A £39 online will and a solicitor’s bill running into several hundred pounds can both be appropriate. The difference in will costs is not simply about the quality of the document. It is usually about how straightforward your circumstances are, how much advice you need and whether there are issues that need careful legal planning.
For many people in England and Wales, making a will does not need to be costly or intimidating. But choosing on price alone can be a mistake if your family arrangements, property or assets are more complicated than they first appear. The sensible aim is to pay for the level of help your situation genuinely needs.
What does a will cost in England and Wales?
There is no single price for a will. A basic, professionally prepared online will can start from around £39 for one person, while mirror wills for a couple may start from around £69. At the other end of the scale, a solicitor may charge a few hundred pounds for a standard will and considerably more where specialist estate planning is required.
A low price is not automatically a warning sign, just as a high price is not automatically a guarantee that the service is right for you. What matters is whether the service asks the right questions, explains the choices clearly and produces a will that can be signed correctly under the law of England and Wales.
The price you see should also be clear about what is included. Check whether the cost covers drafting the will, amendments before it is finalised, delivery by email or post, and any optional storage. These are separate from the future costs of administering an estate after death.
Why will costs vary so much
The main driver is complexity. A simple will might appoint executors, leave everything to a spouse or partner, then to children, and name guardians for children under 18. This is a common arrangement and can often be dealt with through a structured fixed-price service.
Costs tend to rise where someone needs individual legal advice or a more tailored document. Examples include a blended family, a beneficiary who is vulnerable or unable to manage money, business ownership, overseas assets, substantial inheritance tax concerns, or a wish to protect a share of a home for children from a previous relationship.
Property ownership is a particularly common reason to pause before choosing the cheapest option. Married couples and civil partners may own their home as joint tenants or as tenants in common. Those arrangements can affect what happens to a share of the property on death. A will can be part of the plan, but it cannot always achieve the intended result on its own.
Cohabiting couples should be especially careful. Living together does not give partners the same automatic inheritance rights as marriage or civil partnership. If you are not married or in a civil partnership, a properly made will is often essential, rather than merely advisable.
A simple will is not a lesser will
A fixed-price will is not a shortcut around legal formalities. For a will to be valid in England and Wales, it must generally be in writing, signed by the person making it in the presence of two witnesses, and those witnesses must sign in that person’s presence.
The witnesses should be independent adults. A beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary, should not witness the will. Doing so can cause that beneficiary to lose their inheritance under the will. This is one of the reasons clear instructions are worth having, whatever you pay.
What should be included in the quoted price?
Before you commit, look beyond the headline figure. A good will-writing service should make it clear what you are buying and what you need to do next.
For a standard will, you would usually expect the process to cover your personal details, appointment of executors, gifts to specific people or charities, the distribution of the rest of your estate, and guardians for minor children where needed. It should also explain how to sign and witness the document correctly.
Some services may charge extra for posting a printed will, storing it securely or making later changes. Those can be useful options, but they should not come as a surprise. Keep a copy of your final will and make sure your executors know where the signed original is held.
It is also worth distinguishing will-writing costs from probate costs. Probate is the legal process often needed after someone dies to deal with their estate. It may involve court fees and, if you use a professional to administer the estate, professional fees. Paying for a will now does not mean you have prepaid for probate later.
When a low-cost online will may be right for you
An online will can be a practical choice if your wishes are clear and your affairs are relatively straightforward. For example, you may want to leave your estate to your spouse, civil partner or children, appoint trusted executors and set out who should care for young children if both parents die.
It can also suit unmarried parents who want to ensure their partner and children are considered, homeowners who need to name beneficiaries, and adults who have put off will-writing because they assumed it would be expensive or time-consuming.
English Wills offers single wills from £39 and mirror wills from £69, providing a clear route for people whose needs fit a standard will. Mirror wills are commonly used by couples with similar wishes, but they are still two separate wills. Either person can change their own will during their lifetime, subject to their circumstances.
The value of a fixed price is certainty. You can make an important decision for your family without worrying that each basic question will add to the bill. But certainty only helps if you answer the questions honestly and take notice of any sign that your case needs more tailored advice.
When paying more for legal advice makes sense
There are circumstances where specialist help can save difficulty and expense later. If you have a large or complicated estate, own a business, hold assets abroad, or expect inheritance tax to be a major concern, a solicitor or suitably qualified specialist can advise on options beyond a standard will.
The same applies where family relationships are complicated. Perhaps you want to provide for a new partner while preserving assets for children from an earlier relationship. Perhaps a child receives means-tested benefits, has an addiction, or is not able to manage a large inheritance. A trust may be appropriate in some cases, but trusts have responsibilities and should not be added casually.
You may also need advice if you are considering leaving someone out of your will who could expect to be financially supported by you. A will gives you control over your estate, but it cannot remove every possibility of a future claim. Understanding the risks before you sign is often money well spent.
The cost of not making a will
The most expensive option can be doing nothing. If you die without a valid will, the rules of intestacy decide who inherits. Those rules may not reflect your wishes, particularly if you are unmarried, separated but not divorced, part of a blended family, or want to leave something specific to a friend, stepchild or charity.
Without a will, there may also be uncertainty about who should administer your estate and who should care for your children. Family members can be left trying to interpret what you would have wanted at an already difficult time. Disputes are not inevitable, but unclear arrangements make them more likely.
A will should also be reviewed when life changes. Marriage generally revokes an existing will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage. Divorce can affect provisions involving a former spouse. Buying a home, having children, receiving an inheritance or losing an executor are all good reasons to check that your will still works.
Choose value, not just the cheapest price
The right will cost is the one that gives you a legally valid document, clear instructions and confidence that your wishes have been properly recorded. For a straightforward estate, a transparent fixed-price will can offer excellent value. For more complex arrangements, advice that deals with the detail may be the wiser investment.
Do not let the fear of getting it wrong become a reason to postpone it. Start with your family, your property, your savings and the people you trust. Once those decisions are on paper and correctly signed, you have taken a practical step towards protecting the people who matter most.