Will Writing Checklist UK (2026): Everything You Need Before You Start
Updated 13 May 2026 · 8 min read · England & Wales
Writing a will takes less than an hour with the right preparation. Most of the time is spent before you start — gathering information, making decisions, and telling the right people. Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need.
Step 1: Gather your personal details
- ☐ Your full legal name (as it appears on your passport or driving licence)
- ☐ Your current address
- ☐ Your date of birth
- ☐ Whether you are married, in a civil partnership, divorced, or single — this affects how the will works
- ☐ Whether you have made any previous wills (the new will should include a revocation clause)
Step 2: Take stock of your estate
You do not need to list every account in the will, but knowing what you own helps you decide who should get what. Note the rough value of each asset type.
- ☐ Property — address, estimated value, how it is held (joint tenants or tenants in common)
- ☐ Bank accounts — rough balances
- ☐ ISAs, savings, and investments
- ☐ Pension pots — provider and approximate fund value
- ☐ Life insurance — value and whether written in trust
- ☐ Business interests — shares, partnership interests
- ☐ Valuable personal property — jewellery, art, vehicles, collections
- ☐ Debts — mortgage, loans, credit cards (to estimate net estate value)
- ☐ Digital assets — online accounts, cryptocurrency, digital files of value
Step 3: Choose your executor(s)
Your executor is the person who carries out the instructions in your will. They collect assets, pay debts, and distribute the estate. Choose someone you trust completely.
- ☐ Name of your primary executor — full name and address
- ☐ Name of a substitute executor (acts if the first cannot)
- ☐ Have you spoken to your executor? They need to know — and agree — before you name them
- ☐ Is your executor likely to still be alive and capable when needed? Consider age and health
Step 4: Choose a guardian for minor children
If you have children under 18, appointing a guardian in your will is one of the most important decisions you can make. Without one, the courts decide.
- ☐ Name of your chosen guardian — full name and address
- ☐ Name of a substitute guardian
- ☐ Have you discussed it with the guardian? Do not appoint someone without asking them
- ☐ If there is another parent with parental responsibility, their agreement to your choice is not required — but discussing it is wise
Step 5: Decide your specific gifts
A specific gift (or “specific legacy”) is a named item or sum left to a named person. Think carefully about items of sentimental or financial value.
- ☐ Pecuniary legacies (cash sums) — amount and recipient
- ☐ Specific items — description and recipient (jewellery, art, vehicles, etc.)
- ☐ Charitable gifts — charity name and registered number, amount or percentage
- ☐ Substitution clause — what happens if a named beneficiary dies before you?
Step 6: Decide who gets the residue
The residuary estate is everything left after specific gifts, debts, and expenses are paid. This is usually the most valuable part of the estate.
- ☐ Who is your primary residuary beneficiary? (Spouse, partner, children equally, etc.)
- ☐ What happens if your primary beneficiary dies before you? (Substitute beneficiary)
- ☐ If children inherit, at what age should they receive the money? (Default is 18; you can specify 21 or 25)
- ☐ Do any beneficiaries need a trust? (Minor children, vulnerable adults — see Step 7)
Step 7: Consider whether you need trust provisions
- ☐ Do you have children under 18? If so, assets must be held on trust until they reach the specified age
- ☐ Do you have a vulnerable beneficiary who should not receive a lump sum outright?
- ☐ Is this a second marriage? Consider a life interest trust to protect first-family children
- ☐ Is your estate large enough to benefit from an NRB discretionary trust? (Generally estates over £650,000 combined)
Step 8: Prepare for the legal formalities
A will is only valid if the signing formalities under s9 Wills Act 1837 are followed exactly. Prepare in advance:
- ☐ Identify two witnesses — independent adults who will NOT benefit under the will (and not married to anyone who will)
- ☐ Arrange for both witnesses to be present at the same time when you sign
- ☐ Ensure you sign at or after the end of the document
- ☐ Each witness signs in your presence immediately after you sign
- ☐ Date the will at the time of signing
Step 9: Store and communicate
- ☐ Store the original will safely — a solicitor, fireproof safe, or bank safe deposit box
- ☐ Tell your executor where the will is kept
- ☐ Consider registering with the National Will Register (Certainty)
- ☐ Review your pension nominations — pensions do not pass through your will
- ☐ Review your life insurance nominations — also pass outside the will
- ☐ Set a reminder to review the will every 3–5 years or after major life changes
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need to write a will in the UK?
To write a will in England and Wales you need: (1) your full legal name and address; (2) a list of your main assets — property, bank accounts, investments, business interests, pension details; (3) the full names and addresses of your chosen executor(s); (4) the full names and dates of birth of your beneficiaries; (5) if you have children under 18, the full name and address of your chosen guardian(s); (6) details of any specific gifts — items, sums, or property you want to leave to specific people; (7) the residuary beneficiary — who gets everything else; (8) your funeral wishes if you want to include them.
How many executors should I appoint in my will?
Most people appoint one or two executors. One executor can act alone, but two provides a safeguard if one dies before you or is unable to act. More than four executors is unusual and can create decision-making difficulties. Choose executors who are: trustworthy; available and willing to act; ideally younger than you; financially reliable (not bankrupt). You can appoint a professional executor (solicitor or bank) but their fees are often high. Naming a substitute executor who acts if the first is unable to is sensible belt-and-braces planning.
Who should I choose as guardian for my children in my will?
A guardian appointed in a will takes parental responsibility for your minor children if you (and any other parent with parental responsibility) die before the children reach 18. Choose someone who: shares your values; is willing and able to take on the responsibility; has an appropriate lifestyle and home situation; is likely to be alive and capable when needed. Discuss it with them first — do not surprise them. You can appoint a substitute guardian. The guardian appointment in a will can be challenged by the courts in the child's best interests, but is strong evidence of your intentions.
Do I need to list all my assets in my will?
No — and you should not try to. A will that lists specific accounts, shares, or account numbers quickly becomes out of date. Instead, use a residuary clause that leaves 'everything else' (the residuary estate) to the named beneficiary. Only list assets in your will if you want to make a specific gift — for example, 'my engagement ring to my daughter Jane' or 'my guitar collection to my son Tom'. For most people the will says: executor appointed, specific gifts (if any), residue to partner/children. The Letter of Wishes or a personal inventory held separately can list specific items informally.
What are the legal formalities for signing a will in England and Wales?
Under s9 Wills Act 1837, a will must be: (1) in writing; (2) signed by the testator at or after the end of the will; (3) signed in the presence of two independent adults who are both present at the same time; (4) each witness must then sign the will in the presence of the testator (and each other's presence, though this is not strictly required). Witnesses must not be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries — if they are, they lose their gift under s15 WA 1837. The will does not need to be notarised, stamped, or registered to be valid.
Should I register my will anywhere?
There is no legal requirement to register a will in England and Wales. However, registering it with a national will register — such as Certainty (the National Will Register, £30 fee) or Settify — means it can be found by your executors even if the original is lost. Always store the original will safely: a solicitor's storage, a bank safe deposit box, or a fireproof home safe. Tell your executor where it is. Do not store the will in a safety deposit box only the deceased can access — executors cannot retrieve it without a Grant, which they cannot get without the will.
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Get the will kit →Related guides
- How to write a will — full step-by-step guide
- What to include in a will
- Choosing an executor — what to consider
- Appointing a guardian for your children
- When should you update your will?
- How to store a will safely