Using a solicitor to write your will

The answer varies depending on how complex your affairs are and if the firm is based in a city.

Here are some costs for a solicitor drawing up a will:

• A simple will can cost between £150 and £2,408. So, shopping around and finding someone good for the lower price could save you hundreds of pounds.
• A complex will can cost between £162 and £477. It might be more complex if you’ve been divorced and have children.
• For a specialist will that involves trusts or oversea properties, or you want tax planning advice, expect to pay a minimum of a few hundred pounds.
• A mirror will usually cost less than doing them individually. They’re worth considering if you and a spouse or partner want substantively the same (mirror) wills.

Make sure the cost you’re quoted includes VAT. The prices above include VAT.

Evidence from The Legal Services BoardOpens in a new window that suggests you can save a lot by shopping around for will services. When you’ve got one quote, contact a few others to see if they can beat it.

Shopping around might save you hundreds of pounds.

Try to find a service you believe will offer you a good quality service at a good price. (Figures above are from the Legal Service BoardOpens in a new window)

• Your will includes any wishes that might be misunderstood or are even slightly complicated.
• You have assets overseas, such as a holiday home.
• You run a business and expect it to form a part of your estate.
• You’ll have to pay Inheritance Tax – this is normally paid on estates. valued at over £325,000 for an individual or up to £650,000 for a married couple.
• Your family position is complicated – perhaps you have children with a previous partner, or you want to make special arrangements for children or a family member with a disability.
• Many people who think they have simple affairs and so just need a simple will, can in fact have complex circumstances that need a more expert solution.

• Not all solicitors are expert or choose to specialise in will writing. So choose a solicitor who does. 
• Solicitors can be expensive, compared to will writing firms.
• Shop around. Try to call at least three firms to get quotes, and do your own research on each to see what other customers say about them.

Your solicitor should:

• ask detailed questions about you and your family’s, circumstances and your health
• explain any options to help you make decisions about your will
• give you advice that’s confidential and puts your best interests first
• write and check your will according to your instructions.

Make sure they also give a clear indication of costs and how they’ll be calculated early on.

You can choose to appoint the solicitor or law firm who draws up your will to also act as your professional executor. This means they’ll handle the arrangements for your estate when you die.

But be careful. Solicitors acting as professional executors can be very expensive (as can accountants and banks), and cost much more than firms that are probate and estate administration specialists. Take time to check and understand your options before appointing professional executors. 

If you want to use a solicitor to be your professional executor always ask how you’ll be charged – some solicitors will take a percentage of your estate to pay for any bills. Others will charge for their time. Ask them if they will work on a fixed-fee basis. 

There are a number of charities that provide a will writing service for free. Be aware that the charity might expect or encourage you to make a donation, which they call “a legacy”.

There are also several schemes that let you have a will drawn up by a solicitor free of charge or for a suggested donation.

The largest of these will writing schemes are:

• Free Wills Month (in England and Wales). This runs twice a year, usually in March and October, in specific parts of England and Wales. Find out more on Free Wills Month 
• Will Aid. This runs in November, with around 1,000 solicitors taking part. You usually have to book in advance, as spaces on the scheme are limited and it does get busy. There’s also a suggested minimum donation. Find out more on Will Aid
• Many charities and trade unions offer free will writing services, in the hope you will leave them some money. They might be a good solution if you have very simple affairs, but may not provide access to qualified solicitor help for more complex circumstances. If they do recommend a solicitor, try to get one or two alternative quotes for the work.   
• Some insurance products offer a free will writing service as part of the insurance you’ve bought. If you have home insurance or life insurance, check to see if a free will writing service is included. 
  

Save time and money by thinking about what you want your will to include before visiting your solicitor. You may also want to speak to your family about your intentions.

You can find a qualified solicitor in your area by searching the directories provided by the UK’s law societies:

• In England and Wales: The Law Society
• In Scotland: The Law Society of Scotland
• In Northern Ireland: The Law Society of Northern Ireland

You don’t have to use a solicitor if you don’t want to – there are other ways to get your will sorted.

You could save some money by using a will writing service. 

Or if your will is going to be simple, you might be able to write it yourself.