A Will without a solicitor typically costs £0 to £200 for most straightforward situations (depending on whether you use a DIY kit or an online Will service). If you want a more supported, personalised Will-writing service (often with a detailed fact-find and guidance), costs are more commonly £150 to £400+, especially where family or estate details are more complex.

It is our firm belief at Soteria Estate planning that the right option isn’t about price, it is about risk, clarity and confidence. A Will is only useful if it is legally valid and says what you think it says.

Quick cost breakdown: non-solicitor Will options

Here is what people usually mean when they ask a search engine “a Will without a solicitor”:

1) DIY Will templates and Will kits: £0 to £35

These work for very simple estates and people confident that all of their finances, assets and wider estate will not be disputed in any way by anyone in their family or wider business network.

• Basic templates can cost around £10.

• Off-the-shelf Will kits are often £20–£35

What you are paying for: a template + instructions and absolutely no advice let alone tailored direction.

2) Online Will-writing services: typical UK pricing

Best for: straightforward Wills where you still want structure and some checks.

Industry-average price (UK):

• Single Will: typically £80–£150

• Couples / mirror Wills: typically £140–£250

What influences where you land in that range:

• Whether you get a template-only journey or human review by a qualified drafter

• The number of revisions included

• Add-ons like telephone appointments, home visits, secure Will storage, and future update options

• Complexity triggers (children from previous relationships, trusts, business interests, overseas assets) which may push you into a higher-tier package

What you are paying for: a guided online process that turns your answers into a Will, often with optional review/support depending on the package typically more reassurance than DIY, but less hands-on than a boutique, fully advised service.

3) Professional Will writers (non-solicitor): ~£150 to £400+

Best for: people who want a “talk it through properly” service, or have moving parts (children, blended family, property, business interests, beneficiary concerns).

While pricing varies by provider and complexity, this is typically where you pay for:

• an in-depth fact find

• tailored drafting

• clear explanations and planning prompts

• help reducing common errors that cause disputes later

Consumer guidance from MoneyHelper notes Will-writing services are often cheaper than solicitors and can suit simple Wills needing “extra advice” but protections/regulation differ, so checking standards and insurance matters.

What makes one “non-solicitor Will” cost more than another?

A Will is rarely “just a document”. The cost usually reflects how much human expertise, checking and ongoing support is built into the service.

The biggest cost drivers

• Family situation: children from previous relationships, stepchildren, estrangement, or likely disputes

• Guardianship: appointing guardians for children and writing clear trustees/executor instructions

• Assets: property ownership, high-value estates, or overseas assets

• Business ownership: shares in a limited company or partnership arrangements

• Vulnerable beneficiaries: disability, addiction, or beneficiaries who need structured support

• Trust-based planning: anything involving trusts (often a different tier of drafting and risk)

As a rule of thumb:
If your Will needs more than “leave everything to X, then to the kids equally”, you usually benefit from more than a template.

What is typically included in the price (and what might be extra)

DIY kits usually include

• a template Will

• basic guidance notes

• sometimes extra “organiser” documents (varies by kit)

Usually not included: personalised advice, checking, or suitability testing.

Online services usually include

• a guided questionnaire

• a drafted Will based on your answers

• optional review levels (varies by provider)

• sometimes: ongoing updates via subscription, Will storage as an add-on, or phone support (farewill.com)

Watch for:

• extra costs for “review”, “storage”, or future amendments

• subscriptions for ongoing updates (some services advertise annual fees after year one) (farewill.com)

Professional Will writers usually include

• a real conversation (often more than one)

• sense-checking your instructions (e.g., “does this actually achieve what you want?”)

• drafting tailored clauses for your scenario

• guidance on signing and witnessing correctly

• often: clearer handover notes for executors (varies)

This is the “middle ground” many people actually want: not DIY, not “big-city solicitor pricing”, but still done properly.

That is also where Soteria Estate Planning sits: a boutique approach that takes time to understand your situation, explains choices clearly, and keeps pricing transparent without treating you like a transaction.

Hidden costs (and hidden risks) of cheaper Will options

This is the part most people only learn after a problem shows up.

Common hidden costs

• Add-ons that become “essential” (storage, review, future changes)

• Extra fees for mirror Wills, guardianship wording, or more complex clauses

• Paying twice when a “cheap Will” needs rewriting later because it doesn’t fit your life (new baby, new property, divorce, second marriage)

Common hidden risks

• Ambiguity: a template can be legally valid but unclear which is where disputes live

• Unsuitable structure: the Will may not match your property ownership, family structure or intentions

• Execution errors: incorrect signing/witnessing can invalidate the Will entirely

DIY Wills are cheap but can be risky and are only really suitable for very simple situations, because execution and legal/tax complexity can trip people up.

Is a Will without a solicitor legally valid?

Yes, a Will does not have to be written by a solicitor to be legally valid.

In England and Wales, what matters is whether it is properly signed and witnessed.

