will writing service cost uk

Making a will

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

Why it is important to make a will

It is important for you to make a will whether or not you consider you have many possessions or much money. It is important to make a will because:

if you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed

unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner

if you have children, you will need to make a will so that arrangements for the children can be made if either one or both parents die

it may be possible to reduce the amount of tax payable on the inheritance if advice is taken in advance and a will is made

if your circumstances have changed, it is important that you make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner now lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you are married or enter into a registered civil partnership, this will make any previous will you have made invalid

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you should make a will, you should consult a solicitor - find out how to get legal advice .

For more information about what happens if someone dies without making a will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Whether you should use a solicitor

There is no need for a will to be drawn up or witnessed by a solicitor. If you wish to make a will yourself, you can do so. However, you should only consider doing this if the will is going to be straightforward.

It is generally advisable to use a solicitor or to have a solicitor check a will you have drawn up to make sure it will have the effect you want. This is because it is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. Sorting out misunderstandings and disputes after your death may result in considerable legal costs, which will reduce the amount of money in the estate.

You should remember that a solicitor will charge for their services in drawing up or checking a will. They should give you the best possible information about the cost of their services. They should give you this at the beginning of their work with you.

Some common mistakes in making a will are:

not being aware of the formal requirements needed to make a will legally valid

failing to take account of all the money and property available

failing to take account of the possibility that a beneficiary may die before the person making the will

changing the will. If these alterations are not signed and witnessed, they are invalid

being unaware of the effect of marriage, a registered civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership on a will

being unaware of the rules which exist to enable dependants to claim from the estate if they believe they are not adequately provided for. These rules mean that the provisions in the will could be overturned

When it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor

There are some circumstances when it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor. These are where:

you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner

you wish to make provision for a dependant who is unable to care for themselves

there are several family members who may make a claim on the will, for example, a second wife or children from a first marriage

your permanent home is not in the United Kingdom

you are resident here but there is overseas property involved

there is a business involved

Other help with writing a will

If you are a member of a trade union, you may find that the union offers a free will writing service. A union will often use its own solicitors to undertake this work.

There are books which provide guidance on how to draw up a will. These can help you decide if you should draw up your own will and also help you decide if any of the pre-printed will forms available from stationers and charities are suitable. It is also possible to find help on the internet.

Will-writing services are available. However, will-writing firms are not regulated by the Law Society so there are few safeguards if things go wrong.

If you decide to use a will-writing firm, consider using one that belongs to The Institute of Professional Willwriters which has a code of practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS).

Traders in this scheme display the TSI approved code logo.

When you see the logo, it means that the trader has agreed to provide good standards of service including clear information before a contract is signed, a clear complaints procedure and access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme for settling out of court.

You can search for a will-writing firm belonging to The Institute of Professional Willwriters  on their website.

How much does a solicitor cost

The charges for drawing up a will vary between solicitors and also depend on the complexity of the will.

Before making a decision on who to use, it's always advisable to check with a few local solicitors to find out how much they charge.

You might have access to legal advice through an addition to an insurance policy that covers the costs of a solicitor preparing or checking a will. If you're a member of a trade union you might find that the union offers a free wills service to members.

The charity Will Aid has set up a partnership between certain solicitors and nine well-known charities.

Every November, participating solicitors will write a basic will free of charge in return for a donation to Will Aid.

You can find out about the suggested minimum donation amount, and details of solicitors who can help on the Will Aid website . 

It's also worth you giving some thought to what you want to say in the will before seeing a solicitor. This should help reduce the costs involved.

What should be included in a will

To save time and reduce costs when going to a solicitor, you should give some thought to the major points which you want included in your will. You should consider such things as:

how much money and what property and possessions you have, for example, property, savings, occupational and personal pensions, insurance policies, bank and building society accounts, shares

who you want to benefit from your will. You should make a list of all the people to whom you wish to leave money or possessions. These people are known as beneficiaries. You also need to consider whether you wish to leave any money to charity

who should look after any children under 18

who is going to sort out the estate and carry out your wishes as set out in the will. These people are known as the executors

Who are executors

Executors are the people who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes and for sorting out the estate.

They will have to collect together all the assets of the estate, deal with all the paperwork and pay all the debts, taxes, funeral and administration costs out of money in the estate.

They will need to pay out the gifts and transfer any property to beneficiaries.

Who to choose as executors

It is not necessary to appoint more than 1 executor although it is advisable to do so - for example, in case one of them dies.

It is common to appoint 2, but up to 4 executors can take on responsibility for administering the will after a death.

The people most commonly appointed as executors are:

relatives or friends

solicitors or accountants

the Public Trustee or in some cases the Official Solicitor if there is no one else willing and able to act

It is important to choose executors with considerable care since their job involves a great deal of work and responsibility.

You should always approach anyone you are thinking of appointing as an executor to see if they will agree to take on the responsibility. If someone is appointed who is not willing to be an executor, they have a right to refuse.

If an executor dies, any other surviving executor(s) can deal with the estate. If there are no surviving executors, legal advice should be sought.

For more information about what executors have to do, see Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

Requirements for a valid will

In order for a will to be valid, it must be:

made by a person who is 18 years old or over and

made voluntarily and without pressure from any other person and

made by a person who is of sound mind. This means the person must be fully aware of the nature of the document being written or signed and aware of the property and the identify of the people who may inherit and

in writing and

signed by the person making the will in the presence of two witnesses and

signed by the two witnesses, in the presence of the person making the will, after it has been signed.

A witness or the married partner of a witness cannot benefit from a will. If a witness is a beneficiary (or the married partner or civil partner of a beneficiary), the will is still valid but the beneficiary will not be able to inherit under the will.

Although it will be legally valid even if it is not dated, it is advisable to ensure that the will also includes the date on which it is signed.

As soon as the will is signed and witnessed, it is complete.

If someone makes a will but it is not legally valid, on their death their estate will be shared out under certain rules, not according to the wishes expressed in the will.

For more information about the rules if someone dies without leaving a valid will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Wills of service personnel on active service

The requirements for a valid will are less stringent for service personnel on active service. Such wills are known as privileged wills.

If you need further help about privileged wills, you can contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau or seek legal advice.

Where to keep a will

Once a will has been made, it should be kept in a safe place and other documents should not be attached to it. There are a number of places where you can keep a will:-

with a solicitor or accountant

at the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court, a District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry for safe keeping. If you wish to deposit a will in this way you should visit the District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry or write to:

Probate Department (England and Wales)

Principal Registry of the Family Division

First Avenue House

42-49 High Holborn

Tel: 020 7947 7022 (safe custody enquiries); 020 7947 6983 (how to obtain a will - recorded message); 020 7947 6043/6939 (personal application enquiries)

Probate Helpline: 0300 123 1072

Fax: 020 7947 6946

Looking for copies of a will after someone dies

Someone close to you may have died and you think they made a will but you can't find one in their home.

Check to see if you can find a certificate of deposit, which will have been sent to them if they arranged for the will to be kept by the Principal Registry of the Family Division.

Even if you can't find a certificate of deposit, you can still check with the Registry to see if they hold the will. If the person died in a care home or a hospital you could check to see if the will was left with them.

You should also contact the person's solicitor, accountant or bank to see if they hold the will.

The person who has died, or their solicitor, may have registered their will with a commercial organisation such as Certainty ( www.certainty.co.uk ) and, after the person's death, you can pay for a search of the wills registered on the company's database.

You can also ask the company to contact solicitors in the area where the person lived to ask if they hold a will.

If you can't find a will, you will usually have to deal with the estate of the person who has died as if they died without leaving a will.

For more information, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Getting a copy of the will when probate has been granted

When someone dies, the person who is dealing with their estate (for example, money and property) must usually get authorisation to do so from the Probate Service.

If there is a will, this authorisation is called a grant of probate.

When probate is granted, the will is kept by the Probate Service and any member of the public can get a copy.

If you want to search for the will of a person who died recently, you can apply to the Probate Service for a standing search to be made.

They will check their records to see if a grant of probate has been made in the twelve months before your application, and they will continue to check for six months afterwards.

If a grant has been made, they will send you a copy of the grant and a copy of the will, if any. A fee is payable.

You can renew your search at the end of 6 months for a further fee. It may  be advisable to wait 2 or 3 months after the death before you apply for a search.

You can find out how to apply for a standing search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

If you want to do your own search, or if you want to search for the will of someone who died more than twelve months ago, you can do a general search.

A general search by the Probate Registry will cover a four year period and a fee is payable. If you go to the Probate Registry to do the search yourself, no charge is made, but you still have to pay to get a copy of the grant of probate and the will, if any.

You can find out how to apply for a general search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

Personal application

You can make a personal search free of charge by going to the Principal Registry of the Family Division (see under heading Where to keep a will ). If you want to inspect or take a copy of the will, there is a fee of £5.

Local application

You can order a copy of a will or grant of probate at any district probate registry.

You will need to give the full name of the person who died, the date probate was granted and the name of the registry office where it was issued. The fee is £5.

To find a district probate registry, search on GOV.UK at  https://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/search/postcode .

Change of circumstances

When a will has been made, it is important to keep it up to date to take account of changes in circumstances.

It is advisable for you to reconsider the contents of a will regularly to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. The most common changes of circumstances which affect a will are:

getting married, remarried or registering a civil partnership

getting divorced, dissolving a civil partnership or separating

the birth or adoption of children, if you wish to add these as beneficiaries in a will

How to change a will

You may want to change your will because there has been a change of circumstances.

