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Best Online Will Makers of May 2024

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is our top pick because it's comprehensive and affordable

solicitor will writing service

An online will maker is a service that helps an individual create a will from the comfort of their home, potentially for less than an estate attorney would charge. Online will makers work with attorneys and other legal professionals to generate a will based on the information you provide, which (so long as it's accurate and executed correctly) is just as legally binding as a standard will. If you have a relatively simple estate, an online will maker can be an affordable way to ensure your affairs are in order and your loved ones will be taken care of.

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust is the best overall online will maker due to its downloadable software, free software updates, and access to a catalog of estate planning documents. We researched 13 companies and evaluated them on several factors, including company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, ease of use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

The 6 Best Online Will Makers of May 2024

  • Best Overall: Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
  • Best Value: U.S. Legal Wills
  • Best for Ease of Use: Trust & Will
  • Best Comprehensive Estate Plan: TotalLegal
  • Best for Free: Do Your Own Will
  • Best for Making Changes: Rocket Lawyer
  • Our Top Picks
  • Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
  • U.S. Legal Wills
  • Trust & Will
  • Do Your Own Will
  • Rocket Lawyer
  • See More (3)

The Bottom Line

  • Compare Providers

How to Write a Will

Alternative to a will, why you should trust us.

  • Methodology

Best Overall : Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust

  • Price : Starting at $99
  • Legal support : No
  • Free trial : No
  • Update period : One year of software updates included

Customers get access to a large number of estate planning documents with this Nolo product, and the software itself is easy to use. You’re not required to have an internet connection except to download and update the software.

Get comprehensive estate planning documents for a flat rate

Free software updates for version year

Downloadable software

Estate planning documents aren’t valid in Louisiana

Must meet minimum operating system requirements

Downloadable software not available for Starter price tier

Nolo, which is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, started by publishing DIY legal guides back in 1971. It was one of the first websites to provide online legal assistance and information. It's branched out into other products, like its Quicken WillMaker & Trust software tools.

You can download the program for $99 to $209, depending on the version. They include key estate planning documents like a legal will, a living trust , a financial power of attorney (POA) , a healthcare directive, final arrangements, and a letter to survivors, in addition to other types of personal finance and home and family management documents.

The software is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and it's easy to use. It allows you to create customized legal documents using a simple interview survey to fill out forms. You can then save your information and download completed documents in PDF format. You can update your will at any time and receive legal and technical updates via the internet.

There's a legal manual to help you answer common questions within Quicken WillMaker & Trust, and you can contact technical support for additional help. Louisiana residents won’t be able to use this software because it doesn’t address the estate planning requirements for this state.

Best Value : U.S. Legal Wills

 US Legal Wills

  • Price : Starting at $49.95
  • Legal support : Yes
  • Update period : Unlimited

U.S. Legal Wills is one of the most affordable will options we've seen. It offers 40% off forms for partners or spouses, and it also has an add-on service to get an attorney to review your estate plan. It’s one of the only websites that accommodates affordable wills for expats and those who have personal property or other assets located outside the U.S.

Free unlimited updates

Includes forms for assets outside the U.S. and for expats

Discounts for documents for your spouse or partner

No living revocable trust available

Website not as intuitive as other competitors

Signup process for spouses can be clunky

Formed in 2000 and based in New York City, U.S. Legal Wills is operated by PartingWishes Inc., an independent organization that works with U.S.-based lawyers to create legal documents, without being tied to a particular law firm. Services are available in all U.S. states (except Louisiana) and provide some of the best values and discounts of all the websites we reviewed.

Starting at $49.95 for a last will and testament, U.S. Legal Wills customers also get free storage for their documents on the company's secure servers, in addition to unlimited updates. You can pay annually or opt for the lifetime feature if you want to keep storing your documents with U.S. Legal Wills, which is only $129.95. It's a more economical choice if you plan on storing your will on its servers for more than a few years. Spouses or partners can get mirror wills (plus additional documents) for 40% off.

You can create a variety of estate planning documents on the U.S. Legal Wills website, then designate what the company calls Keyholders. These are people who have access to your documents, such as trusted family members or the individual you've named as executor .

Members can receive additional support by submitting a ticket through the customer service portal.

Best for Ease of Use : Trust & Will

 Trust & Will

  • Price : Starting at $199
  • Update period : One year

Customers can create their estate planning documents quickly and simply with Trust & Will. The company offers an easy way to decide which option is best through the "Get Started" section of its site. You can then fill in relevant details using an interview-style format.

We also like that Trust & Will makes it easy for you to make your documents legally binding by mailing you your completed documents for free and providing complete instructions.

Comprehensive learning center

Choose from three options so you can feel less overwhelmed

The website is intuitive to use

Only one year of unlimited updates available

Doesn’t offer free upfront legal consultations

Founded in 2017, Trust & Will aims to modernize the estate planning process by providing an easy and secure way to create your estate plan online. Document creation is seamless using its user-friendly website and its step-by-step path to getting started. The process can take as little as 15 minutes, and the company even mails your completed documents to you for no extra charge, along with instructions to make sure everything is legally binding.

The fintech expert's state-specific trusts offer pretty much everything you'll need, including a living will’s schedule of assets and a revocable living trust to help your loved ones avoid probate. It's one of the only do-it-yourself companies to offer this option.

Trust & Will has a flat fee for wills of $199 for an individual and $299 for couples. A customized trust costs $499, or $599 for couples. This includes unlimited updates for a year. You'll pay $19 annually after the first year for unlimited updates for wills and $39 for trusts.

Best Comprehensive Estate Plan : TotalLegal

Total Legal

  • Price : Starting at $19.95 or $99 per year
  • Update period : 60 days

TotalLegal is one of the only companies that provides comprehensive legal services that include do-it-yourself business and estate planning documents plus free and discounted access to attorneys through its TotalLegal™ plan.

Low annual or monthly fee

Premium members have access to free and discounted legal services

Ability to create a wide variety of documents

Customers who purchase one-off documents have limited update period

No living trusts available

No online access for executors

TotalLegal is part of Pro Se Planning Inc., which provides self-guided legal products, including estate planning and business formation documents. Pro Se Planning was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Customers can purchase and complete individual estate planning documents starting at $19.95 for a last will and testament, which remains available in your online account for 60 days, then offers unlimited updates.

The biggest advantage of TotalLegal is its yearly subscription plan. You get access to legal services for $99 a year, including a consultation, attorney-reviewed documents, and a will with free updates each year. All this provides the most comprehensive resources for those who need some guidance.

Document creation is simple. You’ll go through a series of questions to inform and complete your document, which can then be downloaded and printed. TotalLegal’s help center provides extensive information, and you can always call or email customer support if you have any additional questions.

There are discounted services that include creating a simple will with a trust. You'll also get access to its document storage digital vault service, where there are no storage limits.

Best for Free : Do Your Own Will

 Do Your Own Will

  • Price : Free
  • Free trial : N/A

This free option offers one of the widest varieties of forms without paying for extras. There's no need to create an account or hand over any credit card details. You can download your documents instantly.

No need to sign up for an account to get access to documents

Available to residents of all 50 states

Ability to save your will as either a PDF or Word document

No legal support

You must check state laws yourself

Do Your Own Will is a completely free way to make a last will and testament, POA, or a living will. Beyond the unbeatable price, one of the major perks is that it’s simple to use. There's no need to sign up for an account, but you'll have to provide your email address if you want to make updates or changes later.

Users complete forms online by filling in details such as marital status, information on your dependents, how you want your assets to be divided, and who you want to name as your executor. Download the document as a PDF or Word document, then you can sign it.

Originally founded in 1999, Do Your Own Will is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It’s available nationwide, but there's one caveat: There's no legal support, so make sure you do your own research to ensure your will is legally binding.

