Making a will isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s essential for anyone who wants control over what happens to their assets, dependents, and legacy. But a common question that stops many people in their tracks is this: how much to make a will?
In 2025, the average cost of a will in the UK can vary greatly, depending on how you go about it. Whether you’re thinking of doing it yourself with an online kit or hiring a solicitor to draft a legally airtight document, the cost of a will reflects the method you choose, the complexity of your estate, and how much professional advice you need.
At Salam Immigration, we understand how important it is—especially for migrant families, dual citizens, or individuals with assets in multiple countries—to have a clear, enforceable will in place. It’s not just about peace of mind; it’s about legal protection for the people and property that matter to you most.
Understanding the Types of Wills in the UK
Before you can decide how much to make a will, you need to understand the different types of wills available in the UK. Each serves a different purpose and comes with its own cost implications. Choosing the right type depends on your personal situation, the complexity of your estate, and who you want to benefit.
1. Basic Will
A basic will is a straightforward document that outlines how you want your assets distributed after your death. It usually names executors, beneficiaries, and guardians if you have minor children.
- Who it suits: Individuals with a simple estate, few beneficiaries, and no complex financial arrangements.
- Average cost in 2025: £80–£250 depending on whether you use a DIY kit, online service, or basic solicitor package.
2. Mirror Wills
Mirror wills are typically used by married couples or civil partners who want to leave their estate to each other, and then to the same beneficiaries (usually children).
- Who it suits: Couples with aligned wishes and uncomplicated estates.
- Average cost in 2025: £150–£400 for both wills together.
3. Trust Wills
A trust will allows for more detailed control over how and when beneficiaries inherit assets. These are especially useful for blended families, property protection, or if someone lacks capacity.
- Who it suits: Individuals with more complex estates, care concerns, or blended family arrangements.
- Average cost in 2025: £350–£1,200 depending on the complexity and solicitor fees.
4. Living Will (Advance Decision)
While not a will in the traditional sense, a living will sets out your wishes regarding medical treatment if you become incapacitated. This doesn’t deal with money but is often written alongside a traditional will.
Knowing which type of will fits your needs is the first step. Each variation affects will writing fees, the solicitor’s time, and the legal checks required. As a result, it shapes the final price you pay.
What Influences the Cost of a Will in 2025?
When asking how much to make a will, it’s not just about the type of will—it’s also about how and where you have it made. The total cost of a will in the UK in 2025 depends on several key variables. Understanding these factors helps you avoid overpaying or underestimating the legal work involved.
1. Complexity of Your Estate
A simple estate with one property and a few bank accounts is far cheaper to deal with than an estate involving:
- Multiple properties
- Business ownership
- Foreign assets
- Beneficiaries with special needs or vulnerable status
As complexity rises, so do professional will costs—due to the extra time and legal expertise required.
Typical cost increase: Expect to pay at least 50–100% more for complex estates.
2. Method of Will Creation
There are three main ways to create a will in the UK, each with different cost levels:
a. DIY Will Kits or Online Templates
- Cost: £20–£100
- Pros: Cheapest option
- Cons: High risk of being invalid or legally challenged
- Best for: Individuals with very simple estates and legal understanding
b. Online Will Writing Services (with legal review)
- Cost: £50–£200
- Pros: More affordable than solicitors, usually guided through a platform
- Cons: Limited personalisation, may not cover nuanced needs
- Best for: Budget-conscious individuals with basic requirements
c. Solicitor-Written Wills
- Cost: £150–£1,200+
- Pros: Tailored legal advice, higher validity, includes storage and support
- Cons: Highest cost
- Best for: Families with dependants, multiple properties, trusts, or inheritance tax concerns
3. Geographic Location
In 2025, London-based firms and solicitors in wealthier parts of the UK (e.g. parts of Surrey, Oxfordshire, or Edinburgh) often charge more than those in smaller towns or rural areas.
Example: A basic solicitor-drafted will in London may cost £300, while the same service in Yorkshire could be £180.
4. Additional Legal Services Bundled
Many solicitors now bundle estate planning services—like Power of Attorney, trust setup, or inheritance tax planning—with will drafting. These packages improve long-term legal protection but increase upfront cost.
- Full estate planning package (2025): £500–£2,500 depending on complexity
5. Urgency or Out-of-Hours Requests
Urgent will-writing—for terminal illness or international travel—can incur surcharges for fast drafting, weekend work, or in-home consultations.
