How to Write a Will (Make a Will Online)

Writing a will might sound complicated, but it can actually be a straightforward process.

These days, you have several convenient options to make a will – including doing it online from the comfort of home. According to GOV.UK guidance on making a will, a will is only valid if it is in writing, made by someone over 18, made voluntarily, and signed in the presence of two witnesses. The key is to ensure your will meets these legal requirements and truly reflects your wishes. Here's a friendly step-by-step on how to write your will:

1. Choose How You'll Write Your Will

You have a few choices for will-writing, depending on your circumstances and budget:

Use a Solicitor or Professional Will Writer

This traditional route offers expert guidance. It's a good choice if you have a complex estate or just want personal advice. A solicitor will ask about your assets and wishes and then draft the will for you. This provides peace of mind, but it can cost more (often anywhere from £150 to £500 for a simple will, and more if complex).

Use an Online Will Service

Online will-writing has become very popular and is recognised by Citizens Advice as a valid way to create a will for many people. Reputable online services guide you through a questionnaire about your assets, family, and wishes, then produce a will document for you. It's usually faster and cheaper than going to a solicitor in person – in some cases even under £100 for a legally valid will. Many online platforms have legal experts behind the scenes, so you get a professionally drafted will at a lower cost.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Will Kits or Templates

If your situation is very simple (for example, you're leaving everything to one person), you might consider a DIY will. Stationery shops and various websites offer will template kits. DIY is the cheapest option – sometimes just a few pounds for a template, or free – but use caution. You must follow the instructions to the letter, and any mistakes or unclear wording could make the will invalid or cause confusion. If you go DIY, it's wise to have a solicitor review it, or at least do thorough research to ensure it covers everything it should.

2. Make a List of Your Assets and Debts

Before drafting the will, take a moment to list out what you own. This includes: your home (and whether you own it outright or share ownership), savings and bank accounts, investments, vehicles, valuable personal items (jewellery, collections), and any business interests. Don't forget digital assets like online accounts or cryptocurrencies, if applicable. Also consider any debts or mortgages – while you won't list these in the will, it helps to know your estate's net value.

Making this inventory ensures you don't accidentally leave anything out. You might be surprised that you have more than you think! Once you know your assets, decide who you want to inherit each item or what percentage of your estate each person should get. These people (or organisations, if you leave gifts to charities) are called your beneficiaries.

3. Decide on Guardians, Executors, and Other Key Roles

If you have children under 18, choose a guardian to care for them in case you (and their other parent) are no longer around. Talk to that person to make sure they're willing – it's a big responsibility, but most people are honored to be asked. You can name backup guardians as well, in case your first choice can't serve.

Also, decide who will be the executor of your will. The executor is the trusted person who will handle your affairs after you're gone – things like collecting your assets, paying any bills or taxes, and distributing inheritances to your beneficiaries. This should be someone responsible and preferably someone likely to survive you (we'll discuss choosing an executor in detail later). You can name more than one executor (many people choose two, like a spouse and an adult child, or two close friends). Make sure to ask them beforehand and get their consent.

4. Write Down Your Wishes Clearly

Now it's time to actually write the will (or fill in the will form, if using a service). The will should clearly state your name, address, and that it's your last will and testament, revoking any previous wills. Then, include sections for:

Appointment of executors

Name the person(s) you want to act as executor. Example: "I appoint my sister Jane Doe and my friend John Smith to be executors and trustees of this will."

Guardians for children (if applicable)

State who should become the legal guardian of your minor kids. Example: "If at my death I have any children under 18, I appoint my brother Michael Doe as guardian of the person and property of such children."

Gifts of specific items or amounts (optional)

You can list particular gifts, like "£5,000 to my niece Emily" or "my jewellery collection to my daughter Sarah". These are called specific bequests. If you have sentimental items or specific sums of money to go to certain people or charities, list them here.

Residuary estate

This is a key part – it's who gets "the rest of" your estate (everything left after any specific gifts are given out and debts paid). You might say "I leave the remainder of my estate to my spouse, and if they don't survive me, then equally to my children." This covers anything you didn't itemise specifically.

Other wishes

You can include other instructions, such as funeral wishes (burial or cremation preferences, etc.). Funeral wishes aren't legally binding, but expressing them in your will can guide your family. You might also mention if you have preferences for who should care for pets, or reference a separate "letter of wishes" if you have one for more detailed guidance to your executors. According to Citizens Advice, letters of wishes are informal documents that can accompany a will to provide further clarity on your personal preferences and funeral arrangements.

If you're using an online service or solicitor, they will prompt you for all this information in a structured way. If you're writing it yourself, be as clear and specific as possible. Avoid ambiguity (for example, use full names of people and clarify relationships). It's often good to have alternate beneficiaries in case someone you named passes away before you.

5. Sign Your Will with Witnesses (Make It Legal!)

Once the will document is drafted and you're happy with it, you need to sign it correctly to make it legally valid. In England and Wales, that means signing in the presence of two witnesses, who then sign the will as well. Here are the key points for this step:

Witness requirements

The witnesses must be two adults (18 or over) who are of sound mind and not beneficiaries in the will (and not married to or civil partners of any beneficiary either). Neighbors, coworkers, or family friends are good choices. Don't ask your spouse or children if they are getting something in the will – they can't serve as witnesses if they're beneficiaries. The idea is witnesses should be impartial observers who have nothing to gain.

Signing ceremony

Gather all three people (you and the two witnesses) together at the same time. Each should have a clear view of the others signing. You (the will-maker, also called the testator) sign first, typically on the line at the end of the will document. Use your usual wet signature (ink pen, usually). Then, each witness in turn signs and prints their name, address, and occupation (different wills have slightly different formats for witness attestation – follow the template). By signing, they are attesting that they saw you sign the will and that you appeared to do so willingly and capably.

Date the will

Usually the will document will have a space for the date near the signatures. Make sure the date of signing is clearly indicated. This helps prove when the will was executed.

Initial any changes

If you made any handwritten corrections on the will, you and the witnesses should also initial in the margin next to each change. However, generally it's better to have a clean, error-free final copy to sign, as stray marks can cause confusion.

No need for a lawyer or notary at signing

In the UK, you do not need a solicitor or notary present for the will to be valid – just the two witnesses. (Notaries are not typically involved in will signing here, unlike some other countries.)

6. Review and Update as Needed

Life changes, and your will might need to change too (marriages, divorces, new children or grandchildren, acquiring property, etc.). Get into the habit of reviewing your will every few years or whenever you have a major life event. We'll cover in a later section how to officially update your will, but just remember that writing a will isn't a one-and-done task – you should keep it current.