Best for Making Changes : Rocket Lawyer

 Rocket Lawyer

  • Price : Starting at $39.99 per month by subscription
  • Free trial : Yes
  • Update period : Unlimited with subscription

You get access to all Rocket Lawyer's estate planning documents for one monthly price and you can make updates whenever you like. What makes Rocket Lawyer stand out is its ability to get legal advice for new legal issues and the ability to sign your documents securely online. This allows any changes you make to go into effect immediately.

Offers a wide variety of legal and estate planning documents

A free seven-day trial to try out its services

Ability to pay a low monthly fee for premium access

Monthly membership pricier than other options

You must provide credit card information even for a free trial

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Rocket Lawyer offers online legal services that include documents and attorney services. Rocket Lawyer provides customers with two monthly subscription models, which cost $39.99 per month or $239.88 per year, depending on the membership chosen. You get unlimited access to all its legal documents, including the ability to make updates and attorney services. The price also includes a free 30-minute consultation on new legal matters, an “ask a lawyer” option for your legal questions, and other professional services.

You can download wills, trusts, and powers of attorney immediately after you complete all the required information online, and then you'll receive instructions to make the documents legally binding. They can be securely signed online, plus you can invite others to sign them digitally as well. This allows you to make updates and changes quickly. You can also contact customer service by email, online chat, or calling its hotline.

We’re a fan of Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust because you can make your will or trust and other documents with one download for one flat price. But you may want to choose another option if you want additional help from a live lawyer. Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is an option with great features for your estate planning forms if you're computer savvy.

Compare Online Will Makers

While writing your own will may seem like an intimidating task, the actual complexity will depend on the nature of your estate. You may be better served hiring an estate planning attorney if you possess an intricate web of assets. If your estate is relatively uncomplicated, then you can follow the steps below to put a will together yourself (though it may still be a good idea to have a lawyer review the finished document).

  • Catalog your assets : Before you start writing your will, take an inventory of every asset you own/have in your name that you are legally permitted to bequeath in your state. You'll want to be as detailed as possible when you list these assets in your will to avoid any confusion about what a beneficiary should receive.
  • Find a template : You can certainly write a will from scratch, but you can also make things easier on yourself by utilizing a free online template from a reputable source. This will reduce the amount of time you'll spend writing and minimize the chances of making any errors. Ensure the template you choose includes any additional clauses important to you, such as what powers your executor should have or how assets not assigned to any beneficiaries ought to be handled.
  • Start with your name and address : While the exact identifying information you'll need in your will may vary based on the template, you'll typically have to include your full legal name, city (and possibly county), and state. Make sure your template includes a sentence revoking any prior wills you may have had.
  • Name your executor(s) and guardian(s) (if applicable) : In your will, you'll need to identify the executor administering your will (as well as their successor if your first choice is unavailable) and the guardian (plus their successor) you're granting custody of your minor children (if you have any). You'll also likely have to include the mailing address and Social Security number (SSN) of each individual you name in your will. Be sure to first communicate with each individual you want to name as an executor or guardian to ensure they're willing to accept their respective roles.
  • Choose your beneficiaries and the asset(s) they will receive : As with your executor(s) and guardian(s), you'll have to name the beneficiaries receiving your assets, in addition to potentially providing their mailing addresses, SSNs, and relations to you. You'll then need to specify which asset(s) each person or organization will be given.
  • Sign and date your will : Once you've finished writing your will, the final step is signing it before the witnesses required by your state. If you don't complete this step, then your will won't be legally binding.

After making copies of your completed will, store the original somewhere safe and inform your executor(s) of where they can find it. You'll also want to review and revise your will every few years and after any major upheavals in your life.

The primary alternative to a will is a living trust . The latter is a legal arrangement wherein an individual designates assets that are transferred to a trust account, which is managed by a trustee of the account opener's choosing. A living trust is created when the account opener signs a trust agreement, which typically specifies the trust's purpose, what kinds of assets it holds, the trustee's duties and responsibilities, and which assets each beneficiary will receive after the grantor dies.

Wills and living trusts share many similarities, but there are a few key differences that set them apart from one another:

  • A will is a straightforward document that only details how the testator's assets should be distributed after their passing. Meanwhile, a living trust is a complicated arrangement wherein the grantor sets aside specific assets to fund a trust account while they're alive.
  • A will doesn't go into effect until after the testator dies, whereas a living trust is in effect as soon as it's signed.
  • In most cases, a will goes into probate after the testator dies, and a trust avoids the probate process entirely.
  • A will becomes part of the public record, whereas a living trust's details will only be known to the grantor, trustee, and beneficiaries.

Although a living trust can be considered an alternative to a will, they aren't mutually exclusive. If you want to have an especially comprehensive estate plan , you can have both a will and a living trust. However, if your estate isn't particularly complex, then a will by itself may be sufficient.

Investopedia collected and analyzed several key data points from over 13 companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing an online will maker. We used this data to review each company for price, availability, compatibility with various devices, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right financial decisions for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999, and has been helping readers find the best online will makers since 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are online wills legitimate.

Online wills are legitimate as long as they comply with federal and state laws. Online will companies hire licensed attorneys and legal professionals to carefully word their estate planning documents so that each is legally binding, but you'll want to make sure that your final documents will carry the same weight as one that an attorney creates. Check the fine print of the online will company to make sure it’s compliant in your state.

Is Paying for an Online Will Maker Worth It?

Using a free online will service can suffice if your estate is simple and straightforward: You don’t have any children, your only beneficiary is your spouse, and your estate is very small. But you'll probably benefit from using a paid service if you have a larger estate or a more complex situation, or if you want a legal professional to help you work through your documents and other financial matters.

Who Should Draw Up a Will?

It's a good idea for anyone with assets that multiple heirs can legitimately claim. Not dividing up assets can cause litigation among family members, creating resentment and heartache after the individual passes.

Should an Individual Write Their Own Will?

It's inadvisable to write your own will without any sort of legal guidance unless you have an up-to-date background in and knowledge of estate law. Otherwise, it's too easy to inadvertently sidestep a rule or law in your state that you didn't even know about. This could result in your final wishes not being carried out, throwing your estate into chaos as the court looks for alternate solutions. Always touch base with a legal professional before writing and finalizing your own will.

What Should You Avoid Putting in a Will?

Your will is not a private document after your death, so don't include anything that you don't want to become a matter of public record. Forming a living trust is a much more private estate-planning alternative. It will avoid airing out all the most intimate details of your life in probate court. A will must pass through probate in order for your estate to be settled.

What Is the Best Site to Create a Will?

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust website offers the best online will maker. However, depending on your needs, you may be better suited with another company. Do Your Own Will, for example, is a great free option, so long as you're confident in your ability to create a legally binding will without any legal support.

Are Wills Really Necessary?

In most cases, a will is an indispensable part of an estate plan. If you pass away without a will, then you risk your assets being distributed to different persons or parties than you might have wished for. Having a will in place can give you the peace of mind that this won't come to pass. There are a few cases where a will isn't strictly necessary, such as if you lack sufficient assets or any beneficiaries.

How Do You Make an Online Will?

When creating a will online, you'll first want to shop around for the best online will maker to suit your needs. Once you've made that decision, you'll next need to take stock of your assets, such as any real estate in your name. You should then choose your beneficiaries and how you'll want your assets divided between them. After that, you'll need to pick an executor you trust to distribute your assets to the correct beneficiaries. All that's left at this point is to fill out the template provided by your will maker and store a physical copy somewhere safe.

It would likely be a good idea to hire an attorney to review your will to ensure it's legally binding. Don't forget to also ensure that the beneficiary designations for any of your assets with death benefits (such as bank accounts, retirement accounts, or a life insurance policy) are aligned with your new estate plan.

How We Pick the Best Online Will Makers

Our goal is to make sure our recommendations are ones we would share with our family and friends when looking to choose an online will maker company. We looked at 13 companies before choosing the top providers. Factors we looked at include company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, whether the product was simple to use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by the payment we receive from advertisers.  Click here to learn more about our review process.

Investopedia / Zoe Hansen

LinkedIn. " Nolo ."

