Choosing between a professional Will writer, a solicitor, or a Do-It-Yourself Will
16/02/25
When it comes to writing your Will, you have a few options available to you. You can draft it yourself, ask a solicitor to draft it for you, or ask a professional Will writer to draft it.
For full disclosure, I’m a professional Will writer. But the purpose of this blog is not to persuade you that using a professional Will writer is the best option. I’ll explain the differences, touching on the pros and cons of each option, so that you have what you need to make an informed decision.
Instructing a solicitor
Instructing a solicitor is a low risk option, but may be the most expensive. However, there’s value in getting the Will right at the outset, and it can save your thousands in the long run.
It’s low risk because most solicitors who offer Wills as a service will have drafted many Wills before. They know what they’re doing. They’re legally trained and able to handle complex estates, with overseas properties and complicated family structures. The drafting will be accurate and precise, and will cover all your bases. Most of all, they will make sure that the Will is valid, and legally binding.
That said, some high street solicitors have a number of specialisms, including conveyancing, dispute resolution, and family law. Drafting Wills may just be a part of their practice, so they’re not necessarily doing them every day.
Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) so they are under obligations to maintain certain standards and keep up-to-date with their training. They adhere to a Code of Conduct so that they are always honest with you, and they must always act in your best interests. Solicitors are overseen by the Legal Ombudsman, which deals with any complaints. All of these bodies act as safeguards to protect the public and make sure solicitors are held to the highest standards.
When it comes to costs, the final cost of your Will depends on the complexity of your circumstances. To give a rough idea, simple Wills could range from £150 - £500. More complex Wills could be over £1,000.
There might be a small fee for storing the Will if you choose to store it with your solicitors.
Working with a Professional Will writer
Unlike solicitors who may have a number of practice areas, professional Will writers are solely focused on drafting Wills. That means that they may have more experience in drafting Wills, and they can be trusted to get Wills right.
Professional Will writers are not lawyers, and they are not regulated by the SRA. However, there is a global professional body called the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), which is seen as the hallmark of quality in the private client sector around the world.
Will Writers who are accredited by STEP are recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience. Some solicitors may also be accredited by STEP.
A Will writer is usually cheaper than a solicitor, and they are more likely to do house calls and give that level of personal service. Will writers often work independently, which means we don’t have the overheads of a law firm and we can offer a more affordable service.
Will writers are self-regulated. We're members of the Society of Will Writers (SWW) and/or the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW). My company, Armour Wills & Estate Planning Ltd, is a full member of SWW, which is the leading governing body for Will writers and estate planning practitioners.
Some Will writers lack a storage facility, but some of us (including me) have our own facilities for storing Wills safely and at an affordable price.
You may also read that some Will writers are a bit ‘salesy’. There are some Will-writing outfits where the sales people take instructions, then pass the instructions to the Will writers in the back office to do the work. That can create an impersonal dynamic.
However, not all Will writers operate like that. If you work with me, I take the instructions directly and I draft your Will. There’s no corporate machine pushing targets, and nothing gets lost in translation between colleagues.
DIY Wills
DIY Wills are the high-risk, low-cost option.
You can get off-the-shelf packs for as little as £6.99 and draft your own Will. The problem is that you run the risk of your Will being invalid.
Things that often cause a Will to be invalid are:
- Lack of clarity or certainty in the drafting
- Failure to provide substitute beneficiaries
- The Will is not correctly witnessed when it is signed
If your Will is invalid for any reason, it will be as though you died without making a Will at all. Any ambiguity in the Will could lead to expensive legal action for your loved ones, as they try to detangle your wishes, or wrestle with the rules of intestacy to distribute your assets.
Legal action will be significantly more expensive than the few hundreds of pounds you’ll spend in getting a professional to draft a watertight Will for you.
The DIY Will packs are often prescriptive in what you can add into your Will, and may neglect important features, especially for more complex situations. For example, you won’t be able to set up a Trust for children to receive their inheritance when they are more financially responsible, or to provide for a child with disabilities. Equally, there’s no inheritance tax planning with an off-the-shelf pack.
While it may be low cost to purchase the pack, you might be stung with expensive storage and retrieval fees. It’s best to check this before you commit, as this is often where these companies make their profit.
How I can help
As I mentioned, I’m a professional Will writer and estate planning practitioner. If you think that’s the best option for you, please do get in touch. I’m happy to chat it through with you before you commit and we can discuss exactly what you need from your Will.