then sign the will in your presence.
This is where many DIY wills go wrong. A will can contain perfectly sensible wishes but still fail because it was signed incorrectly. For example, asking two people to witness it separately, or signing the will before the witnesses arrive without properly acknowledging your signature, can cause serious difficulties.
Your witnesses should not be people who benefit under the will. If a beneficiary, or their husband, wife or civil partner, acts as a witness, the will itself may still be valid but that person could lose the gift you intended for them. Choose independent adults who are unlikely to benefit from your estate.
What Your Will Needs to Say
A clear will does not need to be lengthy, but it needs to answer the practical questions your family will face. Start by identifying yourself fully, including your name and address, and state that the document revokes any earlier wills.
You should appoint one or more executors. These are the people responsible for dealing with your estate, paying debts and distributing what is left according to your wishes. An executor can also be a beneficiary. Many people choose a trusted relative or friend, although it is sensible to appoint a replacement executor in case your first choice cannot act.
Your will should then set out who receives your estate. You may wish to leave specific items or sums of money to particular people, such as jewellery, a family keepsake or a gift to a godchild. After that, explain who should receive the rest of your estate, often called the residue.
If you have children under 18, appointing guardians is one of the most valuable reasons to make a will. This lets you record who you would want to care for them if both parents with parental responsibility have died. It is a deeply personal decision, but leaving no guidance can make an already difficult situation harder for those close to you.
It is also wise to include substitute beneficiaries. If you leave everything to your sister but she dies before you, who should inherit instead? A good will anticipates these possibilities rather than leaving gaps that may trigger the intestacy rules.
The DIY Will Mistakes That Cause Trouble
The biggest risk is not writing your wishes in plain English. It is assuming that family relationships and property ownership are simpler than they really are.
Marriage usually revokes an existing will, unless that will was made in contemplation of that particular marriage. Divorce does not automatically cancel your whole will, but it can affect gifts and appointments involving a former spouse or civil partner. If your circumstances change, reviewing your will is far safer than assuming the old one still says what you need it to say.
Property ownership also matters. If you own your home as joint tenants, it normally passes automatically to the surviving owner, regardless of what your will says. If you own as tenants in common, your share can pass under your will. This distinction is particularly important for unmarried couples, blended families and homeowners who want to protect a share of their property for children.
Vague wording can be equally problematic. “My savings to my children” may sound clear, but does it include an ISA, Premium Bonds or a joint account? “My car to my nephew” is fine if you have one car and one nephew, but less helpful if circumstances change. You do not need to list every possession, but you do need wording that makes your intention clear.
Another common error is keeping the original will somewhere nobody can find. The original signed document is normally the one needed after death. Tell your executors where it is stored and keep it dry, secure and accessible. Do not attach notes, staple new papers to it or make handwritten alterations after signing, as this can raise questions about whether changes are valid.
When Writing It Yourself May Be Enough
A self-written will may suit you if your estate is straightforward, your family arrangements are uncomplicated and you are comfortable following the formal signing process. For instance, a single person who wants to leave everything to a parent or sibling may only need a clear, properly witnessed will.
It can also work for a couple with simple wishes, such as leaving everything to each other and then to their children. However, even apparently simple family arrangements deserve careful thought. Mirror wills can express matching wishes, but they remain separate wills and can generally be changed by the surviving person after the first death.
The key is not to confuse a simple will with a rushed will. Take time to list your assets, think about who depends on you and consider what would happen if a beneficiary died before you. A few careful decisions now can prevent uncertainty later.
When You Should Seek Guided Help
Some situations call for more than a basic template or handwritten document. That does not always mean you need an expensive, face-to-face solicitor appointment, but you should use a service that helps you make informed choices.
Guided help is especially worthwhile if you own a property with someone else, have children from a previous relationship, are unmarried but live with a partner, have a beneficiary who is vulnerable, or want to protect money for children until they are older. It is also sensible where you have business interests, significant debts, overseas assets or concerns about a possible claim against your estate.
Trust planning may be useful for some homeowners and families, but it is not a standard add-on for everyone. A Protective Property Trust or Flexible Life Interest Trust can help some couples balance a surviving partner’s security with preserving property for children. These arrangements have legal and practical consequences, so they need to match your ownership position and wider family plans.
English Wills is designed to make the standard will-writing process clearer and more affordable, while helping you consider the decisions behind the document. The value of guided online will-writing is not just producing a form. It is having a structured route through executors, beneficiaries, guardians and the signing requirements that make your wishes effective.
How to Sign Your Will Properly
Once the will is ready, arrange the signing before two suitable adult witnesses. Ideally, everyone should be together in the same room. You sign the will while they watch, then each witness signs while you are present. They should add their name, address and occupation clearly so they can be identified if necessary.
Do not ask a beneficiary or their spouse or civil partner to witness. Do not sign only one page if the will has several pages, and do not leave unsigned drafts mixed with the final version. Once signed, store the original safely and give your executors clear instructions about where it is kept.
Writing your own will can give you a practical, affordable way to take control of what happens after you die. The most helpful next step is simply to begin: list the people you want to protect, decide who you trust to act, and make sure the final document is signed correctly. Your family should not have to guess what you wanted.