Nolo. " About Us ."

Quicken Willmaker & Trust 2024. " A Powerful Estate Planner Without the High Costs ."

US Legal Wills. " About Us ."

United States Legal Wills. " Prices ."

Trust & Will. " Founding Story ."

Trust & Will. " Pricing for Our Estate Planning Products ."

LinkedIn. " Pro Se Planning, Inc ."

TotalLegal. " Prices ."

CBInsights. " DoYourOwnWill.com ."

Rocket Lawyer. " Rocket Lawyer Introduces Rocket Tax ."

LinkedIn. " Rocket Lawyer ."

Rocket Lawyer. " Memberships and Pricing ."

National Council on Aging. " Living Trust vs. Will: Key Differences ."

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. " How Does a Revocable Trust Avoid Probate? "

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Best Online Will Makers of 2024

on LegalZoom's website

solicitor will writing service

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

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A will ensures your possessions go to the right people after your death. If you have a complicated family situation or large estate, you may want to hire an attorney to help craft yours. But online wills and online will makers can cost less and meet your state’s legal requirements, too.

Best online will makers

The best online will makers are reasonably priced, easy to use and tailored to each state’s requirements and offer online wills that are customizable to your life circumstances. Online will makers also can guide you through the process with good support and help you start estate planning on your timeline. Here are our top picks.

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker: Best all-inclusive

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker - WillMaker

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker

Nolo’s services are among the most comprehensive on the market.

  • Straightforward, user-friendly process.
  • One year of free updates to your documents.
  • Access to over 35 estate planning documents depending on plan.
  • Software download available with only Windows 8.1/10/11 or macOS 10.13 and higher.
  • Documents aren’t valid in Louisiana or U.S. territories.
  • No access to attorney support.

on Nolo's website

What it looks like

Nolo Quicken WillMaker screenshot

Why we like it

Nolo’s services are among the most comprehensive on the market. Its Quicken WillMaker offers over 35 state-specific estate planning documents in one place, available online or as a software download. The service can be used to make a pour-over will, health care directive , living trust , letters to survivors and other financial management documents, depending on your annual plan.

All three plans help you craft a will via a simple, straightforward questionnaire that guides you to the documents you need. If you decide not to use the cloud version, be sure you have enough space on your computer (54 megabytes) to download the software.

» MORE: See our full review of Quicken WillMaker

GoodTrust: Best for digital assets

GoodTrust

GoodTrust's “Digital Vault” feature is helpful for incorporating your online assets into your estate plan for a reasonable cost.

  • Digital vault for organizing online accounts and digital assets.
  • Unlimited updates.
  • Family plan (each adult member can create their own documents) for no additional cost.
  • No attorney support.
  • Documents aren’t state-specific but are binding in all 50 states when following state-specific instructions.

on GoodTrust's website

solicitor will writing service

GoodTrust stands out for its “Digital Vault” feature, an encrypted online platform for secure storage of any online asset, including social media accounts, subscriptions and online banking information. You can add a trusted contact to any account on an item-by-item basis and provide detailed instructions, such as how to memorialize your Facebook account or where to transfer your Venmo balance.

GoodTrust offers key estate planning documents for a reasonable fee compared to other estate planning services. The service includes customer support via email ticket and live chat during the will-making process.

» MORE: Learn what can happen if you die intestate (without a will)

Trust & Will: Best for ease of use

Trust & Will - Will

Trust & Will

Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process.

  • Simple and straightforward process for an online will.
  • Unlimited updates with an annual membership.
  • Add a year of attorney support for $300.
  • Not great for complex family or financial situations.

on Trust & Will's website

Trust and Will screen shot of software

Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process. The online will maker service includes HIPAA authorization, living will and power of attorney documents. You can download your documents, but all documents also ship free for first-time users with state-specific notarization instructions.

The Trust & Will website also includes a library of educational content to help users understand estate planning, and unlimited attorney support is available for $200 per year.

» MORE: See our full review of Trust & Will

Rocket Lawyer: Best customer service

Rocket Lawyer - Last Will and Testament

Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer stands out for its customer service, which includes the option to contact a lawyer for legal assistance via phone, email or online chat.

  • Free seven-day membership trial.
  • 30-minute phone consultation with a lawyer included with membership.
  • Built-in chat feature to ask a lawyer questions.
  • Membership can be costly.
  • Must have membership to make changes after the trial period expires.

on Rocket Lawyer's website

Rocket Lawyer screen shot of will maker software

Rocket Lawyer stands out for its customer service, which includes the option to contact a lawyer for legal assistance via phone, email or online chat. This service is included in Rocket Lawyer’s $39.99 monthly fee, which gives you access to all estate planning documents on the platform.

Otherwise, you can fill out the company’s free will template. The seven-day free trial is a great way to take advantage of the upgraded customer service, but you’ll have to pay to make updates after the trial ends.

» MORE: See our full review of Rocket Lawyer's Online Will

LegalZoom: Best state-specific legal advice

LegalZoom - Last Will

LegalZoom’s online will maker, like its other legal services, uses flat-fee pricing and offers attorney assistance for an added fee.

  • Attorneys available for consultation in all 50 states.
  • Flat-fee pricing.
  • More expensive than some other online will makers.
  • Relatively narrow document offerings.

Legal Zoom Will Making Software Screenshot

LegalZoom’s online will maker, like its other legal services, uses flat-fee pricing and offers attorney assistance for an added fee. The company has independent attorneys available in all 50 states who can help make sure your documents comply with your state’s laws.

You can craft an online will starting at $199, which includes a power of attorney designation form and health care directives.

» MORE: See our full review of LegalZoom's online will maker

Do Your Own Will: Best free will software

Do Your Own Will - Will

Do Your Own Will

Do Your Own Will offers wills, living wills and power of attorney documents for download as PDFs and Word documents.

  • Free documents, including living will and power of attorney.
  • No account or credit card information needed.
  • You’ll need to check state laws to make sure your will complies.
  • No legal support available.

on Nerdwallet

Do Your Own Will software screen shot

Do Your Own Will offers wills, living wills and power of attorney documents for download as PDFs and Word documents. You can select your state and fill in basic information to craft a basic will at no cost. This service doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other online will makers, and you may need to double-check the legal standards for your state, but it’s simple, functional and free.

» MORE: See our full review of Do Your Own Will

Fabric by Gerber Life: Best online will maker for young families

Fabric by Gerber Life - Will

Fabric by Gerber Life

Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker catered to families with young children.

  • Free online will template.
  • Option to buy life insurance through the website.
  • Specifically made for families with young children.
  • No attorney access available.
  • Wills aren’t state-specific.

Fabric will making software screen shot

Fabric by Gerber Life offers a free online will maker catered to families with young children. Fabric’s will template isn’t state-specific, though the website does provide instructions to make your will legally binding in your state. The process is fairly quick and offers an easy way to appoint guardians and beneficiaries , with the option to sign up for life insurance through the platform as well.

» MORE: See our full review of Fabric by Gerber Life Will

What other services does each will maker offer?

Are online wills legit.

Online wills can be legally binding if they’re specific to your state and properly notarized. Notarization requirements can vary from state to state; in some, you may need only two witnesses to sign and won’t need an attorney. Also, make sure to use a reputable, well-reviewed online will maker if you’re going the do-it-yourself route.

Other ways to write a will

Download a template.

Many websites have free and low-priced will templates available for download. You can find templates specific to your state and estate situation, though more specific forms may cost extra.

A template is a decent starter option if you can’t invest in a more comprehensive effort, but make sure the template meets your needs and state legal requirements.

Hire an attorney or estate tax professional

If your estate is complex or large, it might be worth your time and money to consult an estate planning attorney right away, especially if you live in a state with its own estate or inheritance taxes .

Hiring a professional can help ensure that you’re protected in specific situations you may have concerns about, including special child care provisions, business issues or a blended family with multiple heirs.