Urgent service fees: Add 25%–50% to standard prices
6. Storage and Updating Fees
Some providers offer secure storage for a yearly fee or charge for future updates.
- Storage fee: £20–£50 per year
- Amendment fee: £50–£150 per update
DIY vs Professional: What You Really Pay For
The decision between writing your will yourself or hiring a professional is about more than just upfront price—it’s about risk, legal strength, and peace of mind. While the cost of a will can be low if done yourself, you may end up paying far more later in court fees, family disputes, or probate complications.
Here’s what each route really involves in 2025:
DIY Wills: The Cheapest Option—But At What Cost?
Pros:
- Low cost: Basic kits or online templates cost between £20 and £50.
- Quick access: Can be completed at home in a few hours.
- Good for: Individuals with a single asset, no dependants, and no disputes expected.
Cons:
- No legal advice: You’re on your own for wording, structure, and legality.
- Easy to invalidate: Common mistakes include incorrect witnessing, vague terms, or not signing properly.
- Limited coverage: Often fails to address key areas like guardianship, trusts, or inheritance tax.
- Challenged in court: DIY wills are the most frequently contested documents in UK probate courts.
“In 2025, over 40% of contested wills began as DIY documents.” — UK Probate Registry Insight
Hidden Risks:
You might save £150 today, only to cost your family thousands later if the will is declared invalid. If your estate goes to intestacy (dying without a valid will), the state decides who inherits—often not who you’d choose.
Professional Wills: Higher Cost, Higher Protection
What You Get:
- Tailored legal advice
- Valid execution and proper witnessing
- Inheritance tax planning
- Trust structures, if needed
- Guardian arrangements for minor children
- Future-proofing: Advice on keeping the will current with life changes
Who Should Go Pro:
- Couples with children
- Anyone with assets over £325,000 (Inheritance Tax threshold)
- People with international property or family abroad
- Blended families or second marriages
- Business owners or landlords
- Anyone who wants absolute certainty the will won’t be contested
Cost Breakdown:
- Basic solicitor-drafted will: £150–£300
- Mirror will (couple): £200–£400
- Complex will with trust or tax strategy: £400–£1,200+
- Home visit option: Add £50–£150
- Ongoing storage: Some firms offer it free, others charge annually
Midway Option: Online Legal Services
Hybrid providers now offer digitally drafted wills reviewed by a solicitor—striking a balance between cost and protection.
- Cost in 2025: £90–£200
- Includes: Online Q&A, solicitor review, live support
- Good for: Moderate complexity estates without needing bespoke tax advice
How Much Does It Cost to Update a Will in 2025?
Creating a will isn’t a one-time task. Life changes—marriage, children, divorce, inheritance—mean your will needs to reflect your current wishes. In 2025, updating your will isn’t just smart, it’s essential. But how much does it cost?
The good news: updating a will is generally cheaper than writing a new one from scratch. The bad news: many people ignore it until it’s too late.
When Should You Update Your Will?
Here are the key life events that should trigger a will review:
- Marriage or civil partnership (automatically revokes existing wills unless stated otherwise)
- Divorce (removes your ex-partner as a beneficiary, but may not change everything else)
- Birth of children or grandchildren
- Buying or selling property
- Starting or ending a business
- Moving abroad or acquiring overseas assets
- Change in your chosen executors or guardians
- Inheritance or major financial windfall
Average Cost to Update a Will in 2025
1. Via Solicitor:
- Simple amendment (codicil): £50–£150
(Codicils are add-on documents that adjust specific parts without rewriting the entire will.)
- Full redraft (complex change): £150–£400
(Used when major changes are needed or if the original will is outdated or flawed.)
2. Online Services:
- Simple online amendment: £20–£70
(Assumes you used their platform to write the original will.)
- With legal review: £75–£120
3. DIY Amendments:
Strongly discouraged. Even a single misplaced word or incorrect signature on an amendment can invalidate your will. If cost is the concern, low-cost online solicitor-reviewed services are safer.
Subscription Models for Ongoing Updates
In 2025, more providers are offering “will maintenance plans” or subscriptions to help you keep your document current:
- Annual plans: £20–£50 per year
Includes:
- Unlimited updates
- Secure cloud-based storage
- Annual legal review
- Reminders to update based on life events
This is often more cost-effective in the long run, especially if you’re under 50 or expect major life changes in future.
