Templates for Do-it-Yourself (DIY) wills are cheap and easy to find – you can get them online or from stationery shops. But it’s not always a good idea to write your will yourself. We’ll help you to decide.
Your options for writing your own will
In theory, you could scribble your will on a piece of scrap paper.
As long as it was properly signed and witnessed by two adult independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries and who are present at the time you sign your will, it should be legally binding. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Since 31 January 2020, it has been legal to witness a will remotely in England and Wales. For instance, this could include Zoom or FaceTime.
Find out more, including wording to use and how to make sure it’s legally valid, at GOV.UK (Opens in a new window)
When it comes to executing a will, there are several differences between the rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland and those in England and Wales.
If you live in Scotland, for more information visit the Law Society of Scotland (Opens in a new window)
If you live in Northern Ireland, visit the Law Society of Northern Ireland (Opens in a new window)
Most wills follow some general rules for what you say and how you say it.
These standard ways of writing things are tried and tested, and they remove any confusion about what you mean – even if the language seems unusual at first.
Using the wrong wording could mean that your instructions aren’t followed, and could even mean that your will isn’t valid.
So it’s a good idea to use a template that has the standard sections and legal terms already included.
You can get a will template or will pack from stationery shops and online services – they usually cost up to £30.
When it’s a good idea to write your own will
In general you should only write your own will if your wishes are very simple. For example, if you’re married and:
- you want to leave everything to your partner, or
- if they die before you, you want to leave everything to your children.
If there’s anything more complicated than that, you should probably use a solicitor or a will writing service. For example, if you have step-children or you aren’t married or in a civil partnership.
Find out more in our guides:
Using a solicitor to write your will
Will writing services – pros and cons
When you shouldn’t write your own will
You should definitely use professional help to write your will if:
- you own property abroad
- you’re trying to reduce your Inheritance Tax bill
- you have foreign investments or bank accounts
- you own a business that you’re leaving to someone as part of your will
- you have people who are financially dependent on you other than your immediate family
- your will includes any wishes that might be misunderstood or are even slightly complicated.
What are the risks of a DIY will?
The main risk of writing a DIY will is that your wishes might not be fulfilled because any mistakes you make could make your will invalid. There’s a risk that you could leave your family with a legal, financial and emotional problem, and any assets you do leave could be eaten away by legal bills or unnecessary tax.
The reason why this is more likely to happen with a DIY is that you’re more likely to make errors a professional would pick up on. For example, failing to get it witnessed correctly by two independent adults at the same time, spelling names incorrectly or if you don’t sign the document in the right way.
The general message is – only use a DIY will if your wishes are very simple and your financial situation isn’t complicated.
You might save money up-front compared with using a professional service. But if you get anything wrong you could leave your family and friends with a headache they wouldn't have had if you had used a solicitor or will writing service.
Should you use a solicitor?
If you’re unsure if you’ve got your will right or you don’t know if your situation counts as complex, look into using a solicitor. Solicitors are regulated by the SRA which means if something was to go wrong, your loved ones are protected by their insurance and complaints process.
Find out more in our guide Using a solicitor to write your will
Be aware that if you use a will template, the company that supplies it won’t take any responsibility for your will being correctly made.
If you make any mistakes when creating a DIY will, and this causes problems when your will is read, there won’t be any legal comeback at all.
If you get it badly wrong, and it is decided that your will is invalid then the law decides who your money and property should go to. Which may not be the way you wanted the assets distributed.
Find out more in our guide Sorting out the estate when there isn’t a will
If you do decide to write your own will
If you’re happy to write your own will, make sure you’ve covered these points:
- Make sure the will is signed, dated and witnessed correctly. The template should show you what you need to do.
- Carefully check your spelling – be extra careful with the spelling of people’s names.
- Be specific. For example, don’t just leave everything to ‘my wife’ – use your wife’s full name.
- Destroy any old wills – if you already have a will, make sure you destroy the old one and make sure the new one clearly states that it revokes the old one. The template you use should give you instructions on how to do this properly.
- Tell your executor where the will is to be kept – they’ll need to know when you die.