Hybrid approach

You can start writing your will yourself and then ask an attorney any lingering questions. By starting the process, you'll have answered or anticipated most questions a legal adviser would have and be able to discuss any concerns.

Your fees might also be lower because you’ll have done much of the prep work before consulting an attorney. However, even a partial lawyer's fee is more expensive than other will-writing methods, and working with a professional can be time-consuming and require multiple appointments.

The Best Online Will Making Programs

These sites can help you create an affordable will online.

Candid portrait of senior couple at home, man with grey hair and beard working on computer, glasses resting on forehead, seniorpreneur working from home with wife

Getty Images

Finding the right will making software for your family situation can streamline the process and allow you to have everything in order for your heirs.

Rather than walking into an attorney's office and paying a high hourly rate, you can opt for a range of online will options to help create a will from the comfort of your home at a reasonable price.

These will makers aid with documents ranging from basic wills to intricate estate plans. Finding the right will making software for your family situation can streamline the process and allow you to have everything in order for your heirs .

The following programs can help you create a will online and provide other estate planning solutions :

  • Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust - Visit Now .
  • Fabric by Gerber Life - Visit Now . 
  • LegalZoom - Visit Now .
  • Do Your Own Will - Visit Now .
  • U.S. Legal Wills - Visit Now .
  • FreeWill - Visit Now .
  • Rocket Lawyer - Visit Now .
  • Total Legal - Visit Now .
  • Trust & Will - Visit Now .
  • Gentreo - Visit Now .

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust

If you want nearly everything for a customized estate plan in one place, Quicken provides software to create a will, power of attorney, health care directive, living trust and other estate-related documents. A questionnaire guides you through the process of deciding which documents you need. Nolo's WillMaker starter bundle is $99, which includes a will, health care directives and final arrangements. More features come with the Plus version at $139 and the All-Access version for $209.

Fabric by Gerber Life

To make a will without having to sign up for anything or create an account, you can use Fabric's free online will tool . If you have a basic estate or simple family situation, this service could be a good fit. After answering a few questions, you can print the will and make it legally binding. The process takes approximately five minutes. While the service is free, the site also sells life insurance policies for a range of prices.

If you want a professional's input when making an online will, LegalZoom provides access to an independent attorney who is knowledgeable about laws in your state. Legal counsel is available at the start of the will making process. You can also begin making a will on your own with the site's self-guided questionnaire. If you have questions, you can reach out to an attorney. Legal counsel is also available after you finish the will to help you make updates or address concerns for up to a year. Prices start at $89.

Do Your Own Will

If you're looking to spend as little as possible, Do Your Own Will provides a free way to make a will. By answering questions, you create a simple will. You can then download the document as a Word or PDF file. There are also other estate planning documents available for free, including a pet guardian trust and durable power of attorney. While the services are free, the site states that if you have a complicated estate, it may be useful to seek legal counsel and use other estate planning tools.

U.S. Legal Wills

To set up specific instructions for loved ones, you can create a will through U.S. Legal Wills . The online will making tool asks questions about your estate to help you line up information your executor can use to properly distribute assets. According to the site, you can have a will in just 20 minutes. The standard cost is $39.95, along with additional charges for services such as setting up a power of attorney for finances or storing documents in a digital vault that can be passed on to your family and executor. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

You can use FreeWill to help you create a basic document. As you work through the steps, if you realize that your estate is more complex than you initially perceived, you can still benefit from the site. FreeWill provides free forms you can fill out to take to an attorney, which can save time and funds. The site states that you might want to pair its services with a lawyer if you have a large or complicated estate. In addition to wills, the site offers related legal planning tools like advanced health care directives, beneficiary designations and durable financial power of attorney. FreeWill is able to offer its tools for free via partnerships with nonprofits.

Rocket Lawyer

If you're not sure what to include in a will, Rocket Lawyer provides free templates of wills that can be customized to your situation. The site will guide you through the process, helping you decide what exactly to include in your will. It also provides information on other legal documents related to estate planning. You can pay $39.99 for a will or become a premium member for $39.99 per month to gain access to additional legal services.

Total Legal

You can complete an online interview through Total Legal to help understand what you need for your will. After creating a will online, you can print it out or choose to receive it by mail. The site then provides instructions on how to have your will signed in your state. A last will and testament costs $19.95, and the site offers other estate planning documents in a range of prices.

Trust & Will

You'll be able to carry out the will process in a step-by-step way at Trust & Will . The site provides customized, state-specific wills and instructions to walk you through the documents you need. Wills start at $159 for an individual or $259 for a couple. You can also set up trusts and guardians.

For a complete estate planning service that is customizable to your exact situation, Gentreo offers a way to create, store and share your estate plan. If you have a blended family, specific gifts or distinct wishes for a pet, the site walks you through the details of sorting out your preferences and making a will that suits your needs. Once the will is complete, you can upload it to your family vault and choose which beneficiaries can have access to it. The site also offers additional estate planning documents such as a health care proxy and power of attorney. You can get all the documents you need for $150 for the first year and $50 for each following year.

Estate Planning Tips You Need to Know

Maryalene LaPonsie Oct. 17, 2023

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America 's online .css-rqgsqp{position:relative;z-index:1;} .css-6n7j50{display:inline;} Will writing service.

Each step is carefully thought out to make your Will writing experience as smooth as possible. We also include helpful tips and links to relevant guides throughout. Did we mention that our Will experts will personally help you via our chat button?

Answer some questions

In as little as 15 minutes, provide some information about yourself and choose what you want to go into your Will.

Review and sign

Receive your completed Will within two working days and follow the simple instructions to sign and validate everything.

Stay up to date

Your estate planning details will be securely stored in your account. Log back on anytime to make amendments and get an updated Will.

A Human Touch

We don't leave your family's future up to bots. All our documents are personally reviewed by our own Will specialists, who are themselves qualified lawyers (and real humans).

Basic Online Will

What's included :, available add-ons :.

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Unsure which Will service is best for you? Take our quick questionnaire.

There is actually more to estate planning than just Wills. That's why our service includes a Will, plus other important documents that help organize your affairs.

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We have put together a brief video showcasing how our platform looks and what you can expect out of the process.

Keep your Will up to date

Circumstances in life can change often, and your Will should change with them. That's why we offer unlimited updates with our "Editing Membership" for $39 per year. Compare that with the significantly higher amendment fees at traditional law firms and Will writing firms. We even throw in the first year for free! Just sign back in anytime and make the necessary amendments. Receive an updated version of your estate planning bundle.

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What is the online will service, what is the benefit of using the online will service, is an online will legal, what is the online will service process.

  • Sign up for an account
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Can i make changes to my will, can my partner and i make a will together, how long does it take to make a will, plan your future with us ..

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  • Wills, Trusts & Estates

Will Writing Services

A Will is a legal document that lets you decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions (your ‘estate’) after your death. It allows you to clearly set out your wishes and decide who’s responsible (executor) for dealing with your estate. It also sets out any procedures the executor may need to follow. With effective planning, a Will can also make sure that your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way.

If you don’t make a Will, the law will divide your estate according to what’s known as the rules of intestacy. These rules are very fixed and may not reflect what you’d like to happen to your wealth, or what’s most tax efficient.

More information about Wills can be found in our Wills Guide . You can also choose one of the options listed:

  • Making A Will
  • Our Online and Postal Will Service
  • Our Bespoke Will Service
  • Reviewing And/Or Changing Your Existing Will
  • Accessing Your Documents
  • Contesting Or Defending A Will
  • Choosing Or Being Named As An Executor

Making a Will

Our friendly team of experts can help you prepare a Will to:

  • Make sure your money and property go to the people you want them to go to
  • Minimise inheritance tax
  • Name trusted people as executors* to sort out your affairs when you die
  • Appoint legal guardians for any children who are still minors
  • Reflect changes in your life circumstances, such as marriage or divorce, or the birth of children or grandchildren
  • Ensure gifts of personal items are left to the right people
  • Set up trusts and make gifts to charity.

