Answers · UK 2025/26
Is a DIY will valid, or should I use a solicitor?
A DIY will (written yourself or bought as a template) can be legally valid in England and Wales provided it is signed and witnessed correctly by two independent witnesses, but mistakes in wording, execution, or failing to account for complex assets can invalidate it or cause disputes. A solicitor-drafted will typically costs £150-£500 for a simple will (more for complex estates or trusts) and provides professional advice plus reduced risk of costly errors.
Full answer
Whether a DIY will is a sensible choice depends heavily on how straightforward your circumstances and wishes are. **What makes a will legally valid** For a will to be valid in England and Wales, it must be in writing, signed by the person making it (the testator) in the presence of two witnesses who are both present at the same time, and those witnesses must then also sign the will in the testator's presence. Witnesses (and their spouses/civil partners) cannot be beneficiaries under the will, or they lose their inheritance even if the rest of the will remains valid. Getting any of these formalities wrong can invalidate the entire will. **When DIY might be reasonable** A DIY will (using a reputable template, will-writing software, or a will-writing service that isn't a qualified solicitor) may be adequate for very simple situations -- for example, a single person with modest assets leaving everything to one beneficiary, with no dependants with additional needs, no business assets, no overseas property, and no complicated family structure (such as second marriages, estranged children, or unmarried partners). **When a solicitor is strongly recommended** Professional advice becomes much more important if you: own a business or significant investments; have a blended family (children from previous relationships, stepchildren); want to set up a trust (for example, to protect assets from care home fees or provide for a vulnerable beneficiary); have an estate that may be liable for Inheritance Tax; own property abroad; or are unmarried and want to ensure a partner is protected (since unmarried partners have no automatic inheritance rights under intestacy rules if there's no valid will). **Cost comparison** A basic solicitor-drafted single will typically costs somewhere in the region of £150-£500, with mirror wills for couples often priced similarly or with a modest discount, while wills involving trusts or complex estate planning can cost considerably more. DIY will kits or online template services can cost as little as £10-£50, but the cost of getting it wrong -- a will being contested, deemed invalid, or failing to achieve your intended outcome -- can run into thousands of pounds in legal fees and family disputes after you're gone, far exceeding any upfront saving. **Common DIY mistakes** Frequent errors include incorrect witnessing, ambiguous wording about who inherits what, failing to appoint substitute executors or beneficiaries, not accounting for what happens if a beneficiary dies before you, and not considering Inheritance Tax planning opportunities that a solicitor would typically flag. **Practical tip** For anything beyond the simplest estate, the relatively modest cost of a solicitor is generally good value given the scale of what's at stake -- many solicitors offer fixed-fee will-writing services, so ask for a clear quote upfront.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.