To be valid, your Will must (in general):

• be in writing

• be signed by you (or someone signing for you, in your presence and by your direction)

• be signed in front of two witnesses

• and your witnesses must sign the Will, with you having a clear view of them signing (GOV.UK)

Practical witness tips (commonly recommended):

• witnesses should be independent (not beneficiaries, and ideally not connected to beneficiaries) (Legal & General)

If you’re unsure about witnessing, it is one of the biggest “small mistakes, huge consequences” areas and a strong reason people choose a supported service rather than DIY.

When should you use a solicitor instead?

There are times when paying solicitor fees is worth it not because a solicitor Will is “more valid” but because the scenario is higher risk.

It might be worth considering a solicitor when your affairs are extremely complex, such as potential inheritance tax exposure, difficult family situations, or needing to protect someone’s interests.

A solicitor is often sensible if you have:

• complex trust planning needs

• substantial overseas assets

• a high conflict family situation (likely dispute)

• business structures that need coordinated legal planning

• significant inheritance tax planning requirements

For context, consumer guidance puts solicitor-drafted Wills commonly in the £150–£408range for simple cases, rising for complexity.

Some boutique Will writing companies, like us here at Soteria Estate Planning, will have an in house legally trained person working with them providing the correct advice and guidance without the hour by hour charge.

How to choose a Will writer safely: what to look for (and red flags)

Because Will writing isn’t “one size fits all” and because the sector includes both excellent and poor providers, it is worth knowing what good looks like.

Green flags (good signs)

• Clear, written pricing and what is included

• A proper fact-find (they ask about assets, family, property ownership, guardians, executors)

• Will draft provided for review before signing

• Clear guidance on signing and witnessing

• Professional indemnity insurance

• Membership of a recognised trade body such as:

o The Society of Will Writers

o Institute of Professional Willwriters

Red flags (pause and ask more questions)

• “Too fast” or “too easy” without asking meaningful questions

• Pressure tactics or time-limited discounts that rush decisions

• Vague promises like “covers everything” with no written scope

• No proof of insurance, no clear complaints process, no professional standards referenced

• Being pushed to name the provider as executor without fully understanding implications and fees

Also note: Parliament’s library briefing summarises that there’s no sector-specific regulation preventing anyone from offering will writing, so the provider’s standards and protections matter. (House of Commons Library)

Questions to ask any Will provider before you pay

Use these as a quick checklist:

1. What’s included in your price? (draft, revisions, review call, signing guidance, storage?)

2. Do you have professional indemnity insurance?

3. Are you a member of a professional body (IPW or SWW)?

4. How do you handle complex family situations? (blended families, estrangement, vulnerable beneficiaries)

5. How many revisions are included?

6. Will you explain my Will to me in plain English?

7. What happens if I need to update it later? (fees, subscription, turnaround)

8. Where will my Will be stored, and how will my executors find it?

A good provider will answer these calmly and clearly with no defensiveness or rushing.

The “middle-ground” option: professional support without solicitor pricing

Many people searching “How much does a Will cost without a solicitor?” are really asking:

“How do I keep costs sensible without gambling on something important?”

That is exactly where a boutique Will-writing service can be ideal.

With Soteria Estate Planning, the focus is not “quick and dirty” and not inflated for the sake of it. It is about taking the time to understand your circumstances, flagging the common pitfalls and giving you a Will you can feel confident about.

Not everyone needs a solicitor but most people do benefit from a proper conversation and a professional draft, especially if you have children, property, or any “it’s a bit complicated” elements.

FAQs

How much is a basic Will without a solicitor?

A basic Will without a solicitor is often £10–£35 for a DIY kit, or ~£60–£150 through many online Will services, depending on whether you want review/support included.

Is an online Will legally valid in the UK?

Yes, an online Will can be legally valid if it meets the same signing and witnessing rules as any other Will (two witnesses, proper signing process).

What’s the cheapest way to make a Will?

The cheapest way is a free template or a low-cost DIY template (often around £10) but it is only suitable if your situation is genuinely simple and you execute it correctly.

When is DIY Will writing a bad idea?

DIY is often a poor fit if you have:

• children and guardianship needs

• a blended family

• property and “who gets what” isn’t straightforward

• anyone likely to challenge your wishes
Because the risk isn’t just making a mistake, it is leaving ambiguity that creates stress, delay and legal costs later for those you care about most at a time you can’t do anything about it...

Should I use a solicitor or a Will writer?

Use a solicitor if your situation is extremely complex (trusts, overseas assets, likely disputes, major tax planning). Otherwise, a professional Will writer can be an excellent middle ground often more affordable, but still guided and tailored.

A gentle next step

If you’re weighing up options, a useful approach is:

• If your situation is very simple and you’re confident: DIY can work.

• If you want it done properly without solicitor-level fees: a supported Will-writing service is usually the sweet spot.

• If your situation is high risk or very complex: consider a solicitor.

If you’d like help working out which category you’re in, Soteria Estate Planning can talk through your circumstances in plain English and explain the right level of support with fair, transparent pricing and no pressure.

How Much Does a Will Cost without a Solicitor? UK Prices, Options and What You Actually Get