Additional Costs to Consider When Making a Will
Even once you’ve chosen your will type and provider, there are additional costs that can push the total well above the headline price. These extras are rarely advertised but can make a big difference to your final spend—and your family’s legal burden after you’re gone.
Understanding these expenses ensures you’re comparing like-for-like and budgeting smartly.
1. Will Storage Fees
Secure storage helps protect your will from loss, damage, or tampering—and ensures it can be easily found when needed.
Typical Options in 2025:
- Solicitor storage: Often free for 1–3 years, then £20–£50/year
- Bank deposit box: £40–£150/year (but not easily accessible after death)
- National Will Register: £30–£50 one-off fee to register your will’s location
Storing a will in your home (unlocked, unsigned, or without witnesses) risks it being lost or rejected as invalid.
2. Witnessing Costs
Wills must be signed in front of two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries. If you can’t arrange this yourself, some services offer witnessing for a fee.
- Professional witnessing (2025): £30–£75
- Home visit for witnessing: £50–£150 (especially outside working hours)
Some mobile will-writing services bundle this into their fee.
3. Digital Asset Planning
With more people owning online accounts, cryptocurrency, digital photos, and cloud-based subscriptions, there’s a growing need to include digital assets in your will.
Add-on Services:
- Digital asset inventory creation: £40–£100
- Secure digital vault access: £20–£60/year
If omitted, your family may lose access to valuable or sentimental assets locked behind passwords or privacy policies.
4. Probate and Executor Services
When someone dies, their estate must be legally settled through probate. If your will names professional executors (usually solicitors or banks), there are costs involved:
- Professional executor fee: Typically 1.5%–5% of estate value
(E.g. £6,000–£20,000 for a £400,000 estate)
This is a major hidden cost. Unless your estate is very complex, naming a trusted friend or family member as executor can reduce costs drastically.
5. Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
If your estate exceeds £325,000 (or £650,000 for couples), your beneficiaries may face IHT at 40%. Some will-writing services include basic tax advice, while others charge extra.
- Basic IHT planning advice: £50–£250
- Advanced estate structuring with trusts: £500–£2,000+
Failing to plan ahead can result in tens of thousands in tax lost unnecessarily.
6. Foreign Assets and Multinational Wills
If you own property or hold citizenship abroad, you may need a separate will for each jurisdiction to avoid conflict of law or delays in probate.
- Multijurisdictional wills: £400–£1,500 per country
This is crucial for dual nationals, foreign investors, or anyone who migrated to the UK and still owns overseas land or assets.
How to Save Money When Making a Will (Without Cutting Corners)
While the average cost of a will in 2025 can be significant, there are ways to bring it down without compromising legal integrity. Cutting corners on a will is risky—but cutting costs the right way is smart.
Here are proven strategies to reduce will writing fees while keeping your will solid and enforceable.
1. Use a Hybrid Service: Digital + Legal Review
One of the best-value options in 2025 is using an online will-writing platform that includes solicitor oversight.
- Typical cost: £90–£200
- What you get: Guided online interface, legal review, legally valid document
- Bonus: Many include free updates for 12 months
This approach suits people with relatively simple estates but a low tolerance for risk.
2. Take Advantage of Free Wills Month or Charity Services
Several UK charities offer free will writing during designated periods—usually in March and October.
- You’re encouraged (but not required) to leave a gift in your will.
- Legal advice is often provided by partner solicitors.
- Ideal if you were planning to donate to charity anyway.
Notable programmes in 2025:
- Free Wills Month (for over 55s)
- Will Aid
- Cancer Research UK’s Free Will Service
Tip: These services tend to offer basic wills only. If you have complex needs, you may need to pay for upgrades.
3. Choose Mirror Wills for Couples
If you’re married or in a civil partnership and want to leave everything to each other, opt for mirror wills. They’re much cheaper than drafting two separate wills.
- 2025 cost: £150–£400 (vs £300–£600 for two solo wills)
- Some providers offer discounts for joint packages with LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney) or trusts
4. Bundle Legal Services
Need a Lasting Power of Attorney, property trust, or probate advice? Bundling them with your will can lower individual costs.
- Many estate law firms now offer “lifetime legal care packages”
- Expect 10–30% savings on combined services
- Some also offer monthly payment plans
5. Avoid Bank Will Services
Banks may offer will writing as part of their estate services, but they often charge high executor fees later (up to 5% of your estate).