*We act as executors for many clients and have administered thousands of estates.

Choosing the right Will service for you

Our Will services are easy to use and can be tailored to your needs. We can help you decide what type of service would suit you best.

Our online and postal Will service

This fixed fee service may be perfect for you if:

  • Your estate, personal circumstances and wishes are relatively straightforward
  • You’re happy to complete a secure online questionnaire or complete and return a postal form
  • You don’t want advice on inheritance tax planning, trusts or other aspects covered by our bespoke service.

And with this service, if you appoint Irwin Mitchell as your executor, you’ll also get access to our Wills Assured service.

Fees for our online will service are £175 for a single Will or £260 for ‘mirror’ Wills.

If you prefer to use our postal service, fees are £195 for a single Will or £295 for ‘mirror’ Wills and you can download the form  and send it back to us.

Our bespoke Will service

We know that life can sometimes be more complex, involving scenarios that are unique to you and your family. This means your Will may need to reflect this, with a more tailored and bespoke solution to give you and your loved ones the confidence and security you need.

You may prefer dedicated legal and tax advice tailored to your needs if:

  • You prefer to discuss your wishes and options with an adviser at an in person or virtual meeting or on the phone
  • You would like to talk about inheritance tax planning or trusts
  • You need advice on how to provide for your beneficiaries, taking into account their particular circumstances
  • You have business interests, agricultural assets, overseas assets, international connections or your estate is over £1m
  • You are a beneficiary of a trust
  • You have made gifts over £3,000 in any tax year
  • You or your partner have children from a previous relationship.

Our fees for the Will drafting elements of this service start from £850 plus VAT for a single Will or from £1,050 plus VAT for ‘mirror’ Wills and depend on your particular requirements. We’ll be able to give you an indication of the likely cost after an initial chat and, once we know more, we’ll confirm fees in writing before we proceed. We’ll also highlight other services that may be of interest to you such as advice on estate planning, powers of attorney, trusts and tax.

Sharia-compliant Islamic Wills

A Sharia-compliant Islamic Will (Wasiyyah) can be suitable for Muslims who’d like their assets to pass in accordance with the principles of Sharia law. Our solicitors are experts in Sharia law compliance and can help you provide for your family in a way that follows your faith.

Wills Assured Service

As part of our online and postal Will Service, we also offer our Wills Assured Service. Once finalised, we can store your Will for you. If you appoint Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited as the executor of your estate, you’ll also able to make free amendments as part of our Wills Assured Service .

This package of additional benefits is designed to make life simpler for you and your loved ones knowing:

  • Your Will is kept safe and will be easy to access after your death
  • You can update it at any time if your circumstances change
  • All your important digital information is in one place.

Reviewing or changing your existing Will (Adding a Codicil)

An up-to-date Will is essential for making sure your wishes reflect your current situation and includes everyone you wish.

It’s good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it considers any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

We suggest reviewing your Will following major life changes, for example if:

  • You get married or divorced
  • Any of your beneficiaries get married or die
  • New children or grandchildren are born, and you want them to inherit
  • There’s a significant change in your financial circumstances
  • You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable.

With our Wills Assured Service , standard updates are free. That means you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.

Deciding whether to make changes to your existing Will (adding a codicil) or to write a new one will depend on the scale and number of changes you want to make. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. This can be suitable if there are just one or two small changes.

If you need any large revisions, it’s often better to write a new Will to avoid confusion. We can explore these options with you and advise on what’s best for you and your loved ones.

Accessing your documents

Your Will belongs to you, and we’ll happily store it for you and provide you with a copy when you need one. If at any stage you’d like your original Will returned to you, just let us know and we’ll tell you what we need to send it to you. When you die, your executors will need the original Will. We can explain the terms of the Will to them and help them deal with the probate process .

Contesting or defending a Will

If you’ve been left out of a Will, haven’t been left as much as you expected, or think the Will is wrong in some way, you might be able to contest it.

Contesting a Will can be challenging and feel daunting. With the help of our Will Disputes Team, we can support and guide you through the process. We can also help if you are an executor defending against a Will dispute .

Lasting Power Of Attorney

At the same time as thinking about your Will, it makes sense to also consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) . These are useful if you’re worried about losing the ability to manage your own affairs in the future. We can discuss the options with you and help you appoint the right person to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.

If you want to find out more,  contact the team today .

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Will Writing Services - More Information

How do i make a will.

Making a Will is simple. There’s a few ways to do it:

  • Online – the questionnaire  only takes ten minutes to complete
  • By post – download the form  and send it back to us
  • By phone – call and speak to us
  • In person – come and speak to us in one of our national offices

We recommend our online or postal service if your estate is relatively straightforward. If you have more complex requirements, or you’d like to talk about tax-planning or asset protection options such as setting up a trust, we advise speaking to us on the phone or coming in to see one of our experts.

Call us today for an initial consultation on 0370 1500 100 – or use our online enquiry form  and we’ll give you a call back.

How Much Does It Cost?

This depends on your requirements and the complexity of your estate. Standard Wills offered through our online service cost:

  • £175 (including VAT) for a single Will
  • £260 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills (for couples - if your needs are very similar).

If your estate is fairly straightforward we recommend this option. Get started with our online wills service  today.

You can also use our postal service by downloading the form and sending it in to us. The fees for this service are:

  • £195 (including VAT) for a single Will
  • £295 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills.

For both these services there may be additional costs if you need more complex advice. We would let you know about these before drafting your Will.

More complex and high value estates require more dedicated legal advice tailored to your needs, to ensure you and your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way .

For this service we recommend contacting the team to arrange an appointment with one of our experts who can let you know the options available to you.

What Should I Think About When Making My Will?

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but some of the things to consider when making a Will are:

  • The value of your estate – inheritance tax (IHT) is generally due on anything over the £325,000 threshold (£650,000 for married couples and civil partners) once mortgage and other debts are deducted
  • A new IHT allowance of £125,000 may apply if you own a property and leave some of your estate to relatives like children and grandchildren.
  • How you own your assets – if you co-own property with your spouse, the type of tenancy you have will affect whether or not they can continue to live there after your death
  • Who you want to leave your assets to (i.e. your beneficiaries)
  • Who you would like to be the  executors of your estate
  • Whether some assets would be best placed in a trust for asset protection purposes.

These are important decisions to make and you should seek legal advice to make sure your estate is structured in the best way for you and your beneficiaries.

Read through our Wills Checklist  to see if you’ve got everything covered.

Can You Store My Will?

Yes we can. Our specialist storage facility ensures your Will is kept secure from the risk of theft, fire or water damage. It also means it’s easily accessed after your death, giving you peace of mind and making things easier for your loved ones.

This service is free for our standard, bespoke and Wills Assured  clients.

Meet The Team

Our team has decades of experience helping people prepare, amend and execute Wills. We’re regularly appointed as executors and are very experienced in estate administration.

We also have experts in trust administration and tax compliance, which means we have everything you need to plan effectively.

We have considerable experience in complex estates and frequently work with international and high net worth clients.

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Irwin Mitchell are a very professional, trustworthy and straightforward company to deal with. I would recommend them to anyone."

Elderly Care Crisis: A Tipping Point

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Our new research predicts that the UK retirement living sector will run out of beds and face a multi-billion pound funding gap in the next 10 years.

This upcoming crisis means that planning ahead is more important then ever - find out more about how our Later Life Planning experts can help you prepare

"It’s never too late to start but the earlier you do the easier it is." - Richard Potts, CEO of IM Asset Management

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you need to review your will.

Having an up-to-date Will is essential to make sure your plans for your estate reflect your current situation and include everyone you want to include.

Its good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it takes into account any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

You should also review your Will following major life changes, for example if:

  • New children or grandchildren are born who you want to inherit
  • You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable

With our Wills Assured service, standard updates are free – so you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.  Find out more.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

Irwin Mitchell is a leading law firm with considerable expertise in the area of wills and estates. We’ve helped thousands of clients prepare for the future with strategic estate planning.

