Free & low-cost will writing - what are the options?

Written by Eliza, Estate Planning Associate at Octopus Legacy
Last updated: 27 March 2026

How much does it cost to write a will?

A will costs between £0 and £5,000+ depending on how you write it, how complex your situation is, and who helps you. A simple will through a solicitor costs £150 to £400. A complex will involving trusts or business assets can run to £500 to £5,000 or more. An online or in-person will-writing service like Octopus Legacy starts at £150 for a simple will, with every document reviewed by legal experts.

This guide breaks down what each option costs, what you get for your money, and when it's worth paying more for professional support.

Will-writing cost comparison

The cost depends on the route you take and the complexity of your will. Here's how the main options compare in 2026:

What does Octopus Legacy charge?

Octopus Legacy offers will-writing online, over video, or in person. Pricing is the same regardless of how you choose to do it.

Simple will: £150 per person (£250 for a couple). This covers straightforward wills where you want to leave your estate to specific people, name guardians for children, and appoint executors. Every will is reviewed by legal experts before it's finalised.

Will with trust: £450 per person (£750 for a couple). This is for more complex situations where you need a trust built into your will, for example to protect assets for children from a previous relationship, provide for a vulnerable beneficiary, or manage inheritance tax.

Both options include a free year of updates. After that, changes cost £10 per year. You can write your will online, over video with a will writer, or in person. The online option is available for simple wills only.

How much does a solicitor charge for a will?

Solicitor fees vary widely depending on the firm, location, and complexity of your situation. According to MoneyHelper, a simple will from a solicitor typically costs £150 to £400. Mirror wills (for couples) usually cost £200 to £600. Complex wills involving trusts, business assets, or overseas property can cost £500 to £5,000 or more.

Solicitor fees are higher in London and major cities. Some firms charge by the hour (£150 to £350 per hour) rather than a fixed fee, which makes the final cost hard to predict. Updating a will often means paying for a new will entirely.

What are you paying for with a solicitor?

A solicitor provides legal advice tailored to your situation, drafts the will from scratch (or from a template), and ensures it's legally valid. For complex estates, a solicitor can advise on tax planning, trusts, and how to structure your will to achieve specific outcomes.

The main drawbacks are cost, unpredictability (especially with hourly billing), and convenience. You'll generally need to visit the office during working hours, and the process can take several weeks.

Can I write a will for free?

Yes. There are several ways to get a will written for free.

Free Wills Month runs in February/March and September/October each year. Over 150 charity partners work with solicitors across the UK to offer free simple wills to people aged 55 and over. Visit freewillsmonth.org.uk.

Will Aid runs every November. Solicitors volunteer to write basic wills in exchange for a voluntary donation to charity. The suggested donation is £120 for a single will or £200 for mirror wills, but you can give less.

Through your employer or trade union. Many offer free will-writing as a workplace benefit, often as part of a legal advice package.

Through your insurance. Home or car insurance with legal expenses cover sometimes includes a free simple will.

DIY. You can write your own will for free using a template. But this carries the highest risk of errors, and we'd only recommend it for the simplest situations.

When cheap or free isn't enough

A free or low-cost will works well if your situation is straightforward: you're married or in a civil partnership, you want to leave everything to your partner and then your children, and you don't have complicated assets.

But a cheap will can become an expensive mistake if your situation is more complex. You should seriously consider paying for professional support if any of the following apply.

Blended families and children from different relationships

If you have children from a previous relationship, a simple will that leaves everything to your current partner could mean your children inherit nothing. A trust-based will can protect their inheritance while still providing for your partner during their lifetime. Get this wrong and you risk family conflict, legal challenges, or your children being left out entirely.

Divorce and remarriage

Getting married automatically revokes any existing will. Getting divorced doesn't revoke your will, but it does remove your ex-spouse as a beneficiary and executor. If you've remarried, have a prenuptial agreement, or are still going through a divorce, your will needs careful drafting to avoid unintended consequences.

Property ownership

If you own property, especially if you own it as tenants in common rather than joint tenants, or if you own property with someone other than your partner, a will needs to deal with this properly. A poorly worded clause about property can lead to disputes, forced sales, or the wrong person inheriting.

Vulnerable beneficiaries

If you're leaving assets to someone who receives means-tested benefits, a direct inheritance could affect their entitlement. A discretionary trust within your will can protect their benefits while still providing for them. This isn't something a template or DIY will can handle.

