A will is one of the most practical documents you can put in place, but it is also one of the easiest to postpone because the costs feel uncertain. In the UK, will-writing prices vary widely, from low-cost, template-driven options to fully bespoke documents drafted by a solicitor with detailed tax and trust planning. In 2026, budgeting sensibly is less about chasing the cheapest headline figure and more about understanding what you are paying for: clarity, enforceability, appropriate safeguards, and the likelihood that your instructions will work smoothly when they are needed.
The right budget depends on your family situation, the value and type of assets you own, and how much flexibility you need. A straightforward will for a single person with simple assets is typically quicker and cheaper to prepare than a will covering a blended family, a business interest, a buy-to-let portfolio, or a beneficiary with vulnerabilities. Costs also change based on how advice is delivered, how many meetings are required, whether any trusts are needed, and the level of checking required for capacity, undue influence risk, and complex property ownership.
This article explains what wills typically cost in the UK, why prices vary, and how to plan for both the one-off drafting fee and the additional expenses that can arise over time. It is designed to help you set a realistic 2026 budget and avoid paying twice because the first will did not fit your circumstances.
What a will typically costs in the UK and why prices vary
In the UK, will costs generally fall into three broad categories: low-cost will writing services, solicitor-drafted wills, and more complex wills involving trusts or specialist planning. The market also includes promotional “free will” offers, where the drafting fee may be waived but you are encouraged to make a donation to a charity or pay for add-ons. The headline price can look attractive, but it is important to compare like with like: a basic document prepared with minimal advice is not equivalent to a tailored will that has been reviewed against your assets, family circumstances, and the way you own property.
For 2026 budgeting, many people find that a simple solicitor-drafted will commonly sits in the low hundreds of pounds, while wills with trusts, business considerations, or substantial planning can move into higher hundreds or more, depending on complexity. Couples often pay more than a single person, but less than two completely separate matters if the work overlaps. If you are quoted a fixed fee, check what the fee includes: initial consultation, drafting, revisions, execution meeting, and storage. If the work is priced hourly, ask for an estimate and what might cause it to increase.
Prices vary because risk and responsibility vary. A will is not just a form; it is a legal instrument that has to be interpreted after death, often by people who were not present when it was signed. Ambiguity can lead to delays, family disputes, or litigation. Costs can also rise where the solicitor needs to make careful enquiries about capacity, potential undue influence, or where the instructions are sensitive and require detailed attendance notes. Another key driver is asset structure. A will that deals with a home owned as joint tenants is different from a home owned as tenants in common, and different again when there are multiple properties. UK-based business assets, agricultural property, or complex shareholdings can also complicate matters.
Finally, service level matters. Some providers operate largely online with standard clauses; others offer deeper advice around inheritance tax exposure, guardianship, trusts for minors, and protection for vulnerable beneficiaries. The right choice is the one that matches your circumstances and your need for certainty.
Budgeting for different will types and complexity levels in 2026
A sensible way to budget for a will in 2026 is to match your spend to the likelihood of issues arising later. A simple will is typically suitable if your circumstances are straightforward: you have a limited number of beneficiaries, no complex assets, and you do not need trusts beyond standard provisions for young children. In that scenario, you are often paying for accurate drafting, correct execution, and a professional check that your instructions are legally effective. Your budget should allow for at least one round of revisions, because small clarifications can make a large difference to how the will is interpreted.
A “mirror will” arrangement for couples, where each person’s will broadly reflects the other, often sits in a middle band. Even when wishes are aligned, the drafting still needs to address practical details: what happens if you die together, substitute beneficiaries, guardians, and who can act as executors. Budgeting should also take account of property ownership. If you own your home together, your solicitor may recommend checking whether you hold it as joint tenants or tenants in common and whether a change is appropriate. That change is not part of the will itself, but it can be essential for the will to achieve what you intend.