You must not do this by amending the original will after it has been signed and witnessed.

Any obvious alterations on the face of the will are assumed to have been made at a later date and so do not form part of the original legally valid will.

The only way you can change a will is by making:

a codicil to the will or

A codicil is a supplement to a will which makes some alterations but leaves the rest of it intact. This might be done, for example, to increase a cash legacy, change an executor or guardian named in a will, or to add beneficiaries.

A codicil must be signed by the person who made the will and be witnessed in the same way. However, the witnesses do not have to be the same as for the original will.

There is no limit on how many codicils can be added to a will, but they are only suitable for very straightforward changes. If a complicated change is involved, it is usually advisable to make a new will.

If you wish to make major changes to a will, it is advisable to make a new one.

The new will should begin with a clause stating that it revokes all previous wills and codicils. The old will should be destroyed. Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

Destroying a will

If you want to destroy a will, you must burn it, tear it up or otherwise destroy it with the clear intention that it is revoked.

There is a risk that if a copy subsequently reappears (or bits of the will are reassembled), it might be thought that the destruction was accidental.

You must destroy the will yourself or it must be destroyed in your presence.

A simple instruction alone to an executor to destroy a will has no effect. If the will is destroyed accidentally, it is not revoked and can still be declared valid.

Although a will can be revoked by destruction, it is always advisable that a new will should contain a clause revoking all previous wills and codicils.

Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

If a person who made a will takes their own life

If a person who made a will takes their own life, the will is still valid.

Challenging a will

A person may want to challenge a will because:

they believe that the will is invalid or

they believe that they have not been adequately provided for in the will

There are strict time limits for challenging a will and if you want to challenge a will, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

If you want to challenge the will because you believe you haven't been adequately provided for, the time limit is 6 months from the grant of probate. Your local Citizens Advice can give you lists of solicitors. You can  search for your nearest Citizens Advice .

If you are named in someone else's will as an executor, you may have to apply for probate so that you can deal with their estate.

For more information about probate, see  Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

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How Much Does a Will Cost?

Each year, 1 in 3 people die without writing a Will. A Will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your assets for your families and friends.

Not having a Will can make what is already a difficult time, harder and more unpleasant due to there being no set document to specify who gets what.

Although making plans for after you die is often an unpleasant consideration, making a Will is very important, no matter your age. Having a Will assures that your family and friends are protected, and your assets will be distributed in the way you desire.

What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document where you leave instructions for how you want your money, home, and assets to be divided once you have passed away.

It is an important part of estate planning and can help assure that you’re not paying more inheritance tax than necessary.

Why a Will is Important

It’s important to have a Will in place even if you are young and healthy. This is because a Will gives you the peace of mind that your family members and loved ones will be looked after if you pass away.

Over 70% of people in the UK below the age of 64 have not yet drawn up their last Will and testament. Although more people aged 65 and over have a Will, still 40% have not yet obtained one. Many people don’t leave a Will as they don’t believe they have enough to leave or simply don’t wish to contemplate the future.

Research conducted by Royal London in 2018 shows that 59% (30 million UK residents) of people don’t have a Will or their Will has expired.

Although many people may believe that their assets can be sorted out easily after their death, this is often not true. Not having a Will can cause many issues for your bereaved family who may have to apply to the court to gain access to your money or to pay funeral costs, mortgages, and other important expenses.

Benefits of Having a Will

Having an executor.

Having a Will means you can appoint an executor who will administer your affairs.

Protect your Children

If you have children, in the case that you die, you will want to name someone who will act as a guardian. If you don’t have anyone named, the government may get involved and your wishes for your children may not happen.

Have a Say in Your Burial Preference

If you want to choose between burial or cremation a Will allows for you to express your burial preferences. Additionally, if you have a cremation, you can state where you would like your ashes to be scattered.

Have Your Say in How Your Assets are Divided

A Will ensures that your wishes for how your assets are divided are met. Additionally, if you wish your assets to only go to your grandchildren if their parents predecease you, a will can assure this happens.

Protecting Your Assets

If a dreadful event leads to all your family passing away in a single event, your assets may be passed onto a person or family member that you do not know. A Will allows you to think about whether you will want your money to go to charity if this happens.

Protecting a Family Business

A family business heirloom may not be able to stay in your family if you were to die. When you own something of significance such as a business, it is important to make plans to avoid potential conflicts.

Beneficiaries

A Will allows you to include and exclude beneficiaries.

What To Include When Writing a Will

When writing a Will, you will need to consider the following:

• Who the beneficiaries of your estate are (to whom you are leaving certain assets)
• What happens if all the beneficiaries die before you
• Who the executors of your estate will be (the people managing your estate)
• Who will look after children under 18 years old

When making your Will, your solicitor will help and advise you to make sure that your Will reflects your wishes. A solicitor can help you make important decisions and check your Will for errors and discrepancies that may invalidate it.

How Much Does a Will Cost UK?

The cost of making a Will varies depending on whether you write a Will online, yourself or enlist the help of a Will-writing solicitor. The cost can range anything from £30 if you write the Will yourself through to £500 if you have a solicitor’s help and there are some complexities involved. On average the cost of a Will is £150 – £250.

Will Writing Solicitor

Getting a Will-writing solicitor is recommended to make sure that your Will is legal and valid.

Typically, Will prices start from £250 upwards, depending on the complexity of your affairs.

Writing a Joint Will

When making a Will you have the option to make it a joint Will. This is where you create your will as a couple.

As a result, the cost of a joint Will is slightly higher than a single Will. A joint Will requires a Will-writing solicitor, as the Wills are more complex than a single Will.

The cost for a joint Will is usually on estimate at around £250 – £700, depending on the complexity of your affairs.

Will and Power of Attorney

If you make a Will for just yourself using a Will-writing solicitor, the costs will typically start from around £150. If you additionally set up a Power of Attorney, the total will usually start from around £350.

However, if you set up a Will, power of attorney for health and welfare and property and financial affairs, you may be eligible to get a discount on the overall cost. Typically, this would cost around £500 – £600.

Get in contact with our Wills and Probate solicitors to discuss the costs of your affairs.

Getting a Quote From Our Will Writing Solicitors

The above prices are there to give an estimate of the price of your Will, however, the price of writing a Will depends on the specifics of your case.

The Benefits of Using Will Writing Solicitors

The benefits of using a solicitor to write your Will are:

• Our Will-writing solicitors know how to navigate the law and rules. This includes complicated laws on inheritance tax. This means that you can make informed choices and avoid paying any unnecessary taxes.
• A Will-writing solicitor will be able to assure there are no mistakes in your Will. Having a mistake in your will can invalidate the will, causing stress to your loved ones after you die.
• Will-writing solicitors have to follow professional standards. At Cartwright King, our solicitors are authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Therefore, you are protected if something goes wrong as you can complain to the solicitor’s firm followed by submitting a complaint to the legal ombudsman.
• There is a low risk of losing your Will because our Will-writing solicitors will store the original Will for free.
• A solicitor can act as an executor, managing the estate after your death, if desired. The solicitor will charge a percentage or your estate as an executor or for their time. They will take a fee out of your estate after you pass away. If you want to appoint Cartwright King’s Will-writing solicitors as your executor, get in contact with our friendly team to discuss.
• A solicitor provides protection and regulation that a Will-writing service does not provide. A Will writing service will be unlikely to store a Will for you and cannot give qualified legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you die without writing a will.

If you die without a Will this can cause some issues for your surviving family. By not leaving a Will you can put your family and loved ones at risk of not having a right to access funds. This could be because the person was not married to you, or the Will that was drawn up was not legally valid.

Under the Rules of Intestacy, only married or civil partners (and on some occasions other close relatives) are entitled to benefit financially from your estate if you don’t leave a Will.

When you die, whoever is dealing with the estate will have to apply for probate. You can read about the costs of probate link here .

Changing Your Will

Once your Will has been written, it’s important to check it regularly to ensure it’s up to date and valid. You should also review your Will after any big life events such as:

- Having a child - Getting married - Death of a beneficiary

You can make some minor changes to your Will. This includes changing the names of certain properties by using what is known as a codicil.

Any codicils should be overseen by a solicitor and kept alongside the original Will.

If you wish to change a lot of parts of your Will, it may be best to get a new one drafted.

Cartwright King’s Will Writing Solicitors

Our Will-writing solicitors are happy to advise you on the most suitable type of Will for you, and how to go about appointing Executors. We can also hold a copy of your Will so that you don’t have to worry about keeping it safe.

To get a quote for your will, get in contact today and our solicitors will advise you.

Legal Disclaimer .

All advice is correct at time of publication.

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• Wills, Trusts & Estates

Will Writing Services

A Will is a legal document that lets you decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions (your ‘estate’) after your death. It allows you to clearly set out your wishes and decide who’s responsible (executor) for dealing with your estate. It also sets out any procedures the executor may need to follow. With effective planning, a Will can also make sure that your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way.

If you don’t make a Will, the law will divide your estate according to what’s known as the rules of intestacy. These rules are very fixed and may not reflect what you’d like to happen to your wealth, or what’s most tax efficient.