Business assets

If you own a business or shares in a private company, your will needs to work alongside any shareholders' agreement, partnership agreement, or succession plan. It also needs to consider business property relief for inheritance tax. Getting this wrong can force a business sale or create a tax liability that wipes out its value.

Assets abroad

If you own property or significant assets in another country, you may need a will in that jurisdiction as well as a UK will. The two wills need to work together, and they must not accidentally revoke each other. This requires specialist advice.

Care considerations

If there's any possibility you or your partner may need long-term care in the future, how your will is structured can affect what happens to your assets. Trusts can sometimes protect assets from being used to fund care fees, but the rules are complex and getting it wrong can make things worse.

Wills that are open to contestation

A DIY or template will that uses vague language, doesn't account for all your assets, or doesn't clearly identify beneficiaries is more likely to be challenged. Common grounds for contesting a will include lack of mental capacity, undue influence, and the will not reflecting the person's true wishes. Professional drafting reduces this risk significantly.

What's included when you write a will?

Not all will-writing services include the same things. Here's what to check before you commit.

How to choose the right option

If your situation is simple and you're confident filling in forms, a DIY will or free scheme can work. If you want the reassurance of professional review at an affordable price, a service like Octopus Legacy gives you expert-reviewed wills from £150, with the flexibility to do it online, over video, or face to face.

If your estate is complex, involves trusts, overseas assets, or business interests, invest in professional support. The cost of a properly drafted will is far less than the cost of a disputed one.

Ready to get started? Explore Octopus Legacy's will-writing services, online, video, or in person, from £150.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to write a will in the UK in 2026?

A simple will costs between £0 and £400 depending on how you write it. DIY templates are free to £30, free charity schemes are available during Free Wills Month and Will Aid, online and in-person services like Octopus Legacy charge £150 per person (£250 for a couple), and solicitors charge £150 to £400 for a simple will. Complex wills involving trusts cost more: £450 with Octopus Legacy or £500 to £5,000+ with a solicitor.

Do I need a solicitor to write a will?

No. You can write a will yourself, use a free charity scheme, or use a specialist will-writing service. However, if your situation is complex, for example, if you have children from a previous relationship, own a business, have overseas assets, or need a trust, professional support is strongly recommended. A poorly drafted will is more likely to be contested or fail to carry out your wishes.

What is the cheapest way to write a will?

The cheapest option is a DIY will using a free template, but this carries the highest risk of errors. The cheapest professionally written will is through Free Wills Month (free for over 55s, February to March and September to October) or Will Aid in November (voluntary donation). For year-round access, Octopus Legacy offers expert-reviewed wills from £150 online, over video, or in person.

How much does Octopus Legacy charge for a will?

Octopus Legacy charges £150 for a simple will (£250 for a couple) and £450 for a will with trust (£750 for a couple). These prices are the same whether you write your will online, over video, or in person. Every will is reviewed by legal experts. Updates are free for the first year and £10 per year after that.

When should I pay more for a complex will?

You should consider a more complex (and more expensive) will if you have children from a previous relationship, own a business, have overseas property or assets, want to set up a trust for a vulnerable beneficiary, have gone through a divorce, own property as tenants in common, or have concerns about long-term care costs. In these situations, a cheap or DIY will is more likely to cause problems than solve them.

Can I write a will online?

Yes. Online will-writing is the fastest growing way to write a will in the UK. Octopus Legacy's online service lets you write a simple will for £150, guided step by step through the process. Every will is reviewed by legal experts and comes with clear signing instructions. For more complex wills involving trusts, Octopus Legacy offers video and in-person appointments.

How often should I update my will?

The government recommends reviewing your will every five years or whenever your circumstances change. Key triggers include getting married (which automatically revokes your existing will), getting divorced, having children, buying or selling property, or a significant change in your financial situation. With Octopus Legacy, updates are free for the first year and £10 per year after that.

What happens if my will is poorly written?

A poorly written will can be contested, declared partially or fully invalid, or fail to carry out your wishes. Common problems include vague wording, missing assets, incorrect beneficiary details, and failure to meet witnessing requirements. If a will is invalid, your estate may be distributed under the rules of intestacy instead, which may not reflect what you wanted. Professional will-writing significantly reduces this risk.