More complex wills tend to be needed where there is a blended family, unequal provision between children, or a desire to protect a surviving partner while ring-fencing assets for children from a previous relationship. These situations commonly involve life interest trusts or discretionary trusts, and the cost is driven by the extra advice, the drafting complexity, and the need to ensure the trust provisions work with the rest of your estate. Similarly, where beneficiaries include minors, someone with addiction issues, or a person who may struggle to manage money, careful trust planning can be appropriate, and you should budget accordingly.
Business owners and people with significant property portfolios often require more detailed planning. A will may need to align with shareholder agreements, partnership arrangements, or how rental properties are owned. Even without complex tax planning, the practical administration of such an estate can be time-consuming, and it is worth budgeting for a more bespoke approach to reduce later probate complications.
If you are budgeting for 2026 and you expect changes within the next year or two, such as marriage, divorce, buying a property, or having children, it can be cost-effective to discuss that upfront. A will can be drafted with some flexibility, but major life events can still require a rewrite or a codicil. Building an “update allowance” into your budget helps avoid delay when circumstances change.
Extra costs and ongoing expenses to plan for (storage, updates, probate and related work)
The drafting fee is only part of the financial picture. A realistic budget should include the costs of keeping your will safe, keeping it current, and administering the estate after death. Storage is often available in several forms. Some people keep the original will at home, but this carries risks of loss, damage, or uncertainty about which document is the latest. Professional storage can provide a reliable audit trail and easier retrieval, and some firms include storage within the drafting fee while others charge an annual or one-off amount. When comparing options, look at retrieval arrangements and what happens if you move or change contact details.
Updates are another predictable expense. A will should be reviewed when major life events happen, such as marriage or entering a civil partnership, separation, divorce, the birth of children, a significant change in assets, or a beneficiary or executor dying. Even without major events, a review every few years can be sensible, particularly if you have trusts, a property portfolio, or a more complex family structure. Some changes can be handled with a codicil, but codicils can create confusion if used repeatedly, so a full re-draft is sometimes the safer option. Either way, budgeting for occasional legal fees can reduce the temptation to leave an outdated will in place.
You may also need to budget for related documents. Many people choose to put lasting powers of attorney in place alongside a will so that decisions can be managed if they lose capacity during their lifetime. While separate from will costs, it is often part of a broader planning budget.
After death, probate and estate administration can involve substantial work. Some estates do not require a grant of probate, but many do, particularly where there is property in the sole name of the deceased, significant savings, or investments. Fees for professional support vary depending on whether you want help only with the probate application or with full administration, including collecting assets, paying liabilities, dealing with property sales, preparing estate accounts, and distributing to beneficiaries. Disputes can add further costs, as can property litigation if there are questions about ownership or occupation.
Finally, consider costs that arise because a will interacts with how assets are held. For example, severing a joint tenancy, updating property title details, or aligning beneficiary designations on certain financial products can involve additional steps. Planning for these related tasks upfront often prevents avoidable complications later.
FAQs
How much should I budget for a simple will in 2026?
For a straightforward UK will, it is sensible to budget in the low hundreds of pounds if you want a solicitor-drafted document with proper advice, drafting, and execution. The exact figure depends on how your assets are structured and how clear your instructions are. If you have one property, a small number of beneficiaries, and no special trust planning, the work is usually contained. Costs can increase if you need additional meetings, if there are questions around capacity, or if you want detailed provisions for gifts, funeral wishes, or executor powers. Be cautious about comparing only the headline fee. Ask whether the price includes revisions, a signing appointment, and storage of the original will, and whether there are extra charges for complexity that only becomes apparent once your circumstances are reviewed.
Is it cheaper to do a will online, and is it worth it?
