How to Write a Will UK 2026: Complete Guide

Writing a will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your family and ensure your wishes are followed. This guide explains everything you need to know about writing a legally valid will in the UK—from what to include to avoiding common mistakes that could invalidate your will.

Why you need a will

A will is a legal document that sets out your wishes for what happens to your money, property, and possessions after you die. Without one, the law decides who gets what—and it might not match what you would have wanted.

In the UK, if you die without a will (called dying intestate), your estate is distributed according to fixed intestacy rules set by the government. See our complete guide on what happens if there's no will for detailed intestacy rules:

• Your spouse or civil partner might not inherit everything, especially if you have children
• Unmarried partners (even long-term partners) get nothing
• If you have no spouse or children, distant relatives you've never met could inherit
• Your estate could even go to the Crown if no relatives exist

A will also lets you appoint guardians for children under 18 and choose executors—the people who'll carry out your wishes.

Legal requirements for a valid will in the UK

For a will to be legally valid in England and Wales, it must meet three core requirements under the Wills Act 1837 as outlined by GOV.UK:

Additional legal points:

• You must be over 18 (or in the armed forces)
• You must have mental capacity when making the will
• You must make the will voluntarily, without pressure

Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different rules, though the core principles are similar.

What to include in your will

A comprehensive will should cover the following elements:

1. Your personal details

• Full legal name
• Address
• Date of birth
• A statement that this will revokes all previous wills

2. Your executors

Name the people who will administer your estate. You can appoint up to 4 executors, and it's wise to name substitutes in case your first choice can't act. Read our detailed guide on choosing an executor for more advice.

3. Guardians (if you have children under 18)

Name who will look after your children if you die, as explained in MoneyHelper's will-making guide. Discuss this with the people you choose first—it's a huge responsibility.

4. Your beneficiaries

Who gets what. You can leave:

• Specific gifts — "My wedding ring to my daughter Emma"
• Cash gifts — "£5,000 to my nephew James"
• Residuary estate — Everything that's left after specific gifts, debts, and expenses

5. Funeral wishes (optional)

You can include wishes about your funeral (burial vs cremation, music, type of service), though these aren't legally binding.

Choosing executors

Your executors are the people responsible for administering your estate after you die. They'll:

• Arrange the funeral
• Value your estate
• Pay any debts and taxes
• Apply for probate
• Distribute your estate to beneficiaries

Learn more about executor responsibilities and whether executors can be beneficiaries.

Choose executors who are:

• Trustworthy and organised
• Likely to outlive you (not 80 when you're 75)
• Willing to take on the responsibility

You can appoint up to 4 executors, and many people choose a mix of family members and professionals (like a solicitor). Professional executors charge fees, usually 3-5% of the estate value.

Appointing guardians for children

If you have children under 18, your will should name guardians who will care for them if you (and the other parent) die.

When choosing guardians:

• Discuss it with them first — It's a massive commitment
• Consider their values, lifestyle, and ability to care for children
• Name backup guardians in case your first choice can't act
• Review this choice every few years as circumstances change

DIY will vs solicitor: what's best for you?

The big question: should you write your own will or use a solicitor?

When a DIY will works

You can safely write your own will if your situation is straightforward, as explained by Which?'s will-writing guide:

• You're married or in a civil partnership
• You want to leave everything to your spouse/partner
• You don't own property jointly with anyone else
• You don't have a business
• You don't have complex assets (overseas property, trusts)
• You don't have dependants from previous relationships

DIY will costs: £10-30 for online templates or will packs.

When you need a solicitor

Use a solicitor if you:

• Share property with someone who's not your spouse (e.g., a sibling)
• Have children from a previous relationship
• Own a business or farm
• Have assets abroad
• Want to set up trusts (for tax planning or protecting vulnerable beneficiaries)
• Have a large or complex estate
• Want to make provisions to reduce inheritance tax (IHT)

Solicitor will costs:

• Simple will: £150-300
• Mirror wills for couples: £200-500
• Complex wills with trusts: £500-1,000+

How to write your will

If you're writing your own will, follow these steps:

Step 1: List your assets

Write down everything you own:

• Property (house, flat, land)
• Savings and investments
• Pensions (note: some can't be passed on via a will)
• Personal possessions (jewellery, art, cars)
• Business interests

Step 2: Decide who gets what

Make a list of who you want to benefit. Include full names to avoid confusion.

For your "residuary estate" (everything left after specific gifts), you can split it:

• "I leave my residuary estate to my wife Sarah Smith"
• "I leave my residuary estate to be divided equally between my three children"

Step 3: Choose executors and guardians

As covered above—choose carefully and ask their permission first.

Step 4: Write the will

You can:

• Use an online will-writing service (Which? Wills, Co-op Legal Services)
• Buy a will pack from a stationer (WHSmith, Ryman)
• Write it yourself from scratch (risky unless you're confident)
• Use Citizens Advice's guidance on making a will

Online services are usually the best DIY option—they guide you through the process and reduce the risk of errors.

Signing and witnessing your will

This is where many DIY wills go wrong. Follow these rules exactly:

Who can be a witness?

Witnesses must be:

• Over 18
• Of sound mind
• Able to see (not blind)

Who CANNOT be a witness:

• Beneficiaries named in the will
• Spouses or civil partners of beneficiaries

Witnesses don't need to read your will—they're just confirming they saw you sign it.

Common mistakes that invalidate wills

These errors can make your will invalid or cause it to be challenged:

1. Incorrect witnessing

The most common mistake. All three people (you and both witnesses) must be in the same room when each person signs.

2. Beneficiaries acting as witnesses

Your friend can't witness your will if you're leaving them £10,000—they'll lose that gift.

3. Making changes after signing

Never cross out parts of your will or write amendments on it. If you need to make changes, either:

• Write a codicil (amendment) with the same formalities as a will
• Write a completely new will (usually simpler)

4. Not updating after marriage

Marriage automatically revokes any previous wills (unless the will was written in contemplation of that marriage), as confirmed by GOV.UK. Write a new will when you get married.

5. Attaching things to your will

Never staple or paperclip anything to your will. If a staple is removed, it raises suspicion that a page was removed, and your will could be challenged.

6. Vague language

Be specific:

• ❌ "My house to my children" (which house? equally? one each?)
• ✅ "My property at 45 Oak Street, Bristol to be divided equally between my children Emma Smith and James Smith"

7. Not accounting for someone dying before you

What happens if a beneficiary dies before you? Include a backup plan:

"I leave £20,000 to my sister Jane. If she does not survive me, I leave this sum to her children in equal shares."

Storing your will safely

Your will is useless if no one can find it.

Safe storage options:

• Fireproof safe at home — Cheap and accessible, but vulnerable to damage
• With your solicitor — Safe and professional, some charge storage fees
• Probate Registry storage service — £20 one-off fee, very secure
• Bank safe deposit box — Secure but can be expensive (£100-300/year)

What NOT to do:

• Don't keep it in a safety deposit box only you can access
• Don't hide it somewhere "safe" without telling anyone where it is
• Don't keep it with other random paperwork where it might get lost

When to update your will

Review your will every 5 years as standard.

Update your will immediately after these life events:

• Marriage or civil partnership — Revokes previous wills
• Divorce or dissolution — Treats ex-spouse as if they died before you
• Having children — Update to include guardians and provisions
• Buying or selling major assets — Especially property
• Executor or beneficiary dies — Name replacements
• Moving abroad — May need separate wills for different countries
• Starting a business — Consider succession planning

To update a will, you can either write a new will (which revokes all previous wills) or add a codicil (amendment). A new will is usually simpler and clearer.