- Instead: Use a solicitor or regulated will-writing specialist and appoint a trusted person as executor.
- You save both upfront and long-term.
6. Lock in Fixed-Fee Arrangements
Avoid hourly billing unless absolutely necessary. Choose firms or services that offer clear, fixed fees with a breakdown of what’s included. This prevents surprises.
- Ask in advance about:
- Witnessing
- Storage
- Updates
- Home visits
7. Don’t Overpay for Storage
Unless you’re storing physical originals due to personal preference, digital storage with registration is often more affordable and just as secure.
- Use the National Will Register and secure cloud services
- Check if your solicitor offers free storage for the first few years
Frequently Asked Questions
How much to make a will with a solicitor in 2025?
The cost to make a will with a solicitor in 2025 typically ranges from £150 to £1,200. The exact price depends on the complexity of your estate, your location in the UK, and whether you need extras such as trust clauses or inheritance tax advice. For straightforward wills, expect to pay around £150–£300, while complex wills with trusts or property clauses may cost significantly more.
How much to make a will online in 2025?
Online will-writing services in 2025 cost between £20 and £200. The cheaper end offers basic templates, while premium services include solicitor review and legal validation. If you’re looking to keep costs low without risking the legality of your will, choose a mid-tier platform with professional oversight.
How much to make a will if I have children?
If you have children, making a will becomes more important—and slightly more expensive. You’ll need to appoint legal guardians, include trust provisions, and potentially seek legal advice. In 2025, the average cost to make a will that includes guardian clauses and minor trusts ranges from £250 to £600, depending on whether you go online or work with a solicitor.
How much to make a mirror will for a couple?
Mirror wills—suitable for spouses or civil partners with similar wishes—cost less than two individual wills. In 2025, mirror wills typically cost between £150 and £400 when created through a solicitor or regulated will writer. Online platforms may offer joint packages starting around £120 with basic features.
How much to make a will that includes foreign property?
Owning assets abroad requires either an international clause in your UK will or a separate will for each country. In 2025, the cost to make a will that includes foreign assets starts at £400 and may go up to £1,500+ for full multijurisdictional estate planning. The safest route is usually to consult a solicitor with experience in cross-border estates.
How much to make a will if I own a business?
If you’re a business owner, your will needs to cover succession planning, shares, and potential tax liabilities. The cost to make a business-inclusive will in 2025 ranges from £500 to £1,200, especially if trust structures or shareholder agreements need to be integrated. Skipping this step can create massive legal headaches for your heirs.
How much to make a will that includes digital assets?
Digital assets—like online banking, crypto wallets, cloud storage, and social media—require specific clauses in your will. In 2025, including digital asset instructions usually adds £50–£150 to your will-writing cost. Some services bundle this in for free with mid-range packages.
How much to make a will with inheritance tax advice?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) advice helps reduce your estate’s tax burden, which kicks in over the £325,000 threshold. Wills that include this kind of planning generally cost £350 to £1,000+ in 2025. This cost varies depending on whether you use trusts, charitable donations, or life insurance integration.
How much to make a will in London vs. other UK cities?
In 2025, London solicitors often charge a premium—basic wills can start at £300+, while the same service in cities like Manchester, Birmingham, or Glasgow may cost £150–£200. Remote services help level the playing field if location-based pricing is a concern.
How much to make a will during Free Wills Month?
During events like Free Wills Month, eligible UK residents (often aged 55+) can make a basic will at no charge through participating charities and solicitors. While the cost is £0, you’re encouraged to leave a legacy gift to the sponsoring charity. Outside of promotional periods, charity will schemes typically cost £90–£150 for a basic will.
How much to make a will and Lasting Power of Attorney together?
Many firms offer bundled packages for wills and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)—especially useful for safeguarding your finances and medical care. In 2025, combined packages start from £400 for one person and go up to £800–£1,200 for a couple with both documents included.
Are you allowed to write a will if you are on a Temporary Work Visa in UK?
Yes, you are allowed to write a will in the UK even if you’re on a Temporary Work Visa UK. There are no immigration restrictions preventing temporary visa holders from making a legally valid will in the UK
Ready to Secure Your Future?
Knowing how much to make a will is only the first step. Taking action is what protects your family, your assets, and your peace of mind.
At Salam Immigration, we work with trusted legal partners who understand the needs of UK residents from diverse backgrounds—especially those with international ties, blended families, or complex estates.
Contact us today to begin your will-making journey the right way.