More information about Wills can be found in our Wills Guide . You can also choose one of the options listed:

• Making A Will
• Our Online and Postal Will Service
• Our Bespoke Will Service
• Reviewing And/Or Changing Your Existing Will
• Accessing Your Documents
• Contesting Or Defending A Will
• Choosing Or Being Named As An Executor

Making a Will

Our friendly team of experts can help you prepare a Will to:

• Make sure your money and property go to the people you want them to go to
• Minimise inheritance tax
• Name trusted people as executors* to sort out your affairs when you die
• Appoint legal guardians for any children who are still minors
• Reflect changes in your life circumstances, such as marriage or divorce, or the birth of children or grandchildren
• Ensure gifts of personal items are left to the right people
• Set up trusts and make gifts to charity.

*We act as executors for many clients and have administered thousands of estates.

Choosing the right Will service for you

Our Will services are easy to use and can be tailored to your needs. We can help you decide what type of service would suit you best.

Our online and postal Will service

This fixed fee service may be perfect for you if:

• Your estate, personal circumstances and wishes are relatively straightforward
• You’re happy to complete a secure online questionnaire or complete and return a postal form
• You don’t want advice on inheritance tax planning, trusts or other aspects covered by our bespoke service.

And with this service, if you appoint Irwin Mitchell as your executor, you’ll also get access to our Wills Assured service.

Fees for our online will service are £175 for a single Will or £260 for ‘mirror’ Wills.

If you prefer to use our postal service, fees are £195 for a single Will or £295 for ‘mirror’ Wills and you can download the form  and send it back to us.

Our bespoke Will service

We know that life can sometimes be more complex, involving scenarios that are unique to you and your family. This means your Will may need to reflect this, with a more tailored and bespoke solution to give you and your loved ones the confidence and security you need.

You may prefer dedicated legal and tax advice tailored to your needs if:

• You prefer to discuss your wishes and options with an adviser at an in person or virtual meeting or on the phone
• You would like to talk about inheritance tax planning or trusts
• You need advice on how to provide for your beneficiaries, taking into account their particular circumstances
• You have business interests, agricultural assets, overseas assets, international connections or your estate is over £1m
• You are a beneficiary of a trust
• You have made gifts over £3,000 in any tax year
• You or your partner have children from a previous relationship.

Our fees for the Will drafting elements of this service start from £850 plus VAT for a single Will or from £1,050 plus VAT for ‘mirror’ Wills and depend on your particular requirements. We’ll be able to give you an indication of the likely cost after an initial chat and, once we know more, we’ll confirm fees in writing before we proceed. We’ll also highlight other services that may be of interest to you such as advice on estate planning, powers of attorney, trusts and tax.

Sharia-compliant Islamic Wills

A Sharia-compliant Islamic Will (Wasiyyah) can be suitable for Muslims who’d like their assets to pass in accordance with the principles of Sharia law. Our solicitors are experts in Sharia law compliance and can help you provide for your family in a way that follows your faith.

Wills Assured Service

As part of our online and postal Will Service, we also offer our Wills Assured Service. Once finalised, we can store your Will for you. If you appoint Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited as the executor of your estate, you’ll also able to make free amendments as part of our Wills Assured Service .

This package of additional benefits is designed to make life simpler for you and your loved ones knowing:

• Your Will is kept safe and will be easy to access after your death
• You can update it at any time if your circumstances change
• All your important digital information is in one place.

Reviewing or changing your existing Will (Adding a Codicil)

An up-to-date Will is essential for making sure your wishes reflect your current situation and includes everyone you wish.

It’s good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it considers any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

We suggest reviewing your Will following major life changes, for example if:

• You get married or divorced
• Any of your beneficiaries get married or die
• New children or grandchildren are born, and you want them to inherit
• There’s a significant change in your financial circumstances
• You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable.

With our Wills Assured Service , standard updates are free. That means you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.

Deciding whether to make changes to your existing Will (adding a codicil) or to write a new one will depend on the scale and number of changes you want to make. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. This can be suitable if there are just one or two small changes.

If you need any large revisions, it’s often better to write a new Will to avoid confusion. We can explore these options with you and advise on what’s best for you and your loved ones.

Accessing your documents

Your Will belongs to you, and we’ll happily store it for you and provide you with a copy when you need one. If at any stage you’d like your original Will returned to you, just let us know and we’ll tell you what we need to send it to you. When you die, your executors will need the original Will. We can explain the terms of the Will to them and help them deal with the probate process .

Contesting or defending a Will

If you’ve been left out of a Will, haven’t been left as much as you expected, or think the Will is wrong in some way, you might be able to contest it.

Contesting a Will can be challenging and feel daunting. With the help of our Will Disputes Team, we can support and guide you through the process. We can also help if you are an executor defending against a Will dispute .

Lasting Power Of Attorney

At the same time as thinking about your Will, it makes sense to also consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) . These are useful if you’re worried about losing the ability to manage your own affairs in the future. We can discuss the options with you and help you appoint the right person to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.

If you want to find out more,  contact the team today .

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Will Writing Services - More Information

How do i make a will.

Making a Will is simple. There’s a few ways to do it:

• Online – the questionnaire  only takes ten minutes to complete
• By post – download the form  and send it back to us
• By phone – call and speak to us
• In person – come and speak to us in one of our national offices

We recommend our online or postal service if your estate is relatively straightforward. If you have more complex requirements, or you’d like to talk about tax-planning or asset protection options such as setting up a trust, we advise speaking to us on the phone or coming in to see one of our experts.

Call us today for an initial consultation on 0370 1500 100 – or use our online enquiry form  and we’ll give you a call back.

How Much Does It Cost?

This depends on your requirements and the complexity of your estate. Standard Wills offered through our online service cost:

• £175 (including VAT) for a single Will
• £260 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills (for couples - if your needs are very similar).

If your estate is fairly straightforward we recommend this option. Get started with our online wills service  today.

You can also use our postal service by downloading the form and sending it in to us. The fees for this service are:

• £195 (including VAT) for a single Will
• £295 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills.

For both these services there may be additional costs if you need more complex advice. We would let you know about these before drafting your Will.

More complex and high value estates require more dedicated legal advice tailored to your needs, to ensure you and your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way .

For this service we recommend contacting the team to arrange an appointment with one of our experts who can let you know the options available to you.

What Should I Think About When Making My Will?

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but some of the things to consider when making a Will are:

• The value of your estate – inheritance tax (IHT) is generally due on anything over the £325,000 threshold (£650,000 for married couples and civil partners) once mortgage and other debts are deducted
• A new IHT allowance of £125,000 may apply if you own a property and leave some of your estate to relatives like children and grandchildren.
• How you own your assets – if you co-own property with your spouse, the type of tenancy you have will affect whether or not they can continue to live there after your death
• Who you want to leave your assets to (i.e. your beneficiaries)
• Who you would like to be the  executors of your estate
• Whether some assets would be best placed in a trust for asset protection purposes.

These are important decisions to make and you should seek legal advice to make sure your estate is structured in the best way for you and your beneficiaries.

Read through our Wills Checklist  to see if you’ve got everything covered.

Can You Store My Will?

Yes we can. Our specialist storage facility ensures your Will is kept secure from the risk of theft, fire or water damage. It also means it’s easily accessed after your death, giving you peace of mind and making things easier for your loved ones.

This service is free for our standard, bespoke and Wills Assured  clients.

Meet The Team

Our team has decades of experience helping people prepare, amend and execute Wills. We’re regularly appointed as executors and are very experienced in estate administration.

We also have experts in trust administration and tax compliance, which means we have everything you need to plan effectively.

We have considerable experience in complex estates and frequently work with international and high net worth clients.

Irwin Mitchell are a very professional, trustworthy and straightforward company to deal with. I would recommend them to anyone."

Elderly Care Crisis: A Tipping Point

Our new research predicts that the UK retirement living sector will run out of beds and face a multi-billion pound funding gap in the next 10 years.

This upcoming crisis means that planning ahead is more important then ever - find out more about how our Later Life Planning experts can help you prepare

"It’s never too late to start but the earlier you do the easier it is." - Richard Potts, CEO of IM Asset Management

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you need to review your will.

Having an up-to-date Will is essential to make sure your plans for your estate reflect your current situation and include everyone you want to include.

Its good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it takes into account any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

You should also review your Will following major life changes, for example if:

• New children or grandchildren are born who you want to inherit
• You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable

With our Wills Assured service, standard updates are free – so you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.  Find out more.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

Irwin Mitchell is a leading law firm with considerable expertise in the area of wills and estates. We’ve helped thousands of clients prepare for the future with strategic estate planning.

The team frequently receives five star reviews from our customers on Trustpilot, and we’re recognised in the leading UK legal guide, including the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

We’re adept at dealing with complex estates and also handling international probate issues for clients who have assets in different countries. We also have the benefit of acting as executor for many of our clients, which allows us to bring our detailed knowledge of the probate process into our will writing services.

We pride ourselves on providing clear advice in plain English, free from jargon, and our team is always on hand to discuss any questions you have.

Can You Help Me Change My Will?

Yes – we can help you write a new will or add a codicil to your existing will. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. It can be enough if there are just one or two small changes, but if you need any substantial revisions it’s better to write a new Will to avoid confusion.

Our probate and tax experts can also check that your Will is structured in the best way for your estate and be able to advise on any amends where necessary.

Standard updates are free with our Wills Assured  service.

Related Information - Will Writing Services

About irwin mitchell.

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

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Searching Money Mentor . . .

