Post Office Will Kit UK: What It Is and What to Use Instead (2026)

If you've searched for a post office will kit in the UK, you're not alone. Thousands of people every month look for a quick, affordable way to write their own will without a solicitor. The post office — and similar kits sold at WHSmith — seem like an obvious starting point.

But before you buy one, it's worth understanding exactly what these kits include, what they leave out, and whether there's a better option available in 2026.

What Is a Post Office Will Kit?

A post office will kit is a physical, paper-based pack designed to help you write a basic will at home. In the UK, these have historically been sold at Post Office branches, WHSmith stores, and similar high-street retailers.

A typical will kit includes:

• Printed instruction booklet
• Blank will template (paper form)
• Guidance notes on witnesses and signing

The kits are usually priced between £10 and £30, making them one of the cheapest routes to writing a DIY will.

Where to Buy a Post Office Will Kit

You can find basic will-writing kits at:

• Post Office branches — availability varies by location
• WHSmith — often stocks similar DIY will packs
• Waterstones and other bookshops — may carry legal stationery packs
• Online retailers — Amazon and eBay carry various will-writing kits

That said, physical availability has become patchy as digital alternatives have grown. Many Post Office branches no longer stock will kits regularly.

What Does a Post Office Will Kit Include?

Most physical will kits in the UK include the following:

1. A blank will form — a paper template with spaces to fill in your details, beneficiaries, executors, and guardians
2. Basic instructions — a booklet or leaflet explaining how to complete the form
3. Guidance on execution — notes on how to sign your will correctly with two independent witnesses

Some premium kits may also include a storage envelope or brief notes on inheritance tax, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

The Limitations of a Post Office Will Kit

A physical will kit can be a reasonable starting point for very simple estates — but there are several important limitations you should be aware of before you buy.

1. Physical Only — No Digital Copy

A paper will kit produces a paper will. Once you've filled it in and signed it, you have a single physical document. If it gets lost, damaged by water or fire, or simply can't be found after you die, your estate may be treated as intestate (as if you had no will at all). There is no digital backup, no cloud storage, and no way to share a copy securely with your executor.

2. You Can't Edit It After Printing

Fill in a paper form in pen and you're committed. If you change your mind about a beneficiary, need to add a new one, or want to update your executor, you can't simply amend the original — you'll need to start again with a new form (or add a formal codicil, which must itself be witnessed correctly).

3. Basic Instructions Only

Post office will kits are designed for straightforward situations. They don't typically cover:

• Wills involving business assets or agricultural property
• Trusts for minor children
• Wills where spouses want to protect assets from care home fees
• Specific legacies of property held abroad
• Wills where there are estranged family members who might contest

4. No Legal Review or Validation

Buying a kit doesn't mean anyone checks your will. A solicitor isn't involved. If you make a mistake — failing to include a residuary clause, leaving out a required signature, or describing property inaccurately — the error won't be spotted until after you die.

5. No Instant Download

Ordering online or travelling to a Post Office branch takes time. If your situation is urgent — a medical diagnosis, an upcoming operation, or travel abroad — a physical kit adds unnecessary delay.

Post Office Will Kit vs WillSafe: Side-by-Side Comparison

Why WillSafe Is the Modern Alternative

WillSafe provides everything you need to write a legally valid will at home in the UK — in a format that works for how people actually live today.

• Instant download: No trip to the high street. No waiting for delivery. The moment your order is confirmed, you can download your will kit and start immediately.
• Editable Word format: WillSafe wills come as editable Word documents. You can type your details directly into the template, save multiple drafts, and update your will whenever your circumstances change.
• Full guidance included: The WillSafe guidance pack walks you through every section of your will, explains what each clause means, and tells you exactly how to sign and witness it correctly.
• 14-day refund guarantee: Not satisfied? WillSafe offers a 14-day money-back guarantee — something you won't find at the Post Office.

When Should You See a Solicitor Instead?

A DIY will kit — whether from WillSafe or the Post Office — is suited to relatively straightforward situations. You should speak to a solicitor if:

• Your estate includes business assets, agricultural land, or overseas property
• You want to set up a complex trust
• You have children from a previous relationship and want to protect their inheritance
• There is a real risk of your will being contested
• You have significant inheritance tax planning to do

How to Make a DIY Will Valid in the UK

Whichever will kit you use, the rules for a valid will in England and Wales are:

1. You must be 18 or over
2. You must have mental capacity (know what you own and who your beneficiaries are)
3. Your will must be in writing
4. You must sign it in the presence of two witnesses who are both present at the same time
5. Both witnesses must sign in your presence
6. Witnesses (and their spouses or civil partners) must not be beneficiaries

Read our complete guide to DIY will kits in the UK for more detail on the legal requirements.

FAQ: Post Office Will Kit UK