How to Make a Will for Free UK (2026): Free Will Writing Options

Free Wills Month is an annual initiative run by a coalition of UK charities that funds qualified solicitors to write simple wills for members of the public at no charge. Key facts: (1) When it runs: twice a year — March and October. The scheme has run every year since 2004; (2) Who can use it: Free Wills Month is available to people aged 55 and over living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland (a separate Scotland scheme operates under Scottish Charitable Trust for those aged 18+); (3) What you get: a face-to-face appointment with a qualified solicitor who drafts a simple will for free. The solicitor's fees are paid by the participating charities. The will is drafted to professional solicitor standards — not a template; (4) What is a 'simple will' for Free Wills Month purposes: a straightforward will leaving your estate to a spouse, partner, children, family members, or friends. More complex wills — involving trusts, business interests, foreign property, or significant IHT planning — may not be within the scheme's scope and may need to be handled outside it, potentially for a charge; (5) The charitable legacy ask: the scheme is funded by charities who hope that some participants will choose to leave a legacy (gift in their will) to a participating charity. This is entirely voluntary — there is absolutely no obligation to leave anything to charity. You will not be refused the service if you choose not to include a charitable legacy; (6) Participating charities: over 200 charities participate, including Age UK, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, RNLI, WWF, and many others; (7) How to book: visit freewillsmonth.org.uk during March or October. Appointments are limited and can book up quickly — book early; (8) Available areas: participating solicitors are in towns and cities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Coverage varies by location.

Will Aid is a separate annual scheme that runs every November and is open to people of all ages: (1) How it works: participating solicitors waive their fees for writing a basic will during November. Instead of paying a fee, clients are asked to make a suggested donation to Will Aid's partner charities; (2) The suggested donation: the suggested amount is £100 for a single will or £180 for a pair of mirror wills (2026 figures). This is strongly encouraged but technically voluntary. The solicitor cannot refuse to write the will if you cannot afford the donation, but the donation expectation is made clear upfront. For many people, £100 is still significantly less than the commercial cost of a solicitor-drafted will (typically £200–£500+); (3) Who can use it: Will Aid is open to anyone aged 18 and over across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland; (4) What is covered: a simple will drafted by a qualified solicitor. Will Aid covers mirror wills, single wills, and straightforward estate distributions. Complex wills may be referred for normal fee-paying work; (5) Participating charities: Will Aid supports nine beneficiary charities including ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, and SCIAF; (6) How to find a participating solicitor: visit willaid.org.uk in October or November. The website lists participating solicitors by postcode; (7) Quality: participating solicitors are members of the Law Society. The will is professionally drafted and reviewed — not a DIY document.

Many charities offer free will writing as part of their fundraising and legacy programme. The underlying model is the same as Free Wills Month — charities pay solicitor fees in the hope that some participants will leave a legacy: (1) Macmillan Cancer Support: offers a free will-writing service through a network of partner solicitors. You do not need to have cancer — the service is open to anyone. Visit macmillan.org.uk/get-involved/donating/leave-a-gift-in-your-will; (2) Cancer Research UK: offers a free will-writing service, both online and by telephone with a solicitor. No donation obligation. Free for everyone; (3) Marie Curie: partners with online will writing service Octopus Legacy. Free simple will for everyone. marie-curie.org.uk/get-involved/gifts-in-wills; (4) British Heart Foundation: free will service via partner solicitors for those over 50 in certain areas; (5) RNLI: free will through partner solicitors; (6) RSPCA: free basic will online via partner services; (7) RSPB: free will-writing service for members; (8) Remember A Charity: an umbrella campaign from 200+ charities that provides signposting to free will services (rememberacharity.org.uk); (9) The key point: all these services involve qualified legal professionals (solicitors or will writers) creating your will. The quality is generally good for simple estates. For complex estates — significant IHT, business interests, overseas property, trust planning — you should use a specialist solicitor directly; (10) Waiting times: charity free will services can have long waiting lists, especially around Free Wills Month and Will Aid. If your will is urgent, a low-cost DIY will kit (such as WillSafe UK at £35) or direct solicitor instruction may be faster.

Free will writing services are excellent for straightforward estates but have important limitations that everyone should understand before using them: (1) 'Simple wills' only: Free Wills Month and Will Aid are designed for straightforward estates. They typically cover: leaving everything to a spouse/partner; legacies to named individuals; appointing an executor; appointing a guardian for minor children. They may NOT adequately address: complex IHT planning (RNRB structuring, trust planning, large-estate strategies); business interests (BPR qualifying assets, shareholder agreements, continuation provisions); foreign property; discretionary trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries; second marriage complications; cohabiting couples with complex financial arrangements; (2) Age restrictions: Free Wills Month is restricted to those aged 55+. Younger people with urgent will-making needs cannot use it; (3) Geographic availability: participating solicitors are not evenly distributed — some rural areas have very limited coverage; (4) Charitable legacy pressure: while there is no legal obligation to leave a charitable legacy, some people feel uncomfortable declining after receiving a free service. This is worth being aware of in advance; (5) Online 'free' will builders: be cautious of websites that advertise 'free wills' but: charge for subsequent amendments; sell ongoing storage subscriptions; monetise your data; produce template-only documents without professional review; use free as a lead-in to upsell expensive trust products (funeral plans, family protection trusts); (6) Annual capacity limits: Free Wills Month appointments and charity will services have limited capacity. The scheme is oversubscribed in popular months; (7) Timing: you cannot access these services at any time — Free Wills Month only runs in March and October; Will Aid only runs in November.

Yes — a will drafted by a qualified solicitor through Free Wills Month, Will Aid, or a charity free will service is as legally valid as a will that cost £500. The legal requirements for a valid will under the Wills Act 1837 are the same regardless of who drafted it or what it cost: (1) Legal validity requirements: the will must be: in writing; signed by the testator (or by another person in their presence and direction); the signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time; both witnesses must sign in the testator's presence. These requirements are identical whether the will was drafted free or for a fee; (2) Quality is in the drafting: the distinction between free and paid wills is not legal validity — it is drafting quality and scope. A professionally drafted will (whether free or paid) by a qualified solicitor will use appropriate legal language, include essential clauses (residuary clause, substitution clause, executor powers), and anticipate common issues. A poorly drafted DIY will may technically meet the execution formalities but still cause problems through ambiguity, missing clauses, or failure to address IHT efficiently; (3) Storage: some free will services hold the original will. Others return it to you. Clarify this at the appointment and ensure the will is stored safely (secure location; executor knows where it is; consider storing with a solicitor or at the National Will Register); (4) Review: even a free will should be reviewed every 5 years or after major life events (marriage, divorce, new child, significant change in assets). A new will can always be made — either through a later free scheme, directly with a solicitor, or using a DIY kit like WillSafe UK.