Best online will writers.

| Editor-at-large

Updated December 13, 2023

In this guide

If you have relatively simple financial affairs, then an online will could be a cheap and convenient option for you.

This guide looks what an online will writer is, who the service might be suitable for and lists our top picks.

In this article, we explain:

• What is an online will service?
• Who is it suitable for?
• What are the top online will writers?
• How are our ratings calculated?

Read more: Guide to wills

This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue *

What is an online will writing service?

Online will writing services allows those with simple financial affairs to write a legal will, quickly and simply, without the need for face-to-face meetings and expensive solicitors fees. It can offer greater peace of mind than a DIY will.

A number, such as Farewill use in-house legal experts to check over your will to ensure it’s written correctly and your wishes are clear.

Below, we cover in more detail what else the services offer, along with other online will writers that we rate highly, including Bequest, Bequeathed and Guardian Angel. Many services will also offer lasting power of attorney services.

Word of warning: an online will writer is not for everyone

An online will writing service is unlikely to be suitable if you have complicated affairs and inheritance tax issues, own your own business or you have remarried.

Online will writing services also aren’t authorised and regulated in England and Wales in the same way as solicitors.

Remember, once you have your written will, it will need to be signed and witnessed to make it legally binding.

Read more: Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

Want to watch rather than read? Tips for drawing up a will

This video lists the top tips on how to create your own will. Or alternatively, read how to write a will .

Top online will writers

Makeawillonline.co.uk

Best for: Legal advice

Best for: free service (no legal check)

Best for price

Farewill Online Will

Best for customer experience

Guardian Angel

Best for transparency

*All products, brands or properties mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback, and are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. This article contains links from which we can earn revenue. This revenue helps us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. For more, see How we make our money and Editorial promise

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

Preparing for the cost of death

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What is Free Wills Month?

If you haven’t got round to writing your Will yet, now might be the time to do it because March is Free Wills Month. Instead of paying a solicitor fee, those over the age of 55 are invited to donate to charity. Here we explain how it works and who is eligible. Free Wills Month […]

What happens to debts when you die?

Debts aren’t inherited but are paid off out of your estate when you die. This means that your loved ones are off the hook, unless they had a joint loan with you or provided a loan guarantee for you. If your estate doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay for the debts, then they are likely […]

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Our advice helps you understand your options when making your will

How do I make a will?

A will can be made on any sheet of paper and follow any format, provided it is signed by you and witnessed as required by the law.

But an invalid will, or one with conflicting instructions, could be challenged in court. This can cause family conflict, and inflict the stress and expense of a lawsuit on your loved ones.

We explain how to make a will that's legally-binding, and how much you could expect to pay.

If you're planning to write a will, you can choose whether to do it yourself or seek help from a professional. The right option for you will depend on how complex your affairs are, and how much assistance you're likely to need.

Do I need witnesses to my will?

The original version of the will must be signed by you, your witnesses, and free from errors or changes.

The witnesses must watch you sign the will in person. If one of them is out of the room when you sign, your will risks being found invalid.

In England and Wales, you must have two witnesses over 18, while in Scotland, you require one over 16.

Witnesses cannot inherit anything as beneficiaries, although they can be named as executors. If your will leaves anything to a witness, the whole document could be invalid.

If your witnesses can't be there in person - for example, because you're self-isolating - then the will could still be witnessed via video call, thanks to new legislation. However, video-witnessing is not without its risks so we still recommend getting your will witnessed the conventional way wherever possible.

How to choose an executor

Executors are people that carry out your wishes in accordance with your will.

It's best practice to name more than one executor (or one executor and a substitute). These can be anyone you trust, but it's most common to pick a friend, relative or solicitor.

In most cases (unless your estate is particularly complex) it's best to opt for a friend or family member, as solicitors can charge hundreds or thousands of pounds. If your executor ultimately needs professional help, they can commission probate services.

Executors can inherit from your estate as beneficiaries - except if they're also a witness.

What can executors do?

What can I leave in my will?

Your will can cover a large scope of situations, from who will inherit your assets to who will look after your children.

Before writing your will, it's worth identifying all the assets you own, as well as any sentimental items you'd like to leave to loved ones. You should also work out arrangements for your children's care, and consider whether you'd like to leave specific instructions for your funeral.

You can find out more in our guide:  What to put in your will.

Include a residuary gift

No matter how thorough your will is, there's likely to be part of your estate that isn't accounted for. As such, it should include a 'residuary gift', that sets out who will inherit anything not otherwise given away by the will.

This clause can also be useful if, for example, one of the heirs you name dies before you do.

If the will doesn't have a residuary gift, the remainder of the estate will be divided up according to the laws of intestacy.

Avoid challenges to validity

There should be nothing amended or crossed out in the document that you sign.

If you want to change your will at a later date, you'll need to make a codicil or a new will. A codicil is an additional document setting out any changes you'd like to make, signed and witnessed in the same way as your will (though not necessarily by the same people).

Make sure the instructions you leave are easy to understand and follow, as you won't be around to explain your reasoning.

When putting together the document, don't leave blank spaces, and make sure each page is numbered to prevent anyone tampering with your will.

How much does a will cost?

Whether you go to a solicitor, will writer or bank, simple wills start from about £99 and go up to several hundred pounds.

If you and a spouse or partner want substantively the same wills - known as mirror wills - you'll usually get a discount for writing both at once.

For a more specialist will, such as one that includes trusts, the cost goes up. You could expect to pay a minimum of £500 to £600.

Are you making a will? If you want support, you can make your will and have it reviewed by Which? Wills, all with 30% off until 31 Jan 23

DIY: writing your own will

When writing a will, many people choose to take the DIY route rather than seek professional assistance.

That said, if your situation is complex or you have no to little experience in making a will, seeking professional advice and services can be a good idea, as it's very easy to make a mistake that could make your will invalid or ambiguous. You can also opt to write the will yourself and have a professional review it, which will often be for a lesser fee.

Should you decide to make a DIY will, it's crucial that the document is witnessed correctly and includes all major assets.

Using the online will writing service from Which? is a quick and easy way to write your will.  With a range of service levels for you to choose from you can write your will in around an hour then get it reviewed by one of our specialist, for extra piece of mind.

Getting a solicitor to write your will

This will be the most expensive option, but it could be worth considering using a lawyer if any of the following applies:

• your estate will probably have to pay inheritance tax
• your family's circumstances are complicated - perhaps you have former partners, or children from a previous marriage
• you have a family member or friend with special needs, who you'd like to be sure is protected after you've gone
• you have assets that could be subject to complex rules, such as overseas property.

In addition to writing the will, a solicitor will usually store it for you.

Solicitors are qualified and regulated, so you or your dependents will be able to seek compensation if problems arise with the will. The regulating bodies depend on where you live:

• England and Wales - Solicitors Regulation Authority
• Scotland - the Scottish Law Society
• Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Law Society.

Expect to pay a few hundred pounds to hire a lawyer to write your will. The exact cost will depend on the complexity of your affairs.

If your estate is quite complex, a good lawyer might be able to help you consider putting assets into trust. The legal fees will probably be higher in these cases, but will trusts could significantly cut your estate's inheritance tax bill.

Using a will-writing service

If you don't want to pay for a solicitor, but would like some guidance, you could consider using a will-writing service.

Not all will-writers are qualified or regulated. Make sure the will-writer you choose is recognised by a regulatory body within the industry, or by a regulated individual, like a solicitor.

Beware free will-writing services, or companies, that name themselves as executors of your will after you pass away. Your estate will generally face steep legal fees down the line when it comes to administering your estate.

Will-writing services start at around £100, and will rise to a few hundred pounds, depending on the complexity of your estate, and the expertise of the company.

Using a bank's will-writing service

It's quite common for banks to offer will-writing services. These services are often under £100, or even free, but you might later find you pay through the nose in hidden charges.

It's particularly important to look for clauses that give the will-writing company the right to administer your estate, and charge fees for doing so.

Even with relatively straightforward estates, you might be charged a high percentage of the estate, perhaps 5% to act as sole or joint executor. These charges will still apply if the estate is very straightforward, or if most of the probate work is done by someone else.

If your bank won't allow you to appoint your own executor within the will writing service, it may be best to look elsewhere.

How should I store my will?

Once you have made a will, you have to decide where to store it. You have several options, depending on your preference. Whichever you choose, it's vital that it's stored safely and securely. Your executor(s) will need to find it when the time comes, so make sure you tell them where it is.

If you opt for a solicitor, wills storage company or your bank, ask if there are any fees to access the will to make changes, or for the executor after you pass away.

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How Much Does it Cost to Make a Will?

You can either write a will yourself, with the help of a solicitor or a professional will writing service, and each way has its differing pros and cons .

Here at Compare UK Quotes, we always recommend making a will through a solicitor, which can be expensive, or a legal, professional will-writing service, which can help lower the cost. By making use of these services, you will be saving the loved ones you leave behind a considerable amount of time, money and stress, as they would otherwise be tasked with various complex legal tasks, such as handling probate and administering your estate.

When you write a will with a solicitor or will-writing service, you provide yourself with the invaluable peace of mind in the knowledge that your assets will be safe in the hands of a qualified, experienced, legal professional.

But using the services of a legal professional inevitably comes at a price – so just how much does it cost to make a will with a solicitor or a will-writing service?

How much does a will cost in the UK?

