Farewill Alternatives in 2026: 6 UK DIY Will Services Compared
Farewill stopped offering DIY online wills in 2026 after pivoting to The Simpler Cremation Service. UK consumers looking for a like-for-like alternative now choose between WillSafe UK, Co-op Legal Services, Trust Inheritance, LawPack, the Post Office Will Pack, and a free gov.uk template. This article compares all six on price, format, witness rules, refund policy, and who each suits.
Where Farewill went — and why
Farewill was founded in 2015 and grew rapidly through 2020 to 2024. Their model used a simple online questionnaire that produced a printable will, with optional human review by a will writer. In late 2025 the company announced a strategic shift away from will writing and toward funeral and cremation services. The will service was wound down through early 2026.
Customers who bought a Farewill will before 2026 still hold valid documents. The Wills Act 1837 doesn't care which company drafted the will — only that it complies with the witnessing rules. If you have a Farewill will and need to update it, you will need a new will or a codicil from a different provider.
Beyond (formerly beyond.life) also shut down in 2025 and now redirects to a Farewill-branded closure notice. Together, the two most prominent independent online will providers in the UK market have exited — leaving the field to WillSafe UK, the solicitor-based services, and lower-tech printed kits. For customers of Beyond specifically, see our guide: Beyond Wills has closed — what to do next.
The 6 alternatives at a glance
| Service | Single will price | Format | Refund | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WillSafe UK | £39.99 | PDF + Word download | 14-day money-back | DIY-confident buyers; closest like-for-like to Farewill |
| Co-op Legal Services | ≈£175 | Solicitor-drafted by phone | Variable | Anyone who wants a solicitor's name on the document |
| Trust Inheritance | ≈£90–£180 | Will writer phone consult | Variable | Buyers who want guidance but not full solicitor cost |
| LawPack Superior Kit | £24.99 | Posted or downloadable kit | Money-back | Budget buyers who want more guidance |
| Post Office Will Pack | ≈£25 | Posted printed pack | Variable | High-street brand familiarity |
| gov.uk free template | Free | Plain text template | n/a | Very simple estates with no children |
1. WillSafe UK — £39.99, plain-English DIY download
WillSafe UK sells DIY will templates as instant PDF and Word downloads for England and Wales. The Single Will Kit is £39.99, the Mirror Wills Kit £59.99, and the Cohabiting Couples Will Kit £69.99. The hero product is the Essentials Bundle at £89.99, which combines a will with LPA guidance, a Letter of Wishes, a Funeral Wishes Planner, a Digital Assets Inventory, and an Executor Guide.
Every template is drafted to comply with the Wills Act 1837 and reviewed against the Administration of Estates Act 1925. Guidance is written at a reading age of 10–12 so it is accessible without legal training.
Strengths: Lowest price for a fully editable Word document; plain-English drafting; 14-day money-back guarantee; lifetime re-download. Weaknesses: No solicitor signs the document on your behalf (none of the DIY providers do), and Scotland and Northern Ireland are not currently covered.
2. Co-op Legal Services — ≈£175, solicitor-drafted by phone
Co-op Legal Services is a regulated firm of solicitors. They draft a will over the phone in roughly 45 to 60 minutes and post the document for signature. Their single will is around £175, mirror wills around £275.
Strengths: Solicitor-drafted, regulated by the SRA, strong brand recognition. Weaknesses: Roughly 4× the cost of WillSafe UK. Worth paying for if your estate is complex — over the £325,000 nil-rate band, business assets, second marriage, or vulnerable beneficiaries. For a straightforward estate, a DIY template is legally equivalent at a fraction of the price.
3. Trust Inheritance — ≈£90–£180, will writer consultation
Trust Inheritance is a regulated will-writing firm (not solicitors) that drafts wills via phone consultation. Their pricing sits between a pure DIY kit and Co-op Legal Services.
Strengths: Human guidance through the process without full solicitor cost. Weaknesses: Not SRA-regulated (will writing is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales), and prices vary.