The team frequently receives five star reviews from our customers on Trustpilot, and we’re recognised in the leading UK legal guide, including the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

We’re adept at dealing with complex estates and also handling international probate issues for clients who have assets in different countries. We also have the benefit of acting as executor for many of our clients, which allows us to bring our detailed knowledge of the probate process into our will writing services.

We pride ourselves on providing clear advice in plain English, free from jargon, and our team is always on hand to discuss any questions you have.

Can You Help Me Change My Will?

Yes – we can help you write a new will or add a codicil to your existing will. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. It can be enough if there are just one or two small changes, but if you need any substantial revisions it’s better to write a new Will to avoid confusion.

Our probate and tax experts can also check that your Will is structured in the best way for your estate and be able to advise on any amends where necessary.

Standard updates are free with our Wills Assured  service.

Related Information - Will Writing Services

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Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

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Write your will easily online with Which?. You can even get it reviewed by our specialists to make sure it’s completed correctly.

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Our specialist lawyers and paralegals have thought of everything to make it quick and easy for you.

Get started, save where you’ve got to, take breaks, come back to it when you like.

Create professional, legally binding documents without paying expensive solicitors’ fees.

Our guidance notes should cover everything but we’re here to help if you get stuck.

If you die without leaving a will, your money and possessions won’t automatically go to those closest to you. The law will decide who gets what, not you, and this can cause distress for your loved ones. But a will correctly written and witnessed makes things clear-cut and conflict less likely. Best get your will done now with a name you can trust.

Things to think about

Who are we.

We are Which? part of the Which? group, wholly owned by the Consumers' Association.

Completely independent

The unique thing about Which? is that we are completely independent. We have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to and you'll never see an advert in our magazines or on our websites.

This means we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer, and nobody else – so you can rest assured that you're getting the very best advice available.

The Which? Group

As a not-for-profit charitable organisation, all the money we make from our commercial operations is used to support the activities of the Which? Group.

Who reviews my documents?

One of our team of specialist paralegals. Each member of the team has undergone professional training in wills and powers of attorney.  The team is supervised by a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Are you regulated?

We are part of Which? Limited that is an unregulated organisation. The team is supervised by a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Completing your document

What happens after i buy my document.

You can start filling it out when you’re ready with our easy to use software.

How long does it take to complete a document?

We suggest you set aside around 1 hour to complete a document, although it can take less or more time, depending on the type of document you're creating and how much information you have to hand.

Do I have to complete my document in a set time period?

No, there isn't a time limit, you are very much in control of when you complete your documents. So you can start, then pause and come back when you are ready. But now you have purchased your documents, we suggest you complete them sooner rather than later.

What happens once I've completed the document?

If you bought a 'Self Service' document, it is now ready to be printed, signed and witnessed.

If you have chosen a document that includes a review, you can now submit it to our specialists by clicking 'Send for review' next to your document. They’ll review it and send you any feedback, guidance and suggestions. Then we’ll send you an email confirming the next steps.

How long does the legal review take?

We aim to complete the review in 10 working days. At busy times it might take slightly longer.

Can I upgrade my self service document to get a review?

Yes. Log in to your account and go to the 'My documents’ section. Next to the document you want to be reviewed, click on 'Upgrade to legal review'.

You’ll need to pay the difference in the price between the two service levels.

Do you certify documents?

This isn’t a service we offer. Here are some ways you can get your document certified.

How will I know if my document is legally binding?

With our review service, specialist paralegals go through your document with a fine-tooth comb to iron out errors and to make sure it’s legally compliant. When they’re 100% satisfied that it is, and once it’s been printed, signed and witnessed correctly, it will be legally binding.

Which web browser do I need?

The website is designed to work in all current versions of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. If you do experience any technical difficulties, in the first instance try using an alternative browser. We recommend using Google Chrome.

What happens once my document has been reviewed?

Once your document has been reviewed, our specialists will return it to you with their feedback. You'll receive an email including the details. If there are no issues, your document will be approved. Alternatively, our feedback could highlight some changes you may need to consider. When you've taken any action needed, send the document back to our specialists to approve by clicking 'Send for review'. Once approved, you can then print your document by clicking 'Print' next to your document in the 'My documents' section of your account. It's really important to follow our guidance to make sure your document is signed and executed correctly. We do not review documents once they have been signed and executed, as this is not part of our service.

If the document is for someone else, do they need to create their own account?

No, all documents are completed within the same account. The person who created the account will be the person that fills in the details for all documents. 

What’s the difference between mirror wills and a pair of wills?

Mirror wills are usually made by married couples or civil partners. Normally, the first to die leaves their estate to the survivor. When the survivor dies, the estate passes to the beneficiaries (who are the same people in both wills).

A pair of wills is two wills made by two people with the flexibility to make them similar to each other or completely different.

Who can witness my will?

In England & Wales, a will must be witnessed by two independent people over the age of 18. Your witnesses don’t need to know what’s in your will.

Witnesses cannot be:

  • beneficiaries in your will,
  • spouses or civil partners of beneficiaries in your will, or
  • anyone related to you.

What type of gift can I make in my will?

  • Specific gifts – such as your jewellery, shares or property
  • Cash – known as ‘pecuniary’ gifts
  • Residuary gifts – what's left after all debts have been paid and all other legacies have been accounted for.

Can I use Which? if I have foreign assets?

If you have assets outside the UK, you can include them in your will. But we cannot guarantee that it will be accepted in the country where your assets are located.

We strongly suggest you take independent specialist advice about whether or not our service is likely to meet your needs.

I own a business. Can I use your services?

Can you advise on things such as inheritance tax and care fees.

Unfortunately not. If you’re a member of Which? and your membership includes access to our legal advice service, you can discuss inheritance tax with one of their expert lawyers. Please call 0117 911 8270 to make an appointment.

The government’s MoneyHelper service may also be able to help. Visit www.moneyhelper.org.uk to find out more.

Payments and refunds

How and when do i pay for my document.

You can pay online once you’ve added a document to your basket. We accept all major debit and credit cards and your payment is processed securely.

I’ve paid for a document but now I’ve changed my mind. Can I have a refund?

You are entitled to a refund within 14 days of purchase unless:

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Making a will

Why you need a will.

It’s important to make sure that after you die, your assets and possessions (known as your estate) will go to the people and organisations (known as your beneficiaries) you choose, such as family members and charities you want to support.

Your estate includes your personal possessions, as well as assets such as:

  • property (in the UK or overseas)
  • savings and investments
  • insurance funds
  • pension funds

If you die without a valid will, it could be difficult for your family to sort out your affairs. Your estate will be shared out according to the rules of intestacy .

Under the intestacy rules, only married partners, civil partners and certain close relatives can inherit your estate.

If you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner won't have the right to inherit – even if you’re living together .

It’s important to make a will if you:

  • own property or a business
  • have children
  • have savings, investments or insurance policies

How to make a will

Start by making a list of the assets you want to include in your will. Then decide how you want them shared among your beneficiaries.

If you want to leave a donation to a charity, you must include the charity’s full name, address and its registered charity number.

You’ll also need to consider:

  • what happens if any of your beneficiaries die before you
  • who should carry out the wishes in your will (your executors)
  • what arrangements to make if you have children – such as naming a legal guardian or providing a trust for them
  • any other wishes you have – for example, the type of funeral you want

A solicitor can give you advice about any of these issues.

Using a solicitor

You can make your will yourself, but you should only consider this if your will is straightforward. If you do make your own will, you should still get a solicitor to check it over.

Making a will without using a solicitor can result in mistakes or something not being clear, especially if you have several beneficiaries or your finances are complicated.

Your executor will have to sort out any mistakes and might have to pay legal costs. This will reduce the amount of money in your estate.

Mistakes in your will could even make it invalid.

A solicitor will charge a fee for making a will, but they will explain the costs at the start.