Various factors impact the cost of writing a will , including the type of will you want, the complexity and value of your estate, your family situation, and what solicitor or will-writing service you use.

The average cost of making a will with a solicitor or will writing service is between £144 and £240 according to the Money Advice Service, but there are now several online providers offering cheaper prices for both single and mirror wills.

Read more: A Complete Guide to Wills in the UK

How much does it cost to make a will with a solicitor or will writing service?

Here’s a price comparison of some of the best online will writing services in the UK, including the likes of Wills.Services, Kwil, and Slater + Gordon. Prices exclude VAT and are correct as of October 2022.

*These prices are available for a limited time only – prices are usually £39.99 (single will) and £59.99 (mirror will).

As our wills cost comparison table shows, writing a will through a solicitor or professional service may not be as expensive as you are led to believe, so be sure to shop around and view the different options available to you before deciding to take on the burden of doing it yourself.

Remember that using a DIY will kit would entail a significant amount of time and effort without any support, and there’s always the risk that you will make costly mistakes without realising.

Why should you make a will with a solicitor?

The benefits of making a will with a solicitor include the following:

• Your will is guaranteed to be legally accurate
• All bases will be covered
• Your assets will be protected
• The estate will be distributed in accordance with your wishes, avoiding the rules of intestacy
• Your family will not be left with the responsibility of handling complex legal and financial issues after you pass away
• The will can be stored in a secure facility
• Updates or amendments can be made easily
• Solicitors are regulated, so you’re protected if anything goes wrong

Writing a will yourself is risky and inaccurate legal wording could lead to it being void when the time comes. If you pass away and your will is considered legally invalid, your entire estate could be distributed in line with intestacy rules (rather than your wishes), which could lead to untimely family disputes.

Read more: Who Inherits an Estate When There is No Valid Will?

Who should use a solicitor?

We recommend that everyone writes their will through a professional will writing service, but certain people in particular should consider only using a solicitor, including:

• People that have assets overseas (including holiday homes)
• Business owners
• Those whose estate is worth over £325,000 and will therefore be subject to inheritance tax *
• People with complex family circumstances

*Learn how you can avoid inheritance tax here .

As well as making your will, professional will-writing services such as Wills.Services , also provide you with the option to set up trusts, a guardianship order, a lasting power of attorney and much more, to help you secure your estate and your loved ones’ inheritance in the event of your death.

Solicitors’ fees for wills may initially seem expensive, but when you consider the vast range of legal services that are on offer and the peace of mind that you are provided with, the cost of a will is certainly an expense worth paying. If you cannot afford to pay for a solicitor, your next best option is using a more affordable will-writing service.

For more information, see our will-related articles :

• A Guide to Wills in the UK
• Dealing With Someone’s Finances After Death
• What Happens if You Die Without a Will?

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Home / Estate Planning / Will Writing Service

Will Writing Service

Making a Will with Redwood Financial

What will writing services do we provide.

We have a comprehensive range of Will Writing Services available, from our mirror Wills to a fully bespoke individual Estate Planning Service that can include Protective Wills , Trusts, Guardianship, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs), Inheritance Tax Planning and Long Term Care Free Planning , designed to give you the peace of mind that your family members and loved ones are protected when you die.

How does our Will Writing Service work?

We always encourage our Clients to start their Estate Planning journey by joining one of our Free Public Information Webinars or Seminars on the topic of Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning. This provides a great level of knowledge for Clients to then make an informed decision about what they want to achieve from their Estate Planning.

Clients will then request to have an Initial Meeting with us. This is a one to one meeting with a professional Adviser to understand your unique and specific Estate Planning Goals and for you to understand the options available to you to protect your Estate.

Clients can then choose to move to a Discovery Meeting. Based on your unique Estate Planning goals, our Adviser will create and share a bespoke Discovery Report. This will detail every aspect of advice tailored and recommended for you, with detailed costs broken down to the last penny including the VAT. You can then choose to ask us to implement all, some or none of the recommendations, only paying for the services you would like us to action.

The final meeting will be an Estate Planning Implementation Meeting. Prior to any final signing of your Wills and other Estate Planning documents, you will receive a draft to approve and if required request amendments to them. A signing Meeting will then be arranged to conclude the Will Writing Service.

We are strong advocates of involving your family members in the process and we will ensure that your chosen Beneficiaries, Trustee’s, Attorney’s, Guardian’s and Executors are involved as much or as little as you want throughout the process.

We know the family situation is different for everyone and our experience has taught us that by involving those who will benefit from or administer on your behalf your Will from early in its creation, there is clarity of understanding for the wishes and decisions you have made, and unity and support to help you achieve them. It also helps to drastically reduce the risk of your Will be contested by a disgruntled family member!

If all you need at this stage of your life is a basic Will or Mirror Wills that details your wishes instructs who should receive what in the event of your death, we can help you with that too. If you’d like a little help through the Will Writing Service process from our Team, we can assist you with that also.

Why should you use us for Will Writing?

40 years will writing experience.

With a combined experience of over 40 years in the Will Writing industry, our Advisors are well placed to make sure you receive the very best legal advice and planning.

We are a family-owned and run business and we believe in putting our Clients and their family’s at the heart of everything that we do.

Award winning

As double Award Winners at the British Wills & Probate Awards 2018 , for both Will Writing Firm of the Year (South) and Young Practitioner of the year, we have been subsequently recognised by the Trading Standards Buy With Confidence scheme as a business that has proven can be trusted.

Renowned for our Webinars and Seminars

Our renowned Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Webinars and Seminars provide everyone with an opportunity to understand this topic in a fun and engaging way for free before they ever have to make a decision about their Planning.

Fixed Price Policy

Our Clients tell us they love our Fixed Price Policy , which means you will know every cost to the penny before having to make a decision or instruct us to act on your behalf. They also love the fact that we speak in Plain English wherever it is practical to do so, and where it is not, that we explain any jargon used in an easy to understand way.

Amazing customer service and satisfaction guaranteed

Our Customer Service is highly prized by our Clients and is the envy of our competitors. Don’t just take our word for it, take a look at what people are saying here , or Google Reviews and at Trading Standards !

On top of all that, our No Quibble Service Satisfaction Guarantee ensures you can have confidence that if you are unhappy with any aspect of the advice or services we have supplied, we’ll give you your money back!

How do I know what Will Writing Service is best for me?

If you are still unsure what you need, booking an Initial Meeting to discuss your Estate Planning Goals with an expert Adviser is a good next step. And because we charge for these meetings, our priority is giving you the very best legal advice, not trying to sell you services you just need!

Why is a Will important?

For many, writing their Wills can be a very daunting and emotional prospect, filled with legalese, myths and legends. So it is hardly surprising that so many put off doing it in the first place! All they want is to protect their loved ones, family members and beneficiaries from the financial and emotional impacts that their passing can bring to others if they die Intestate (without a Will).

We want to ensure that you have the very best advice when creating your Will and that it delivers the Goals you wanted to achieve. All too often we see poorly drafted Wills, (some by crafted by a solicitor or law firm!), that just fail to adequately protect you and your legacy.

A Will specialist like those employed at Redwood is skilled in the crafting of a professional and legally binding Will, as well as the expertise to provide and implement true Estate Planning advice.

How much does our Will Writing Service cost?

Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Webinars  are FREE.

An Initial Meeting with a professional Adviser to understand your unique Estate Planning Goals is £180.

A Discovery Meeting and the Discovery Report, which provides you with a complete breakdown of the Advisers expert recommendations for your bespoke planning, is £252.

Estate Planning Implementation costs are unique to every Client, as the recommendations are bespoke to their needs. Everyone will receive a full breakdown of recommendations and the cost for each as part of the Discover & Discovery Report Meeting. You are in the driving seat and you choose what planning you want to instruct us to put in place, from all of the recommendations, to just some of them, to none of them!

As a guide, Estate Planning Implementation Meeting (Based on a couples Estate Planning) can be between £552 – £9,500 depending on the complexity of Estate Planning required.

Steven Blofield

Steve is the Director and Senior Estate Planner at Redwood Financial. He helps Clients to manage and grow their wealth and protect their estate.

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Trusted by our clients

Steve Blofield and his team are excellent! Friendly and helpful advice is readily at hand and has opened my eyes to the importance of estate planning. A brief phone conversation is always followed by a comprehensive email. This firm deserves its awards and excellent reputation. Nick, Redwood Client

Our Estate Planning Services

Through effective Estate Planning, we will help you take control of your assets to make sure that your beneficiaries receive the right money, at the right time and it stays with them.

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Fixed fee probate services, equity release planning, secure document storage, care fee planning services, inheritance tax planning, will trusts & lifetime trusts, lasting powers of attorney.

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Will Writing Services: Take control of your legacy

Make your wishes clear with a legally binding will.

Planning for when we’re no longer around can be the last thing on our minds when living busy lives. But putting together a Will and deciding what happens to your estate after your pass on will make sure it is distributed in a way you would like and save your loved ones unnecessary distress at an already difficult time.

Your will tells everyone what should happen to your money, possessions and property after you die (all these things together are called your ‘estate’). If you don’t leave a Will, the law decides how your estate is divided – and this might not be in line with your wishes and can be an expensive and lengthy process for your loved ones.

But despite this only 60% of us have a Will in place, why not? Probably because people think the current laws are sufficient, or they believe they have nothing of value to leave. But the truth is the vast majority of people need a Will to avoid any legal and personal complications when they pass on.

