Has been drafted by a UK Solicitor for reliability
Includes full guidance notes for easy completion
Qualifies for our full money-back guarantee
“It was so easy I filled it in during my lunch break.”
– Mr C of Colchester [Will for single person with children]
How Does It Work?
1. Download
2. Edit
3. Print
4. Sign
Creating a last will and testament ensures peace of mind and the ability to set out your wishes. Make your own will with our standard will template. We have carefully designed our standard will online DIY template, so you can easily edit it to your exact situation and requirements.
Using our Standard Will Template
We include full guidance notes to make the final will easy to complete, which you can preview. David wrote this template – he is our co-founding solicitor with over 20 years’ experience. The template is comprehensive and you can rely on it to produce a valid and legally binding will. You can make a valid will using our template if you live in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Don’t risk buying a template elsewhere that you cannot be sure will create a legally binding UK will.
The standard will template works for anyone who does not need to set up a trust through their will. It does not matter if you:
are married, unmarried or single; and
do or do not have children.
Two for the price of one and free updates for life on our Standard Will
If you are married, in a civil partnership or in an unmarried relationship, you can both make a will from this standard will template – buy it once, use it twice. In fact, as we give you free access to the template for life, you can download it and use it again free of charge when you next need to renew or update your will. Even better, whenever we update the template, you will get free access to the updated version. All this and you only pay once.
How to use our DIY Standard Will template
Once you have bought the standard will template, you can download it in Word format and begin making your will. The document includes square brackets ([ ]) around all parts of the template that need editing.
The detailed guidance notes on the template included in this will kit will guide you through each clause, explaining exactly what you need to consider and edit when you write the will. We have made writing your own will cost effective and very simple with this correct kit.
Other Will types for specific situations
As well this standard will template, we also offer a range of pre-edited wills that we have already customised to match common situations. From single person wills to mirror will templates, you can be sure that we will have a will pre-edited to suit you. You can browse the full range in our Wills section.
What if I do not make a will?
If you die without having made a will, then there are rules which determine who inherits your assets (your estate). They are the “intestacy rules”. For details on them see: https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will.
There are several situations where these could cause significant hardship in your family, if you don’t make a will and therefore allow these intestacy rules to operate. For our blog article about these situations, read more here. Simply making a standard will allows you to control where your estate goes when you pass away, and this is always a better solution than leaving it up to the intestacy rules.
FAQs on Standard Wills
Below we answer the top questions on wills from the Internet.
What is a standard will?
A standard will is a binding legal document that gives information on the distribution of a person’s assets and estate after they die. The person writes their will before their death, and includes details of beneficiaries and any other wishes that they may have for their belongings. The will appoints an executor to manage the estate on behalf of the deceased in accordance with their will.
Can I write my own will?
You can write your own will. With our standard will template you can be sure that the document will be legally valid and comprehensive, so that your executor will respect your wishes after your passing. Using a template makes the process valid, simple and fast.
How much does a standard will cost?
If you chose to meet with a solicitor, the cost of a will can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, often reaching a few hundreds of pounds. Our template eliminates the need for this higher cost and enables you to draft the document yourself for just £29.95. Legalo co-founder David, a solicitor with 30 years’ experience, has written the standard will template, so you can rely on its legal validity. The template download also includes detailed guidance notes to help you through the process for added peace of mind.
What happens if I don’t write a will?
In the case that a person has not written a will before their passing, their administrator will distribute their estate according to the intestacy rules. In this scenario, a spouse, children and/or other close blood relatives automatically inherit the assets, but this can exclude people like unmarried partners, friends, stepchildren, and charities. If you wish to be fully in control of where your assets and estate go once you die, it is advisable to draft a will. You can then have the peace of mind that your loved ones will receive what you intend and avoid disputes.
What should I do with the original copy of my will?
We recommend you store your will in a safe place, such as:
a fire-proof safe at home (if you already have one);
a bank safe deposit box (if you already use one); or
You can then rest assured knowing that your executor can easily recover it after your passing, avoiding any issues when the time comes.
Do all wills have to be registered?
It is not legally required to register a will, but many choose to do so through a third-party service. This provides added security and easy retrieval of the will by your executor when they need it, reducing the risk of its being lost or forgotten. You should let your chosen executors know where you are storing your will.
Is it free to register a will?
A fee is usually required to register a will, but many believe that the added security and accessibility provided by this service is worth the additional cost in the future. Just watch out for any fees that they charge annually, as these could become significant over time.
What makes a will invalid?
It is very important when drafting a will that the person it represents is willing and of sound mind to complete the process and signs it correctly. If a person is found to have been under influence or duress or lacking in mental competence, this can invalidate their will. A will can also be contested if it:
fails to follow legal requirements (such as how to sign and witness it);
includes errors; or
contains unclear or contradictory terms.
You can also invalidate a will by revoking it in a subsequent will.
A common mistake that many make is not to sign the will in the presence of 2 independent witnesses. The written guide that comes with our standard will template tells you exactly how to have your will properly signed and witnessed.
Any person who was a dependant of yours at the time of your death can also contest your will after your death if you do not make proper provision for them. For example, children who are not yet adults or a spouse or unmarried partner.
Who inherits if a will is invalid?
In the case of an invalid will, all assets will be distributed as if a will was not written. This means following the intestacy rules.
Can a family member witness my will?
We strongly advise that a family member does not act as a witness to your will. This is because it can create a conflict of interest and also bring the validity of the will into question. The law does not permit a witness to inherit anything under the will, so be careful not to invalidate a legacy. It is a good idea to select two independent adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries under the will to ensure its validity.
Can an executor of a will be a beneficiary?
While a witness should not be a beneficiary of your will, an executor can be, and often is. After the person’s death, the executor registers the will with the Probate Registry. The Probate Registry give a grant of probate. Only then does the executor have the power to distribute the assets in accordance to the deceased’s wishes. It is however important to ensure that the executor’s actions are transparent to avoid mistrust or disputes.
Who pays out the money from a will?
It comes down to the executor(s) to distribute the assets among the beneficiaries in accordance with the will. The executor(s) gather the assets, paying any debts and taxes, and adhere to any wishes laid out in the will. If there is no surviving executor, a beneficiary under the will can apply to the Probate Registry to be executor.
