Can I Write My Own Will Without a Solicitor?

No legal requirement for a solicitor

English law does not require a solicitor to be involved in writing or witnessing a will. A will written at the kitchen table, signed and witnessed correctly, is as legally valid as one drafted by a partner at a City law firm. The formalities are what matter, not who prepared the document.

That said, the approach that works for you depends on how straightforward your situation is.

The three options

Writing it yourself from scratch. Free, but carries real risk unless you know what you are doing. Will-writing requires precise language. Ambiguous or incorrect drafting can mean gifts fail, create unintended tax consequences, or trigger expensive disputes after your death. Handwritten wills (holographic wills) are valid in England if properly signed and witnessed, but mistakes are common and expensive to unpick.

Online will writing service. Guides you through a structured questionnaire and produces a legally drafted document. Costs £30 to £150 depending on the service. Appropriate for most straightforward situations: a single person or couple with a clear set of beneficiaries, a straightforward asset picture, and no unusual circumstances.

Solicitor. More expensive — typically £200 to £500 for a simple will, more for complex work. Worth it when the estate involves a trust, a blended family with potential disputes, overseas property, a business, significant inheritance tax considerations, or any situation where you expect the will to be challenged.

What counts as straightforward

A will is genuinely straightforward when: you know who you want to inherit, those people are alive and identifiable, your assets are conventional (house, savings, pension, personal property), and there is no obvious reason why anyone would challenge the will after your death.

Most people's situations fit this description.

What makes a situation complex

Blended families — particularly where there are children from previous relationships alongside a current spouse. The question of who gets what, and in what order, requires careful drafting.

Overseas property. Each country has its own succession rules, and a UK will may not govern property in France, Spain, or elsewhere.

Business interests. Shares in a private company, a partnership interest, or a business with partners all require specific treatment.

Estrangement. If you want to exclude someone who might expect to inherit and who might challenge the will, a solicitor can structure the document and supporting evidence in ways that reduce that risk.

Capacity concerns. If your capacity might be questioned, a solicitor can manage the witnessing process and create a record of your state of mind at the time.

How PureWill fits in

PureWill is designed for straightforward wills. The form handles the most common situations — married or unmarried couples, children, specific gifts, guardians, basic charitable bequests — and produces a valid will document at a fraction of solicitor rates. We flag complexity at every step and tell you clearly when a solicitor would serve you better.

If your situation is straightforward, you do not need a solicitor. If it is not, we will tell you.