The Wright Wills Way…

Making a Will is straightforward and our team have the knowledge to help you avoid any of the possible problems occurring from a badly written Will.

With years of Will writing experience we have the knowledge to guide you through what can seem like a complex legal process with care.

Our Estate Planning Consultants take the time to get to know you and your personal circumstances and wishes, and will make sure everything is explained clearly and concisely in a way you understand in the comfort of your own home.

In some situations you may need more than a Will – such as if you have a second family or you want to control how a beneficiaries receives their inheritance, in which case we can use our knowledge to create a plan which covers all your needs as part of our Estate Planning packages.

Do I need a will?

You need a will if….

• You are married or in a civil partnership and there are no children. While assets will automatically pass to your spouse on death, you will need to plan what happens to those assets once the surviving spouse pass on.
• You are married or in a civil partnership and there are children. If you would like to leave something to your children or grandchildren you will need a Will to ensure that.
• You have a partner but are not married or in a civil partnership.
• There is no surviving spouse/civil partner.
• You have property, especially property abroad
• Your estate is worth more than £325,000 and has to pay Inheritance Tax
• You have a complicated family situation, like former partners or estranged children, and you want to be sure that your estate can be divided as you wish
• You want to protect someone’s interests after you’ve gone, like a disabled family member

A Will can also cover:

• What happens to personal items such as jewellery, photographs and antiques
• Provisions for your pets when you pass on such as who would look after them and money towards their ongoing care
• What you would like to happen to any digital profiles such as your Facebook account
• Contain passwords and passcodes for phones and accounts which your loved ones may need in the event of your death
• Plans for your funeral, such as whether you’d like to be buried, cremated or particular music you’d like played during the service

Can I write my own will?

Yes, in straightforward circumstances it is possible to write your own will. For example, if you’re married or in a civil partnership and have children, and want to leave everything to your spouse and eventually on your children. However, there are specific ways things have to be written and witnessed to avoid your will being declared invalid. And inheritance laws and tax can change after you write your will, disrupting how your estate is distributed. Writing your own will runs the risk of leaving a mess and additional stress for your loved ones to sort out after you pass.

Should I use a do-it-yourself will writing service?

Online will writing services and do-it-yourself will kits seem like a cheap and easy to create a will. As with writing your own will, these are sufficient for simple situations but everyone’s circumstances are different, and an out-of-the-box approach may not be right for you. Your will only comes into play once, so to avoid any difficulties it’s best to take professional advice.

What happens if I don’t have a Will?

If your will isn’t valid then what happens to your is decided by the rules of intestacy via the courts. Under these laws, only married or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit. The rules of intestacy state that:

If there are surviving children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of the person who died and the estate is valued at more than £250,000, the partner will inherit:

• all the personal property and belongings of the person who has died, and the first £250,000 of the estate
• And half of the remaining estate
• The remaining half will be shared between any surviving children, or on to grandchildren or great-grandchildren if their parents are no longer around.

If you are not married or have children, then the estate will pass to the closest relative, which could be parents, siblings or even nieces or nephews.

What’s next?

• Start by thinking about what you want to leave to whom
• Talk to your family – they might have some suggestions you haven’t thought of such inheriting property over money or vice versa, or there might be particular personal belongings and family heirlooms they’d like to inherit.
• Consider whether you’d like to make a donation to charity or organisation. Think about who you’d like to be your executor or executors, you can choose a family member but comes with a lot of responsibility so pick those who have the skills to take this on.
• Think about your funeral, whether you would like to be buried or cremated, what music or readings you would like included.
• Get in contact with us, and we will sit down with you and help you put together your plan.

Speak to our Will writing specialists today and secure your legacy

Related articles, why use estate planners to write a will, should i write my own will, what are the roles and responsibilities of an executor, how to talk to relatives about your estate plan.

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10 of The Best Online Will Writing Services

Making a Will using an online Will-writing service is an excellent and simple way of securing the future of your estate. Online Will-writing services are affordable, easy to use, and can enable you to  write your Will  in as little as 10 minutes.

Age Space has compiled this helpful guide to some of the best online Will-writing services in the UK. This includes information about how each online Will-writing service works, how long the process takes, and how much you can expect to pay. We have also secured some exclusive discounts for Age Space users. 

• Which? Wills
• ActiveWills
• Properwills
• LegalWills.co.uk
• MakeAWillOnline
• Will Drafters Ltd
• Co-Op Legal Services

If you have a simple estate, then you can create a Will with Which? in as little as half an hour. Which? provide you with a simple guide to their Will-writing forms and process. You can fill these out in your own time and their dedicated support team are available by phone or email with any questions you have during the Will-writing process. 

Which? also operate a Review Service, ensuring that your Will is looked-over by one of their dedicated Will experts before you sign it to provide peace of mind that everything makes sense and is in order.

Prices start at £84 for a single Will, and £156 for a mirror Will. 

With our 15% discount you can also get your Will written and reviewed by an expert from only £72.00 

2. ActiveWills

Making an online Will through ActiveWills’ Will-writing service involves completing a simple online template devised by their expert estate-planning solicitors. You fill in each section, print the Will yourself, and then just need to get it signed and witnessed. There is a friendly chat facility if you need support whilst writing it. 

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99  they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99  £9.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 £14.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

50% Spring Discount for Age Space readers! Until 18th April Active Wills are offering Age Space readers Will writing at £9.99 for Single Wills and £14.99 for Mirror Wills. Click the link below to get this deal!

3. Properwills

Their step-by-step online questionnaire is sleek, easy to use and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Each Will is checked by a legal expert and usually ready to sign in less than 48 hours, making them one of the fastest services in the UK. And if you can’t print your Will, Properwills offer to deliver it for free. 

We like that the process is very intuitive and easy to follow and that their support team is responsive and always happy to help. Included in the price is 5 years of free, unlimited updates to the Will. 

Their Wills cost £99 (or £149 for couples) and includes everything to get your Will(s) sorted, checked and sent to you. It’s a fixed fee service so you only pay this – no surprise fees down the line.

Age Space Exclusive : Get 12% off online when you use our discount code – “ AGESP12 ″

4. Farewill

Writing your Will with Farewill is a quick and easy process, taking as little as 15 minutes. You can choose to create your Will either by answering some questions online, or with one of their friendly team of experts over the phone. Whichever method you choose, their helpful support team are available to you every step of the way. Farewill then finalise your Will in under 5 working days, and send it to you to sign in front of witnesses. 

Farewill are rated 4.9 out of 5 by over 13,000 happy customers on Trustpilot, and were awarded the National Will Writing Firm of the Year award at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The price for making an online Will with Farewill costs £100 (£160 for couples) and making a Will over the phone costs £240 (£380 for couples). Farewill also have an optional £10 a year update service, meaning you can make unlimited updates to your Will throughout the rest of your life.

Age Space Exclusive:  Get 15% off your Will when you use our discount code – “agespace15”

5. LegalWills.co.uk

To make a Will online at LegalWills.co.uk, you answer a series of questions about your wishes, spanning 9 different sections. Their Will experts can offer help at each step of the online Will-making process, to make sure your wishes are being met.   LegalWills.co.uk can produce a Last Will and Testament from £39.95. You also have the option to request that your Will is looked over by one of their expert solicitors for an additional cost of £50.00 

An advantage of using the LegalWills.co.uk service is that they allow you to make unlimited updates to your Will, free of charge. Age Space Exclusive : Save 10% when you buy a Will using the link below

6. Make A Will Online

The process for producing a Will with Make A Will Online will only take between 5-10 minutes with one simple form. At the end of doing a single Will you are also able to add an additional Will for half the price of the first. 

Their website is simple, quick and easy to use and is perfect for busy people who would prefer to avoid expensive solicitor fees. What makes Make A Will Online extra special is that every Will has a qualified solicitor check it over after it has been created.

A single Will costs £60 and a pair of Wills costs £90. 

Beyond’s online Will-writing service can take as little as 15 minutes to answer a series of key questions. Beyond then puts together your fully-legal Will for you. Their online support team provide live support throughout the Will-writing process, ensuring you get everything right. Every Will that is created with Beyond is checked over by their in-house legal expert. Once you are happy with the Will all you need to do is print and sign it in front of two witnesses.

Making an online single Will with Beyond costs £90, and you pay only when you print and sign. Wills for couples cost £135, meaning you save money compared to purchasing two separate Wills.

The process of writing a Will online with Kwil takes just 30 minutes, and you don’t have to pay anything until you’re happy to print and sign. All you need to do is answer some qualifying questions and work your way through their step-by-step process for putting the Will together. Kwil has a very helpful Online Lockbox Service in which you can securely store all of the information your executor may need once you die,

including details about your bank accounts, credit cards, pensions etc. The Kwil will-writing service costs £90 for individuals, and £120 for couples. Any amendments in the first year are free, and there is an optional £10 annual fee per person to be able to update the Will anytime after that.

9. Will Drafters Ltd.

Will Drafters Ltd’s Will writing service is conducted over the phone and a good choice for those who prefer communicating in person rather than using online forms. Following an initial conversation, their specialist legal team will prepare and mail you your Will to sign. Will Drafters Ltd have helped over 100,000 customers to write their Will online since 1990. 

Their prices start at £43 for a single, simple Will, and they also offer a WillPlus service which includes free lifetime storage and the ability to make unlimited updates to your Will.