Online will services can be cheaper because they rely on standardised wording and limited personal advice. For some people with very simple circumstances, this can be adequate, but the risk is that a low price can hide gaps: unclear gifts, executors who cannot act, or provisions that do not work with how property is owned. An online document may also be more likely to be challenged if there are concerns about undue influence, misunderstanding, or capacity, because the evidence of advice and intention can be thinner. “Worth it” depends on your appetite for risk and the potential cost of problems later. If your estate includes a home, a partner and children, a blended family, or beneficiaries who need protection, the extra spend on tailored advice can be a cost-saving measure in the long run.
Do mirror wills cost half as much as two separate wills?
Mirror wills are not usually half the cost of two wills, but they can be more cost-effective than treating each will as a completely separate matter. There is often overlap in the fact-finding and in the structure of the documents, so firms may offer a fixed fee for a pair of mirror wills. However, each person still needs their own advice and their own properly executed will, and differences can emerge once you discuss what happens in different scenarios, such as remarriage, care needs, or gifts to children at different ages. Costs can rise if you need trust provisions, if you own property as tenants in common, or if either person has children from a previous relationship. When budgeting, assume a discount for overlap, not a straight 50 percent reduction.
Will I need to pay extra for trusts in my will?
If your will includes trusts beyond the most basic provisions, you should expect additional legal fees. Trust drafting requires careful wording, clarity on trustee powers, and consideration of how and when beneficiaries benefit. Common reasons for trusts include protecting a surviving partner while ensuring children ultimately inherit, providing for young children until a suitable age, or safeguarding an inheritance for someone who may be vulnerable. The cost reflects the additional advice needed and the increased risk if the trust is unclear or poorly structured. It is also important to budget for the practical side: trustees may need guidance after death, and there can be ongoing administration requirements. Not every situation needs a complex trust, so it is worth discussing your goals and budgeting for an option that is proportionate.
What extra costs might my executors face when dealing with probate?
Executors may face both direct expenses and professional fees. Direct expenses can include probate application fees, copies of the grant, valuation costs for property or valuable items, and costs linked to securing and insuring property. Professional fees depend on whether the executors instruct a solicitor for the probate application only or for full administration. Full administration can include collecting assets, settling debts, preparing inheritance tax paperwork where applicable, dealing with property sales, finalising estate accounts, and distributing funds. If there are disputes between beneficiaries, unclear records, or property ownership issues, costs can increase significantly. A well-drafted will and an organised set of financial information can reduce the burden. When budgeting, consider setting aside a contingency for administration even if you expect your estate to be straightforward.
How often should I update my will, and will that cost as much as a new one?
You should review your will when major life events happen, and otherwise consider a periodic review every few years, particularly if your circumstances are not static. Updates can sometimes be made by codicil, which may be cheaper than a full rewrite, but codicils must be drafted and executed correctly and can create confusion if used repeatedly. If your changes are substantial, such as changing executors, revising multiple gifts, or adding trust planning, a new will is often clearer and safer. Cost depends on the extent of the change and whether your circumstances require new advice. In 2026 budgeting terms, it can be wise to plan for at least one paid update within a typical life stage shift, rather than assuming the initial drafting fee is the only cost you will ever incur.
Conclusion
Budgeting for a will in 2026 is about balancing cost against certainty. In the UK, prices vary because people’s lives vary. A simple will can often be prepared at a relatively modest cost, but complexity increases quickly where there are blended families, multiple properties, business interests, or a need to protect vulnerable beneficiaries. The right budget is one that covers not only drafting, but also the quality of advice, proper execution, and enough time to refine wording so your intentions are clear.
It is equally important to plan for the expenses that sit around the will. Storage, periodic updates, and the real-world costs of probate and estate administration can be significant, particularly if your affairs are not straightforward. Building a contingency into your planning can prevent delays later and reduce pressure on the people you choose as executors.
If you are setting your 2026 legal budget, start by listing your assets, how they are owned, and the outcomes you want for the people you care about. Then seek advice that matches that complexity and ask for a clear quote explaining what is included and what might cost extra. To explore your options for will writing and related private client planning in the UK, you can find out more about our wills and private client services here.
