Online wills vs a solicitor: which do you actually need?

Online wills have a mixed reputation, and the honest answer is more nuanced than “they’re fine” or “always use a solicitor”. For a simple estate, an online or template will can be every bit as legally valid as one a solicitor drafts. The problems start with two things: circumstances that are not simple, and mistakes in how the will is signed. This guide explains where the line falls, so you can tell which side of it you are on.

Are online wills legally valid?

Usually, yes, but it helps to be clear about what “online will” means. Almost every online will service or template produces a paper document that you print, sign by hand, and have witnessed in person. Done correctly, that will is legally valid; the “online” part simply describes how it was drafted, not how it is signed. What is not currently valid in England and Wales is a fully electronic will, one created, signed and stored entirely on a screen, with no paper. Those are the subject of proposed reform, but they are not law yet. So an online-drafted, properly executed paper will is valid; a will signed on your phone is not.

What makes any will legally valid

Whatever route you use, a will in England and Wales must meet the formalities set out in the Wills Act 1837. It must be:

• in writing;
• signed by you (the testator), with the intention of giving effect to the will; and
• signed in the presence of two witnesses, who are both present at the same time, and who then each sign the will in your presence.

The witnesses must be at least 18 and have the mental capacity to understand what they are doing. One trap catches DIY will-makers again and again: a witness must not be a beneficiary. If a beneficiary, or their husband, wife or civil partner, witnesses the will, the gift to that person is cancelled, even though the rest of the will stands. Always use two independent adults who inherit nothing.

Templates, online services and solicitors: what’s the real difference?

There are broadly three routes, and they suit different needs:

• A free or cheap template (from a stationer, post office, or download). The cheapest option, and fine for very simple wishes, but it gives you no guidance, so any error is yours to make.
• An online will service (typically £50 to £150). You answer questions and the service generates a will. Better guided than a blank template, and some are run or checked by qualified people, but they still rely on your circumstances fitting a standard pattern.
• A solicitor (a fixed fee for a straightforward will). You get advice, not just a document: someone to spot the issues you did not know to ask about, draft around them, and make sure the will is executed correctly. This matters most when your situation is not standard.

When is an online or template will fine?

An online or template will is a reasonable choice if your circumstances are genuinely simple. As a rough guide, that means:

• you are single, or married with no children from previous relationships;
• you want to leave everything to your spouse, and then to your children, or to make a few simple gifts;
• your estate is modest and made up of UK assets, a home, savings, perhaps some investments;
• there is no business, no property abroad, and no beneficiary who needs special protection; and
• you are confident the will is unlikely to be disputed.

If that describes you, a well-completed online will, signed and witnessed correctly, will do the job. A template will is still far better than no will at all.

When you really need a solicitor

The case for advice is strongest when an error would be expensive or impossible to fix after your death. Talk to a solicitor if any of these apply:

• You have remarried, or have a blended family. Second marriages and children from previous relationships are where DIY wills most often go wrong, because the standard template does not protect everyone you want to provide for.
• You own a business, or a share of one. Business assets need careful handling, including any tax reliefs.
• You own property or assets abroad. Foreign assets can involve another country’s succession laws.
• A beneficiary is vulnerable or disabled, or receives means-tested benefits. A direct gift can do more harm than good; a trust is often the answer.
• You want to leave someone out who might expect to inherit, which raises the risk of a claim against your estate.
• Your estate is near or above the inheritance tax threshold, where planning can make a real difference.

In these situations the cost of getting it wrong, a failed gift, an unintended beneficiary, a family dispute, or an avoidable tax bill, usually dwarfs a solicitor’s fee.

The mistakes that make DIY wills fail

Most DIY wills that fail do so not because of the wording, but because of how they were signed or kept. The common ones:

• Witnessing errors. The witnesses were not both present when you signed, or a beneficiary acted as a witness and lost their gift.
• Marrying after making the will. Marriage automatically revokes an earlier will (unless it was made specifically in contemplation of that marriage), so a will made before a wedding may be worthless afterwards.
• Ambiguity. Vague wording, unclear gifts, or beneficiaries who cannot be identified, causes disputes that the person is no longer around to resolve.
• The original goes missing. Probate generally needs the signed original, not a copy. A will no one can find can be treated as if it never existed.

If you are unsure whether a will meets the formalities, our will validity checker walks through the basic requirements.

What about electronic wills and law reform?

This is a live area. In May 2025 the Law Commission published its report Modernising Wills Law, with a draft Bill to replace the Wills Act 1837. Among its recommendations are legally valid electronic wills and witnessing by video link, along with other changes such as applying the modern mental-capacity test. As of mid-2026, however, none of this is law: the government’s response was expected during 2026, and any new Wills Act would follow after that. For now, a valid will must still be on paper, signed in wet ink, and witnessed by two people physically present with you. The temporary video-witnessing allowed during the pandemic ended in January 2024.

How we help

Our wills team drafts straightforward wills on a fixed fee, so you know the cost upfront, and we advise on the more complex situations above where a template cannot. We make sure your will says what you mean and is signed correctly, so it does what you intend. You can also read about who inherits when there is no valid will, or see GOV.UK’s overview of making a will. To get started, request a callback and we will come back to you.

A note on figures: the fees and figures in this article are correct as at the date of publication shown on this article. Court fees, taxes and other charges change from time to time, so please check the current figures with the relevant official source before relying on them.