How to get a cheap will this autumn

More than half of UK adults don't have a will, and 11% of those who do have one admitted it's out of date, according to a recent survey of 2,000 adults by Will Aid.

The national will-writing charity found 27% held off because they believed they had nothing worth leaving, 21% had concerns about solicitor costs and 16% had worries that the process might be too complicated.

A will is an important document that sets who will inherit your estate and what should happen after you die. That includes what sort of funeral you would like, as well as other wishes, like who should bring up your children.

If you haven't made your will yet you might be able to get one done for less this autumn as Will Aid appointments are now open for November and Free Wills Month kicks off in October.

Here, Which? explains how Will Aid and Free Wills Month works plus other budget-friendly options available for drafting a will.

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What is Will Aid?

Will Aid is a partnership between solicitors and seven UK charities, which allows you to get a basic will for a voluntary donation. 

Instead of charging their normal prices, solicitors taking part in the scheme volunteer their time and waive their fees, in exchange for a donation to Will Aid. 

The suggested donation to Will Aid is £100 for a single basic will and £180 for a pair of mirror wills.

Donations support the work of the seven charities including Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF and Trocaire.

• Find out more: reasons to create a will

How to book a Will Aid appointment

Appointments are now open to book via the Will Aid website.

First, you’ll need to enter your postcode and you’ll be shown participating solicitors. 

Appointments can take place in person or remotely via video or phone call. You can contact your chosen solicitor via the website or give them a call directly, telling them that you would like to make an appointment under the Will Aid scheme.

Once your solicitor has written your will, you’ll have the option of making an upfront donation to Will Aid.

• Find out more:what to put in your will

What is Free Wills Month?

Free Wills Month runs twice a year in March and October and gives those aged over 55 the chance to have a simple will drawn up or updated by a solicitor for free in exchange for a charitable donation.

Hundreds of solicitor firms and charities take part, but different areas participate in different months.

You can put your postcode into the Free Wills Month website to find out which solicitors near you are taking part.

• Find out more: 6 things to know before taking advantage of Free Wills Month

4 ways to save on the cost of making a will

If you want to create a will, or update your existing will, there are several other ways to save on costs. 

1. All-year-round charity will-writing schemes 

Many charities provide free will-writing services all year round, although it's recommended you leave a gift to the charity in your will in exchange for the service. 

Participating charities include Marie Curie, Cancer Research, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Children’s Hospital and The Stroke Association. 

Just bear in mind that some have criteria for who can use the service, so it's best to check their website first. For example, at The Stroke Association, you need to be over the age of 60 or a stroke survivor over the age of 18.

• Find out more: how to make a will 

2. Through your employer or trade union  

If you're a member of a trade union, you could get your will written for free or for a low cost. 

Unison and the Public and Commercial Services Union are among those that partner with solicitors to provide members with a free will-writing service.

It’s possible your employer may offer you a free will as an employee benefit, so it’s worth checking with your HR department as part of your research. 

3. Use a will-writing service 

Using a will-writing service is typically cheaper than using a solicitor, with prices starting from around £80.

You’ll also get more guidance than doing it yourself, and it can be ideal if your circumstances are relatively straightforward but you want some support.

However, not all will writers are qualified or regulated, because will writing is not a regulated market. 

To give yourself extra protection, you should make sure your will writer is recognised by a professional body within the industry, or by a regulated individual, like a solicitor. 

The wills team at Which? is supervised by a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

4. Do it yourself 

Templates for DIY wills can be downloaded online for as little as £10, but you should only use one of these if your estate is very simple. 

If you have more complex circumstances, you risk making a mistake that could make your will invalid or ambiguous.

Should you go down the DIY route, it’s crucial that the will covers all the major assets you own and that the document is witnessed correctly. We’ve got some more advice in our guide on creating a will for free.

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