10. Co-Op Legal Services

With Co-Op Legal Services you just need to answer some quick questions online, and then speak on the phone to one of their Will-writers who will help you to put together the final document. Once the Will is ready, they will post you a copy to sign in front of your witnesses. Co-op Legal Services was named as the National Will Writing Firm of the Year in 2018. 

They operate a fixed fee service, meaning that once they’ve quoted you a price there are no nasty surprises later down the line. The price for a single Will from Co-Op Legal Services starts at £150, and Mirror Wills cost from £245.

FAQs on How to Make a Will Online

How long does it take to make a will online.

In most cases, writing a Will online does not take very long. If you have a simple estate then making the will can take as little as 10 minutes, but it will take longer the more complicated your Will is. Some online Will-writing services require a few days for their legal experts to look over the online Will before you are able to sign it.

How much does an online Will cost?

The cost of writing a Will online varies from provider to provider, and on the type of Will you are looking to buy. The starting cost for a simple Single Will can be as little as £19.99 as from Active Wills, but with other providers costs can start from over £100. Mirror Wills cost more than single Wills, but tend to be cheaper than the cost of 2 Single Wills.

Are online Wills legal in the UK?

Online Wills are legal in the UK, as long as they have been correctly signed and witnessed in line with UK law. Two witnesses, who are not beneficiaries of the Will, must sign and date it also. This can now be done  online .

Can I update a Will made online?

You can update a Will made online. Some providers allow you to opt-in to pay a small annual fee in order to make unlimited updates to your Will in the future. If you choose not to opt-in, you can still be able to make updates to your Will, but there will usually be a one-off cost on each occasion you make an update.

To enable Age Space to keep providing content for our readers, for some of the links on this page we receive a small commission if you decide to buy a Will with a provider. 

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About our prices.

In terms of our wills prices, we offer the following fixed fee options for our wills services so that you know from the outset exactly what you will pay.

Your initial consultation is on a no obligation basis. Our aim is to ensure that by the end of the consultation, you know exactly what type of will is right for you, and exactly how much it will cost. You can then decide whether or not you want to go ahead.

We are proud to be transparent about our costs. All the wills prices set out below are fixed fees and we set out what work we will do for the cost.

Where applicable, VAT is charged at a rate of 20% unless specifically stated.

Our Will Prices

Standard wills.

From £350 +VAT (individual) or £500 + VAT (couple making wills on similar terms)

A Standard Will is suitable for most people with relatively straightforward estates.

What is included in this service:

• An initial meeting at one of our offices with one of our will writing specialists. A home visit may be possible depending on your circumstances and location, or we can arrange a meeting via Skype, Zoom or other video call.
• A second meeting at one of our offices to sign the will. Alternatively, we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to sign your will at home.
• We will provide both witnesses (if signed at our offices) and ensure that the will is correctly signed
• Appointment of executors
• Appointment of guardians for minor children
• Up to 20 specific monetary gifts or gifts of personal possessions to individuals or charities
• Nominating who the remainder of your estate will be left to (up to 10 different parties)
• Specifying who would inherit if any beneficiaries die before you
• Specifying what age children will inherit
• Will written in plain English
• A comprehensive commentary explaining the terms of the will
• A basic overview of the current inheritance tax position (not specific to your estate)
• Lifetime storage
• Regular review reminders
• Subscription to our newsletter

When might a Standard Will not be suitable:

• If you require inheritance tax planning advice
• If you require advice relating to life policies, pensions or mortgages
• Where you want to set up a trust in your will
• If you are wanting to disinherit people from your estate
• Where you have foreign assets
• If you have business interests
• If we require an assessment of your capacity to make the will

Trust Wills & Complex Wills

From £550 +VAT (for an individual) or £700 +VAT (couple making wills on similar terms)

Our trust wills and complex wills are suited to clients who require more in depth advice or whose wills require more bespoke drafting.

• All of the services included in our standard wills PLUS:
• Basic advice about your current inheritance tax position
• Advice about protecting your assets against future care costs
• Advice about protecting assets for vulnerable beneficiaries
• Inclusion in your will of a life interest trust, disabled persons trust or discretionary trust
• Advice about ensuring that children from previous relationships will inherit
• Advice about disinheriting beneficiaries and steps that may be taken to reduce the risk of disputes

What won’t be included:

• In depth inheritance tax planning advice
• Advice relating to life policies, pensions or mortgages
• Multiple or highly complex trusts
• Advice relating to foreign assets
• In depth advice relating to business interests
• Drafting letters of wishes
• Arranging an assessment of your capacity to make the will

Bespoke Service

If the above fixed fee options aren’t suitable for you, you still have some options:

1. Once we know more about your circumstances and requirements we will try wherever possible to offer a bespoke fixed fee option at the initial consultation. As the initial meeting is on a no obligation, you won’t be committing to anything until the fee has been agreed.

2. On the rare occasion that it’s not possible to offer a fixed fee at the outset, we could agree to proceed on our Hourly Rate basis (Andrew Milburn’s hourly rate is £300+VAT). This is only likely to be the case if it’s difficult to estimate the amount of work required at the outset, for example, if we will have to liaise with third parties such as financial advisers and accountants.

Supplementary Matters

In the course of making your will you may require our assistance with additional matters such as:

• Severance of joint tenancy £100 +VAT 

If you jointly own a property as ‘joint tenants’ and you wish to deal with your own individual share of the property in your will, you will need to change the ownership of the property to ‘tenants in common’. The process is known as the severance of a joint tenancy. This fee includes drafting the severance documents, serving it on the other owner (if relevant) and entering the necessary restriction with the Land Registry (if the property is registered).

• Letter of wishes – from £100 +VAT for an individual or £150 +VAT for a couple

In certain circumstances it is advisable to prepare a letter of wishes to accompany your will. The most common circumstances where you may need a letter of wishes are:

• If you are including a discretionary trust or a trust for a disabled person in your will
• If you are disinheriting somebody from your estate
• Or if you are leaving your personal possessions to an individual or to your trustees and are asking them to distribute them in accordance with your letter of wishes

An administrative fee associated with the cost of storage of papers applies on each file at £40 + £8 vat = £48.

If you are making a will you should also consider making a  Lasting Power of Attorney .

Wills and Probate Team

Andrew Milburn

Andrew is a partner and head of our wills, probate and estate administration department. Read More.

Connor King

Connor King is a solicitor in our wills, probate and estate planning team. Read More.

Oreva Jockey

Oreva Jockey is a paralegal in our wills, probate and estate planning team. Read More.

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Making a will is the only way to make sure your money, property, possessions and investments (known as your estate) go to the people and causes you care about.

How do I value my estate?

How do i divide my estate, how do i write my will, how do i make sure my will is valid, where should i store my will, how do i update my will, what happens if i don’t make a will.

Paul Lewis, financial expert and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox, explains why it's important to make a will.

Your will should cover your whole estate, so it's a good idea to draw up a list of your assets and debts. Then you have a clear idea of how much it's worth, which can help you decide how to distribute it.

Assets that typically make up an estate include:

• any property you own (in the UK or abroad)
• savings in banks, building societies or elsewhere (Premium Bonds, for instance)
• insurance such as life assurance or an endowment policy
• pension funds that include a lump sum payment on death
• investments such as stocks and shares or investment trusts
• jewellery, antiques and other valuable personal belongings
• furniture and other house contents.

Debts might include:

• a mortgage or equity release
• a credit card balance
• a bank overdraft

It's a good idea to get assets valued regularly. The price of your house, for instance, might have changed substantially since you last checked.

Your will needs to state clearly how you want your estate to be distributed, and who should be responsible for distributing it. Think about:

• who you want to benefit from your will
• whether you want to give any specific gifts to particular people
• where the 'residue' of the estate is to go (any property or money left over after paying funeral and administrative expenses, legacies and taxes)
• what you want to happen if any of your beneficiaries should die before you
• whether you want to leave any money to charity. 

Executors are legally responsible for dealing with someone's estate after their death. It can involve a lot of work and responsibility, so it's important to choose your executor (or executors) carefully.

When you're choosing who to appoint, you should talk to them to check they understand what's involved and that they're happy to do it.

Find out more about being an executor

Leaving a donation to charity

If you want to leave a gift to a charity in your will, include the charity’s full name, address and registered charity number to make sure they receive it.

• Leaving a legacy to Age UK

There are a few different ways you can write your will:

• It’s usually best to get advice from a lawyer (such as a solicitor or chartered legal executive). You might want to choose one who specialises in wills and probate. Check they're licensed with the relevant professional body, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Some charities and campaigns offer free will-writing services to encourage people to make wills and leave charitable legacies. For more information, visit Will Aid or Free Wills Month – Age UK takes part in both schemes.
• Some banks offer will-writing services and advice about estate planning. An adviser at your local branch can explain what's on offer. Some banks charge high fees for these services – so it's important to read any small print carefully.

It's possible to use a professional will writer  to make your will, but they aren't qualified solicitors and may not be regulated – so if you decide to use one, first check whether they're a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers.

You can also  make your own will , but it's easy to make mistakes or miss out important details. While it might seem like the best option now, it could cause costly legal problems for your executors and beneficiaries further down the line, so it's normally better to get professional advice.

For a will to be valid:

• it must be signed by you and witnessed by 2 people
• you must have mental capacity to make the will and understand the consequences of making it
• you must have made the will voluntarily and without pressure from anyone else.