4. LawPack — £17.99–£34.99, posted printed kits
LawPack offer a range of printed will kits delivered by post. The Standard Will Pack is £17.99; the Superior Will Kit £24.99; Mirror Wills and Premium options £34.99. They also offer downloadable versions.
Strengths: Lowest cost with guidance included; widely available. Weaknesses: Printed format is less flexible than a Word document you can edit before printing; no live support.
5. Post Office Will Pack — ≈£25, posted kit
The Post Office Will Pack is a basic printed will-writing kit available online and from post offices. It includes simple forms and instructions.
Strengths: High-street brand familiarity; available in branches. Weaknesses: One of the most commonly mis-executed DIY will formats — printed form wills leave little room for amendment and the guidance is minimal. For a slightly higher price, WillSafe UK offers significantly more thorough guidance and an editable Word file.
For a detailed breakdown of Post Office will kit pitfalls, see our guide: 5 things the Post Office will kit doesn't tell you.
6. gov.uk free template — free, basic plain text
The UK government provides a basic free will template at gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will. It is suitable for very simple estates where you have no children, no cohabiting partner, and only one or two straightforward beneficiaries.
Strengths: Free; government source. Weaknesses: Minimal guidance; no space for complex wishes; not appropriate if you have children, a blended family, business interests, or want to appoint guardians.
How to choose the right option
Use this decision tree:
- Simple estate (one or two beneficiaries, no complex assets, first marriage, no children from previous relationships) → WillSafe UK Single Will Kit at £39.99 or LawPack at £17.99–£24.99.
- Couple wanting matching wills → WillSafe UK Mirror Wills Kit at £59.99 or Cohabiting Couples Kit at £69.99.
- Want human guidance without full solicitor cost → Trust Inheritance at ≈£90–£180.
- Complex estate: business assets, overseas property, blended family, IHT planning, disabled beneficiary → Co-op Legal Services at ≈£175, or another SRA-regulated solicitor.
For more on the DIY vs solicitor decision, see our guide: DIY will vs solicitor — which is right for you?
Frequently asked questions
Why did Farewill stop doing wills?
Farewill made a strategic decision in late 2025 to pivot away from will writing and focus on funeral and cremation services, rebranding as The Simpler Cremation Service. The will-writing service was wound down through early 2026. The company continues to trade — it has simply exited the wills market.
Is my existing Farewill will still valid?
Yes. If your Farewill will was correctly signed in front of two independent adult witnesses who also signed in your presence, it is legally valid under the Wills Act 1837. Farewill's pivot does not affect the validity of any document they drafted while operating.
What is the cheapest Farewill alternative?
LawPack Standard Will Pack at £17.99 is the cheapest option. WillSafe UK at £39.99 is the closest like-for-like to the Farewill experience — an instant PDF and Word download with plain-English drafting, Wills Act 1837 compliant, and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Does WillSafe UK cover Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Not at present. WillSafe UK currently covers England and Wales only. Scottish wills are governed by the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 and Northern Irish wills by the Wills and Administration Proceedings (NI) 1994 — both require different drafting. WillSafe UK is working on Scottish coverage.
Can I use a DIY will kit if I have children?
Yes — a DIY will is appropriate for most parents with straightforward estates. You can appoint guardians, set out inheritance for minor children, and name trustees. Where DIY becomes more complex: blended families (children from different relationships), disabled beneficiaries who receive means-tested benefits, or estates over the inheritance tax nil-rate band (£325,000 per person). For those situations, a solicitor adds more value than the cost.
What is the difference between WillSafe UK and Co-op Legal Services?
WillSafe UK sells plain-English DIY templates you complete yourself — instant download, £39.99, drafted to the Wills Act 1837. Co-op Legal Services is a regulated firm of solicitors who draft the will for you over the phone at around £175. The legal outcome for a straightforward estate is the same. The difference is whether you want a solicitor's involvement, which is worth the extra cost only if your estate is complex.
The closest like-for-like Farewill replacement
WillSafe UK is the direct replacement for Farewill's online DIY will service — instant download, plain-English guidance, Wills Act 1837 compliant, 14-day money-back guarantee.