Free guide to making a Will in the UK 

How to make a Will that gives your final wishes the power of law!

By making a Will, you are simply ensuring that your final wishes are legally recognised.

More importantly though, writing your Last Will and Testament gives you the certainty and peace of mind from knowing that your property and possessions (also known as your estate) will be passed on exactly as you want on your death.

Without making a Will, the state will decide who gets what from your belongings and how much, so those who you would want to benefit may get far less than you hoped. Like most people, you might assume that your property would automatically go to your spouse and children on your death. In fact, their share would be decided by the laws of intestacy which could mean a potentially long and expensive probate process for those hoping to benefit from your estate.

If you're making a Will without a Solicitor ...

A legally valid Will does not require a solicitor to draft or witness it. You can write your own Will at any time but it will only have power in law if it is drafted correctly and is up to date. There are books available to show you how to create a Will yourself and some popular online Will writing services (see below) such as Ten Minute Will and Will Drafters.

However, writing a Will without a solicitor is really only viable if your affairs are straightforward and even then it is advisable to have a solicitor or professional Wills writer check your Last Will and Testament for any mistakes. If your will is complicated, involves a business, or there are numerous family members likely to make a claim on it, you should get expert advice.

If you're making a Will online ...

If your affairs are straightforward, an online Will writing service may save you time and money. The best Will writing services employ professional will writers to check the final draft of your Last Will and Testament and ask you a series of specific questions about your affairs. Using your responses, your Will is drafted, either online or through the post, from appropriate legal paragraphs tested by precedent.

Two Will writing services with good reputations are Ten Minute Will and Will Drafters. Both use professional Will writers to verify the legal validity of their Wills and provide a range of supportive information during the process of drafting a Will.

Whilst there are some good online Will writing services that make the process quick and simple, you should be extra careful as a poorly drafted Will is almost as bad as having no Will at all. If you are in any doubt about creating a Will online, consult a Solicitor, or a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers who will advise you on how to make a Will.

DIY Wills using books, kits or software ...

You can buy DIY Will kits, books and Will writing software from most good stationery and book shops or order them online from various sources priced at between £5-20. Whilst writing a Will using a kit or computer software programme is a cheap and simple route, it's only for the very simplest situations and even then should still be reviewed by an an expert.

If you already have a Will ...

Is it up to date? When you write your own Will it reflects and enforces your wishes at the time it is drawn up. As life goes on and circumstances change so might your wishes for how your assets and belongings are distributed on your death.

You should review and reconsider the contents of your Will at least every five years and after any substantial change to your family or affairs. The most common changes that affect Wills are:

• marriage or re-marriage
• divorce or separation
• birth or adoption of children

Secure your wishes by writing a Will ...

70% of people fail to confirm their wishes by writing a Will. Leaving your family with uncertainty, expense and probate delays would not be a welcome legacy for those left behind. Take action now and secure your wishes by writing your Will today.