Estimated total to set up
What affects the price
- Who writes it. A DIY kit is cheapest, an online service is mid-range, and a solicitor costs the most.
- Single or mirror. Couples usually take mirror wills, which cost less than two separate single wills.
- Estate complexity. Trusts, business assets, foreign property, blended families or tax planning all add cost.
- Region. London and the south-east solicitor rates often run 20 to 40 percent above the national average.
- Add-ons. Lasting Powers of Attorney, will storage, future updates and executor services add to the total.
- Hidden fees. Watch for annual storage charges, amendment fees and solicitors naming themselves as executor.
Things worth knowing
- A will is valid however it is drafted if signed correctly in front of two independent witnesses.
- If you die without a will, the intestacy rules decide who inherits, which may not match your wishes.
- Getting married usually revokes an existing will, so review yours after major life events.
- A Lasting Power of Attorney is a separate document and includes the Office of the Public Guardian fee.
- Online and DIY routes suit simple estates. Complex estates are safer with a solicitor or estate planner.
- Charity schemes such as Will Aid in November offer solicitor-drafted wills for a donation.