The beginning of the will should state that it revokes all others. If you have an earlier will, you should destroy it. The government advises burning it safely or tearing it up.

Signing and witnessing the will

You must sign your will in the presence of 2 independent witnesses, who must also sign it in your presence – so all 3 people should be in the room together when each one signs. If the will is signed incorrectly, it isn't valid.

No one listed in the will as a beneficiary should act as a witness – they'll lose their right to their inheritance. They shouldn't even be in the room when the will is signed. It’s also best not to ask an executor to act as a witness.

If you can’t sign your will, it can be signed on your behalf as long as you’re in the room and it's signed at your direction. Any will signed on your behalf must contain a clause saying you understood the contents of the will before it was signed.

If you have a serious illness or dementia diagnosis, you can still make a will – but you need to have mental capacity for it to be valid. Your solicitor should make sure of this, and you may need a medical practitioner’s statement at the time the will is signed, certifying that you understand what you're signing.

You can leave your will with a solicitor or bank or with the Probate Service. Alternatively, you can store it safely at home.

Find your local Probate Service using the directory on GOV.UK

You must let your executors know where your will is kept. It's important not to attach any documents to the will with paperclips or staples – if they detach and leave marks it'll raise questions about whether the will is missing any parts or amendments.

You should review your will every 5 years or after a major change in your life – such as the birth of a new grandchild or moving house. But it's important you never make alterations to the original document.

If you want to make a minor change to your will, you can add a supplement, known as a codicil . This must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the will – although the witnesses don’t have to be the same as the original ones.

If you want to make a major change, you should make a new will and cancel your old one.

Do I need to change my will if I get remarried or divorced?

If you marry, remarry or enter a civil partnership, this cancels a previously existing will. Divorce doesn’t automatically invalidate a will made during the marriage – but it does exclude your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner from benefitting if they're mentioned.

You should arrange to make a new will if you marry, separate or divorce.

If you don’t make a will, you're said to have died  intestate – and your estate may not go to the people you want.

If you have a partner and you aren't married or in a civil partnership, they have no automatic right to inherit from you if you haven't made a will – even if you've lived together for a long time or have children.

Intestacy rules state that:

• If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner and children,  your spouse or civil partner will inherit all your personal possessions and at least the first £270,000 of your estate, plus half of anything above this amount. Your children are then entitled to the other half of this balance.
• If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner but don’t have children, your spouse or civil partner will inherit your whole estate, including any personal possessions.
• If you're survived by children but not a spouse or civil partner,  your children will inherit everything, divided equally between them.
• If you don't have a spouse, civil partner or children,  then other relatives inherit in a set order.
• If you have no surviving relatives who can inherit,  your estate will pass to the Crown.

Find out more about intestacy rules on GOV.UK

Want more information?

Wills and estate planning information guide (PDF, 3MB)

How to be an executor information guide (PDF, 2 MB)

You help make our work possible

Leaving a gift in your will to Age UK is a special way to make sure older people have the support they need in the years to come. Learn how a gift in your will could be a lifeline for those who have nowhere else to turn.

Find out more

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We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.

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Last updated: Apr 08 2024

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Draft consumer protection law compliance guidance for unregulated providers of will writing and other legal services

The CMA is consulting on draft consumer protection law compliance guidance for unregulated businesses providing will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services.

This consultation closes at 5pm on 13 June 2024

Consultation description

The purpose of the draft guidance is to help unregulated providers of will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services in the UK to better understand and comply with their existing obligations under UK consumer protection law.

The CMA has produced the draft guidance as part of its investigation into will-writing and other unregulated legal services , launched in July 2023.

The CMA invites interested parties to respond in writing to the questions set out in Section 3 of the consultation document by 5pm on 13 June 2024.

The consultation may be of interest to:

• businesses offering unregulated legal services to consumers – in particular those providing will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services
• self-regulatory trade bodies who operate in the sector
• fellow enforcers of consumer protection law within the UK (including local Trading Standards Services) and consumer advisory groups
• regulated legal service providers active in the will writing, divorce and probate sectors (and their regulators)

The CMA plans to publish the final version of the compliance guidance, and an anonymised summary of the responses that fall within the scope of the consultation together with a list of all respondents (save for individuals), later this year.

Personal data

When handling personal data (like your contact details), we comply with data protection law, as set out in the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and other law designed to protect sensitive information.

For more information about the CMA’s statutory functions, how the CMA processes personal data and your rights relating to that personal data (including your right to complain), please see the  CMA’s Personal Information Charter . Section 4 of the consultation document also provides more information.

Consultation document

PDF , 229 KB , 14 pages

Draft guidance

PDF , 503 KB , 48 pages

Ways to respond

[email protected]

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Government 'gaslighting' public about state of economy, Labour claims

Data is expected this week to show the UK is out of recession - but it is also likely that the Bank of England will hold interest rates and keep the base rate cost of borrowing at 5.25%.

Political reporter

Tuesday 7 May 2024 15:40, UK

The government is "gaslighting" the public about the state of the economy, the shadow chancellor has said.

Rachel Reeves attacked the Conservatives in a speech in the City of London, as the opposition takes the fight to the government on their own turf ahead of the general election.

Running a strong economy has long been the focus of Conservative election campaigns.

What is gaslighting?

The term gaslighting refers to a process of manipulating someone by questioning their memory and purposefully saying what they believe to be true is not - it also involves challenging someone's perception of reality.

The phrase comes from the title of the 1940s film Gaslight, in which a woman is manipulated by her husband as he attempts to get her certified as insane.

And with a raft of economic data coming out this week, Ms Reeves is looking to get ahead of the government's messaging - saying Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claiming the economy is improving is "deluded".

The Bank of England will on Thursday make its latest decision on interest rates, with expectations that borrowing costs will be held at 5.25% .

The government wants this rate to come down, but the Bank sets the base rate independently.

There is also quarterly GDP data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) coming this week, which will likely show the UK coming out of the technical recession it has been in .

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• Conservatives
• Rachel Reeves

Taking the front foot in the wake of the drubbing the Conservatives took in the local elections , Ms Reeves said: "By the time of the next election, we can, and should, expect interest rates to be cut, Britain to be out of recession and inflation to have returned to the Bank of England's target.

"Indeed, these things could happen this month.

"I already know what the chancellor will say in response to one or all these events happening. He has been saying it for months now: 'The economy is turning a corner,' 'our plan is working,' 'stick with us'.

"I want to take those arguments head on because they do not speak to the economic reality."

Labour banking on voters not feeling benefit of improving economic picture

By Darren McCaffrey, political correspondent

The Conservatives have something to cheer about. Yes, you heard that right – they really do.

After a miserable weekend for the government, new data later this month is likely to show the economy grew recently, marking the official end to a shallow recession last year.

Inflation is set to continuing falling and maybe, just maybe, the Bank of England might cut interest rates.

Overall, as many of the macroeconomic gauges are starting to improve, the Conservatives are claiming the economy is "turning the corner".

This leaves Labour in a bit of pickle.

In a speech today, Rachel Reeves was forced to accept "things could happen this month" that don't fit into the narrative that the economy is going to hell in a handcart.

So the message today has changed. Yes, there is lots of data that does not make good reading for the government - debt remains at levels last seen during the early 1960s, while taxation is historically high.

As Ms Reeves pointed out, 6.4 million people in England and Wales last year saw their rent increase or had to remortgage - and there are 950,000 families whose mortgage deal is due to expire by January.

But the party clearly feels this isn't enough. So Ms Reeves is also asking - do you feel better off? Do you feel like the economy is growing? She's hoping the answer from millions of Britons will be a resounding no.

"I love a graph as much as the next person, I spent the early part of my career looking at them obsessively. But in the end, what success looks like is how people feel," said Ms Reeves when I asked about how this could ever be measured.

Ultimately, today is not about the colourful language of "gaslighting" or "delusion" that Ms Reeves used, but Labour recognising that on setting the economic narrative with voters, it has a fight on its hands.

A fight that will get even more difficult as the election draws near later this year, by which stage Labour is hoping the public still isn't feeling it.

She added: "During the local elections I travelled across the country. I spoke to hundreds of people. I listened to their stories.

"And when they hear government ministers telling them that they have never had it so good, that they should look out for the 'feelgood factor,' all they hear is a government that is deluded and completely out of touch with the realities on the ground.

"The Conservatives are gaslighting the British public."

The shadow chancellor said Labour will fight the election on the economy, point to previously announced policies such as a national wealth fund to deliver private and public investment, reform planning laws to build 1.5 million homes, and create 650,000 jobs in the UK's industrial heartlands.

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Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: "The personnel may change but the Labour Party hasn't. Rachel Reeves still hero-worships Gordon Brown, who sold off our gold reserves and whose hubris took Britain to the brink of financial collapse.

"Labour have no plan and would take us back to square one with higher taxes, higher unemployment, an illegal amnesty on immigration and a plot to betray pensioners, just like Gordon Brown did."

Related Topics

Upswing in UK services firms points to renewed economic growth, PMI survey shows

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Reporting by Andy Bruce in Manchester, England; Editing by Toby Chopra

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North Korean propaganda chief who served all three leaders dies

Kim Ki Nam, one of the longest-serving North Korean officials who served all three generations of its leaders cementing their political legitimacy and heading the propaganda apparatus for the dynastic state, has died, official media said on Wednesday.