It’s important to use a solicitor when:

  • you share a property with someone who is not your wife, husband or civil partner
  • you have a dependent, such as a child, who cannot care for themselves
  • several family members may make a claim on the will
  • you own property overseas or a business
  • your permanent home is not in the UK

Finding a solicitor

Visit our Find a Solicitor website and use the quick search option "Wills and probate" to find your nearest solicitor.

Choosing a law firm that’s a member of our Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme  means your solicitor will meet our high standards for wills and probate services. You’ll be using a specialist legal professional who is regulated and insured, unlike most other will-writing services.

Information you’ll need to give your solicitor

To draw up your will, your solicitor will need to know:

  • all the assets you want included in your will, such as property, vehicles, savings and investments
  • details of who should have these assets after you die
  • any other wishes – such as the type of funeral you want
  • details of any children and family members, including children who are not biologically yours – such as step-children or adopted children

Executors are people named in your will who will carry out your wishes after you die. They can be family or friends, but you should ask them first if they’re willing to take on this role as it involves a lot of responsibility.

An executor can also be a professional person, such as your solicitor. If you use a solicitor for this service, you’ll have to pay a fee.

Most people have two executors, but you can have up to four. You should at least have a second executor in case your main one is unable to act on your behalf.

Read more about what an executor does

After you've made your will

Make sure it’s valid.

Your will is only valid if two witnesses watch you sign it. They must also sign the will but do not need to read it.

Your witnesses must:

  • not be your beneficiaries
  • not be your beneficiaries’ spouses or civil partners

Keep it safe

Make sure your executors know where your will is kept. They must have access to it without needing to apply for legal permission.

Do not store your will in a bank safety deposit box. The bank will not be able to open it until the executor gets legal permission, which won’t be granted without your will.

You can leave your will with a solicitor (they’ll give you a copy). There’s no charge for this service if you leave it with the solicitor who drew up your will.

You can also store it with the government’s Probate Service .

Keep it up to date

You should review your will every five years to make sure it’s up to date.

This is especially important if your circumstances change – for example, if you:

  • get married or enter a civil partnership – this will automatically cancel any existing will
  • buy a new property or an expensive asset such as a new car
  • divorce or separate from your partner

Your guide to making a will (PDF 609 KB) (email [email protected] for other formats and languages)

The rules of intestacy on the Citizens Advice website

Storing a will with the Probate Service

Find a solicitor

While we have made every effort to provide accurate information, the law is always changing and affects each person differently. This information is no substitute for specific advice about you personally and we will not be liable to you if you rely on this information.

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Wills And Probate

Thompsons Solicitors' experts at BBH Legal Services can help you create a will to safeguard the interests of your loved ones in the event of your death.

solicitor will writing service

Having a will in place helps to safeguard the interests of your loved ones should something happen to you.

While it can seem like a daunting process, making a will doesn’t need to be complicated. At Thompsons, our user-friendly, online will writing service is a simple way of making a will.

Contact BBH Legal

Thompsons' wills service is provided by BBH Legal Services Limited, a subsidiary law firm wholly owned by Thompsons.

To learn more about this service, and how we can support you in making an application for a single or joint will, visit the  BBH Legal Services Wills and Probate page .

Contact the experts at BBH Legal Services wills and probate team.

Why should you make a will?

Creating a will enables you to make important decisions that affect your loved ones after your death including decisions about:

  • Who will inherit what you leave behind?
  • Who will act as guardian(s) to your children or dependants?
  • Who will carry out your wishes?
  • Which charities, if any, are to benefit from your estate?

Enlisting the help of experienced will writing solicitors can help make the whole process a lot more straightforward.

Frequently asked questions about wills and probate

What is a will.

A will is a legal document that sets out what you want done with your belongings and the care of your children when you die.

Who can use the will writing service?

Our quick and easy wills questionnaire can be completed by a single person, or used to produce a joint will for partners (whether married or not, including same-sex partnerships). Our expert wills and probate solicitors can also use the system to draft a will based on the information you provide. However, if you do need to speak to someone, our team of wills solicitors are available to talk you through the process of making a will online.

How much does it cost to make a will?

At Thompsons, our solicitors’ fees for making a will range from £150 inclusive of VAT for a single will and £240 inclusive of VAT for a joint will. If you’re a trade union member, you may have access to a will writing service as part of your union legal scheme. Please contact your union for further details.

Thompsons’ will writing service is provided by BBH Legal Services Limited, a subsidiary law firm wholly owned by Thompsons. BBH Legal Services Limited’s team of will writing solicitors can also help with drafting Powers of Attorney, Trusts, Administration of Probate Estates and other services.

What happens if I die without having a will?

If you don’t have a will, you have no say in what happens to your belongings, any money you have or children should you die. The UK’s Rules of Intestacy will govern how your assets are divided, which could exclude people or charities you’d like to have benefited.

Why should I use a solicitor to make a will?

Seeking the expertise of a professionally trained solicitor, such as those in the BBH Legal wills and probate team, when writing a will ensures it is legally binding and suitably clear – particularly important when finances are complicated or there are several beneficiaries.

What is probate?

Probate is the process of dealing with someone’s estate when they die. It is usually carried out by executors, often a relative or close friend, who is named in the will. Professional assistance is often helpful is the estate is complicated.

Trade union member?

If you’re a trade union member, you may have access to this legal service as part of your union legal scheme. Please contact your union here for further details.

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Searching Money Mentor . . .

Best online will writers.

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| Editor-at-large

Updated December 13, 2023

In this guide

Best online will writers

If you have relatively simple financial affairs, then an online will could be a cheap and convenient option for you.

This guide looks what an online will writer is, who the service might be suitable for and lists our top picks.

In this article, we explain:

  • What is an online will service?
  • Who is it suitable for?
  • What are the top online will writers?
  • How are our ratings calculated?

Read more: Guide to wills

This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue *

What is an online will writing service?

Online will writing services allows those with simple financial affairs to write a legal will, quickly and simply, without the need for face-to-face meetings and expensive solicitors fees. It can offer greater peace of mind than a DIY will.

A number, such as Farewill use in-house legal experts to check over your will to ensure it’s written correctly and your wishes are clear.

Below, we cover in more detail what else the services offer, along with other online will writers that we rate highly, including Bequest, Bequeathed and Guardian Angel. Many services will also offer lasting power of attorney services.

Word of warning: an online will writer is not for everyone

An online will writing service is unlikely to be suitable if you have complicated affairs and inheritance tax issues, own your own business or you have remarried.

Online will writing services also aren’t authorised and regulated in England and Wales in the same way as solicitors.

Remember, once you have your written will, it will need to be signed and witnessed to make it legally binding.

Read more: Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

Want to watch rather than read? Tips for drawing up a will

This video lists the top tips on how to create your own will. Or alternatively, read how to write a will .

Top online will writers

Makeawillonline.co.uk

Makeawillonline.co.uk

Best for: Legal advice

Bequeathed

Best for: free service (no legal check)

Bequest

Best for price

Farewill

Farewill Online Will

Best for customer experience

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel

Best for transparency

Older couple looking at laptop on kitchen table

*All products, brands or properties mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback, and are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. This article contains links from which we can earn revenue. This revenue helps us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. For more, see How we make our money and Editorial promise

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

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Making a will

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

Why it is important to make a will

It is important for you to make a will whether or not you consider you have many possessions or much money. It is important to make a will because:

if you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed

unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner

if you have children, you will need to make a will so that arrangements for the children can be made if either one or both parents die

it may be possible to reduce the amount of tax payable on the inheritance if advice is taken in advance and a will is made

if your circumstances have changed, it is important that you make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner now lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you are married or enter into a registered civil partnership, this will make any previous will you have made invalid

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you should make a will, you should consult a solicitor - find out how to get legal advice .

For more information about what happens if someone dies without making a will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Whether you should use a solicitor

There is no need for a will to be drawn up or witnessed by a solicitor. If you wish to make a will yourself, you can do so. However, you should only consider doing this if the will is going to be straightforward.

