Comparison · Estate Planning · 2026

DIY Will vs Solicitor Will UK 2026: Which Is Right for Your Estate?

A DIY will kit or online will-writing service can cost a tenth of a solicitor's fee, and is perfectly legally valid if it meets the formalities of the Wills Act 1837. But the risk of costly mistakes — ambiguous wording, incorrect execution, missed inheritance tax planning — rises sharply as your family and financial situation gets more complex. Here is how to decide for 2026.

Last updated: 2 July 2026Last reviewed: 2 July 2026How we verify

TL;DR - 30-Second Summary

- DIY will: £10-£100, legally valid if formalities are followed, best for a simple, single-family estate
- Solicitor will: £150-£600+, professional drafting and advice, essential for blended families, trusts, business assets or estates near the inheritance tax threshold
- Rule of thumb: the more complex your family or assets, the more a solicitor's fee is money well spent

Side by Side: DIY Will vs Solicitor Will

Feature	DIY Will	Solicitor Will
Typical cost	£10-£100	£150-£600+ (more for trusts/complex estates)
Legal validity	Valid if formalities are correctly followed	Valid, drafted to meet formalities correctly
Professional advice on wording	None	Yes
Suitable for blended families	Risky without advice	Yes
Trusts and inheritance tax planning	Not recommended	Yes
Evidence of testamentary capacity	No formal record	Solicitor's file provides evidence
Storage and safekeeping	Your responsibility	Often stored by the firm or a will registry

When a DIY Will Makes Sense

A DIY will is most defensible when your situation is genuinely simple: a single marriage or partnership with no children from previous relationships, an estate comfortably below the combined £500,000 nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band threshold for a straightforward estate, no business or overseas assets, and clear, uncontested wishes (for example, everything to your spouse, then equally to your children). Even then, following the execution formalities exactly — two independent witnesses present together, neither of whom benefits under the will — is essential.

When a Solicitor Is Worth the Extra Cost

The complexity of your estate — not its value alone — is usually the deciding factor. Blended families (where children from a previous relationship could unintentionally be excluded, or a new spouse could unintentionally inherit everything), unmarried couples (who have no automatic inheritance rights under UK intestacy rules if there is no valid will), business or farming assets (which may qualify for Business Property Relief or Agricultural Property Relief if structured correctly), and estates near or above the inheritance tax thresholds all benefit from professional drafting. A solicitor can also set up trusts for young children, vulnerable beneficiaries or to manage the residence nil-rate band correctly when the family home is involved.

DIY Will vs Solicitor Will — Frequently Asked Questions

Is a DIY will legally valid in the UK?

Yes, provided it meets the formal requirements of the Wills Act 1837: it must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by someone else in their presence and at their direction), and that signature must be witnessed by two independent witnesses who are both present at the same time and who then sign it themselves. Beneficiaries and their spouses cannot act as witnesses without losing their inheritance under that will. A DIY will that meets these formalities is just as legally valid as a solicitor-drafted one — the risk with DIY wills is not validity in principle but ambiguous wording, missed formalities, or failing to account for complex family or asset situations.

How much does a solicitor charge for a will in the UK?

A straightforward single will from a solicitor typically costs from around £150-£300, rising to £300-£600+ for a pair of mirror wills for a couple, and considerably more for complex estates involving trusts, business assets, or inheritance tax planning. Online will-writing services and DIY kits are usually much cheaper, often £30-£100, while a basic template kit can cost as little as £10-£20.

When should I definitely use a solicitor rather than a DIY will?

A solicitor is strongly advisable if you have a blended family (children from previous relationships), own a business or agricultural property, have assets overseas, want to set up a trust (for example for a vulnerable beneficiary or to manage inheritance tax), have an estate that may be close to or above the inheritance tax nil-rate bands, are unmarried but want to protect a partner who has no automatic inheritance rights under intestacy rules, or have any concern that a family member might challenge the will.

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What is the risk of using a DIY will kit?

The main risks are ambiguous or contradictory wording that a court later has to interpret (potentially against your actual wishes), incorrect execution (for example a witness who is also a beneficiary), failing to revoke an earlier will properly, and not accounting for changes in circumstances such as divorce, remarriage or the birth of children — a will is automatically revoked by marriage in England and Wales unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage. Research by professional bodies has repeatedly found a higher error rate in DIY and unregulated will-writing services than in solicitor-drafted wills.

Can a DIY will help reduce inheritance tax?

A simple DIY will can apply the standard nil-rate band (£325,000) and, where a main residence passes to direct descendants, the residence nil-rate band (£175,000), both of which apply automatically regardless of who drafts the will. However, more advanced inheritance tax planning — such as discretionary trusts, deeds of variation, or structuring gifts and business relief — usually requires professional advice, since getting the drafting wrong can trigger unintended tax consequences or fail to achieve the planning goal.

Do I need a solicitor to make my will legally binding, or just a witness?

You do not need a solicitor for a will to be legally binding — only the statutory formalities (writing, signature, two independent witnesses present together) need to be met. A solicitor adds value through professional drafting, advice tailored to your circumstances, and a paper trail showing testamentary capacity and freedom from undue influence, which can be valuable evidence if the will is ever challenged, but they are not a legal requirement for validity itself.

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Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Will validity requirements and inheritance tax rules can be complex — for anything beyond a very simple estate, get advice from a qualified solicitor or STEP-qualified practitioner. See gov.uk guidance on making a will.

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