How to make a will
You can write your will yourself. To be legally valid in England and Wales it has to be in writing, made by choice when you're 18 or over and of sound mind, and signed in front of 2 witnesses aged over 18, who then sign it in front of you.
Checked against gov.uk 13 October 2026 · gov.uk: making a will
What to put in your will
A will lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after you die. gov.uk says it should set out:
- who you want to inherit
- who should look after any children under 18
- who will sort out your estate and carry out your wishes (your executor)
- what happens if someone you leave something to dies before you
You can include a charity in your will too.
Making it legally valid
For your will to be valid in England and Wales, you must:
- be 18 or over
- make it voluntarily
- be of sound mind
- make it in writing
- sign it in front of 2 witnesses who are both over 18
- have both witnesses sign it in front of you
If you make changes later, the same signing and witnessing rules apply to them. If you can't sign yourself, you can ask someone to sign for you.
Source: gov.uk, make sure your will is legal, checked 13 October 2026.
Who can witness a will
Any 2 people over 18 can witness your will, but choose them with care: you can't leave anything in your will to a witness, or to a witness's husband, wife or civil partner. Pick 2 people who aren't inheriting from you.
- You and both witnesses sign the same document.
- When you sign, both witnesses need a clear view of you and the act of signing, and you need the same view of each of them when they sign.
- The witnesses don't have to sign at the same time as each other.
Writing it yourself, or paying for help
gov.uk says you can write your will yourself, and to get professional advice if it isn't straightforward, for example if:
- you share a home with someone you're not married to or in a civil partnership with
- you want to leave money or property to a dependant who can't look after themselves
- several family members may make a claim on your will, such as a second spouse or children from another marriage
- your permanent home is outside the UK, or you have property overseas
- you have a business
The Legal Services Board asked 500 firms in September to November 2024 what they would charge for an individual standard will. The median quote was £250, and the middle half ran from £200 to £315, all before VAT. These are the prices firms quoted, not what customers paid.
Sources: gov.uk, write your will, checked 13 October 2026; Legal Services Board, Prices of individual consumer legal services 2024.
Changing your will
You can't amend a will once it's been signed and witnessed, so don't write changes on it. There are 2 ways to change it:
- A codicil for smaller changes. It's an official alteration that you sign and have witnessed the same way as the will, and you can add as many as you need.
- A new will for bigger changes. It should say that it cancels all previous wills and codicils, and you destroy the old will by burning it or tearing it up.
gov.uk suggests you review your will every 5 years and after any big change, such as separating, divorcing, having a child or moving house. Getting married cancels any will you made before, so you need a new one after the wedding.
Keeping your will safe
You can keep your will at home, or with your solicitor, your bank, a will storage company, or the Probate Service, which charges a one-off £24. Tell your executor, or a close friend or relative, where it is. See how to find a will, and where to keep yours.
If you don't make a will
The law decides who gets what. A husband, wife or civil partner inherits first, and an unmarried partner gets nothing under the rules. See who inherits if there's no will.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
This page covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules for making a will.
Common questions
Can I write my own will?
Yes. gov.uk says you can write your will yourself, but to get advice if it isn't straightforward: for example, if you share a home with someone you're not married to, have property overseas or a business, or several family members might make a claim on it.
Who can witness a will?
Two people aged over 18, who both watch you sign and then sign in front of you. You can't leave anything in the will to a witness or to a witness's husband, wife or civil partner, so choose witnesses who don't inherit. They don't have to sign at the same time as each other.
Does getting married cancel a will?
Yes. gov.uk says getting married cancels any will you made before, so you need to make a new one afterwards. It also suggests reviewing your will every 5 years and after any major change, such as separating, divorcing, having a child or moving house.
How much does a will cost?
Writing it yourself costs nothing. When the Legal Services Board surveyed 500 firms in September to November 2024, the median price quoted for an individual standard will was £250 before VAT, and the middle half of quotes ran from £200 to £315.
Can I change my will by writing on it?
No. gov.uk says you can't amend a will once it's been signed and witnessed. Small changes go in a codicil, which you sign and have witnessed the same way as the will. For bigger changes, make a new will that cancels the old one, then destroy the old one.
Where should I keep my will?
At home, or with your solicitor, your bank, a will storage company or the Probate Service, which charges £24 once. Wherever it is, tell your executor or a close friend or relative where to find it.
About this page
The rules come from gov.uk's guide to making a will, checked 13 October 2026. The price is from the Legal Services Board's 2024 survey of what firms quote, and the storage fee from gov.uk and the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order on legislation.gov.uk. Compiled by James Burfield. General information, not legal advice.