It is generally advisable to use a solicitor or to have a solicitor check a will you have drawn up to make sure it will have the effect you want. This is because it is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. Sorting out misunderstandings and disputes after your death may result in considerable legal costs, which will reduce the amount of money in the estate.

You should remember that a solicitor will charge for their services in drawing up or checking a will. They should give you the best possible information about the cost of their services. They should give you this at the beginning of their work with you.

Some common mistakes in making a will are:

not being aware of the formal requirements needed to make a will legally valid

failing to take account of all the money and property available

failing to take account of the possibility that a beneficiary may die before the person making the will

changing the will. If these alterations are not signed and witnessed, they are invalid

being unaware of the effect of marriage, a registered civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership on a will

being unaware of the rules which exist to enable dependants to claim from the estate if they believe they are not adequately provided for. These rules mean that the provisions in the will could be overturned

When it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor

There are some circumstances when it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor. These are where:

you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner

you wish to make provision for a dependant who is unable to care for themselves

there are several family members who may make a claim on the will, for example, a second wife or children from a first marriage

your permanent home is not in the United Kingdom

you are resident here but there is overseas property involved

there is a business involved

Other help with writing a will

If you are a member of a trade union, you may find that the union offers a free will writing service. A union will often use its own solicitors to undertake this work.

There are books which provide guidance on how to draw up a will. These can help you decide if you should draw up your own will and also help you decide if any of the pre-printed will forms available from stationers and charities are suitable. It is also possible to find help on the internet.

Will-writing services are available. However, will-writing firms are not regulated by the Law Society so there are few safeguards if things go wrong.

If you decide to use a will-writing firm, consider using one that belongs to The Institute of Professional Willwriters which has a code of practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS).

Traders in this scheme display the TSI approved code logo.

When you see the logo, it means that the trader has agreed to provide good standards of service including clear information before a contract is signed, a clear complaints procedure and access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme for settling out of court.

You can search for a will-writing firm belonging to The Institute of Professional Willwriters  on their website.

How much does a solicitor cost

The charges for drawing up a will vary between solicitors and also depend on the complexity of the will.

Before making a decision on who to use, it's always advisable to check with a few local solicitors to find out how much they charge.

You might have access to legal advice through an addition to an insurance policy that covers the costs of a solicitor preparing or checking a will. If you're a member of a trade union you might find that the union offers a free wills service to members.

The charity Will Aid has set up a partnership between certain solicitors and nine well-known charities.

Every November, participating solicitors will write a basic will free of charge in return for a donation to Will Aid.

You can find out about the suggested minimum donation amount, and details of solicitors who can help on the Will Aid website . 

It's also worth you giving some thought to what you want to say in the will before seeing a solicitor. This should help reduce the costs involved.

What should be included in a will

To save time and reduce costs when going to a solicitor, you should give some thought to the major points which you want included in your will. You should consider such things as:

how much money and what property and possessions you have, for example, property, savings, occupational and personal pensions, insurance policies, bank and building society accounts, shares

who you want to benefit from your will. You should make a list of all the people to whom you wish to leave money or possessions. These people are known as beneficiaries. You also need to consider whether you wish to leave any money to charity

who should look after any children under 18

who is going to sort out the estate and carry out your wishes as set out in the will. These people are known as the executors

Who are executors

Executors are the people who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes and for sorting out the estate.

They will have to collect together all the assets of the estate, deal with all the paperwork and pay all the debts, taxes, funeral and administration costs out of money in the estate.

They will need to pay out the gifts and transfer any property to beneficiaries.

Who to choose as executors

It is not necessary to appoint more than 1 executor although it is advisable to do so - for example, in case one of them dies.

It is common to appoint 2, but up to 4 executors can take on responsibility for administering the will after a death.

The people most commonly appointed as executors are:

relatives or friends

solicitors or accountants

the Public Trustee or in some cases the Official Solicitor if there is no one else willing and able to act

It is important to choose executors with considerable care since their job involves a great deal of work and responsibility.

You should always approach anyone you are thinking of appointing as an executor to see if they will agree to take on the responsibility. If someone is appointed who is not willing to be an executor, they have a right to refuse.

If an executor dies, any other surviving executor(s) can deal with the estate. If there are no surviving executors, legal advice should be sought.

For more information about what executors have to do, see Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

Requirements for a valid will

In order for a will to be valid, it must be:

made by a person who is 18 years old or over and

made voluntarily and without pressure from any other person and

made by a person who is of sound mind. This means the person must be fully aware of the nature of the document being written or signed and aware of the property and the identify of the people who may inherit and

in writing and

signed by the person making the will in the presence of two witnesses and

signed by the two witnesses, in the presence of the person making the will, after it has been signed.

A witness or the married partner of a witness cannot benefit from a will. If a witness is a beneficiary (or the married partner or civil partner of a beneficiary), the will is still valid but the beneficiary will not be able to inherit under the will.

Although it will be legally valid even if it is not dated, it is advisable to ensure that the will also includes the date on which it is signed.

As soon as the will is signed and witnessed, it is complete.

If someone makes a will but it is not legally valid, on their death their estate will be shared out under certain rules, not according to the wishes expressed in the will.

For more information about the rules if someone dies without leaving a valid will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Wills of service personnel on active service

The requirements for a valid will are less stringent for service personnel on active service. Such wills are known as privileged wills.

If you need further help about privileged wills, you can contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau or seek legal advice.

Where to keep a will

Once a will has been made, it should be kept in a safe place and other documents should not be attached to it. There are a number of places where you can keep a will:-

with a solicitor or accountant

at the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court, a District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry for safe keeping. If you wish to deposit a will in this way you should visit the District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry or write to:

Probate Department (England and Wales)

Principal Registry of the Family Division

First Avenue House

42-49 High Holborn

Tel: 020 7947 7022 (safe custody enquiries); 020 7947 6983 (how to obtain a will - recorded message); 020 7947 6043/6939 (personal application enquiries)

Probate Helpline: 0300 123 1072

Fax: 020 7947 6946

Looking for copies of a will after someone dies

Someone close to you may have died and you think they made a will but you can't find one in their home.

Check to see if you can find a certificate of deposit, which will have been sent to them if they arranged for the will to be kept by the Principal Registry of the Family Division.

Even if you can't find a certificate of deposit, you can still check with the Registry to see if they hold the will. If the person died in a care home or a hospital you could check to see if the will was left with them.

You should also contact the person's solicitor, accountant or bank to see if they hold the will.

The person who has died, or their solicitor, may have registered their will with a commercial organisation such as Certainty ( www.certainty.co.uk ) and, after the person's death, you can pay for a search of the wills registered on the company's database.

You can also ask the company to contact solicitors in the area where the person lived to ask if they hold a will.

If you can't find a will, you will usually have to deal with the estate of the person who has died as if they died without leaving a will.

For more information, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Getting a copy of the will when probate has been granted

When someone dies, the person who is dealing with their estate (for example, money and property) must usually get authorisation to do so from the Probate Service.

If there is a will, this authorisation is called a grant of probate.

When probate is granted, the will is kept by the Probate Service and any member of the public can get a copy.

If you want to search for the will of a person who died recently, you can apply to the Probate Service for a standing search to be made.

They will check their records to see if a grant of probate has been made in the twelve months before your application, and they will continue to check for six months afterwards.

If a grant has been made, they will send you a copy of the grant and a copy of the will, if any. A fee is payable.

You can renew your search at the end of 6 months for a further fee. It may  be advisable to wait 2 or 3 months after the death before you apply for a search.

You can find out how to apply for a standing search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

If you want to do your own search, or if you want to search for the will of someone who died more than twelve months ago, you can do a general search.

A general search by the Probate Registry will cover a four year period and a fee is payable. If you go to the Probate Registry to do the search yourself, no charge is made, but you still have to pay to get a copy of the grant of probate and the will, if any.

You can find out how to apply for a general search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

Personal application

You can make a personal search free of charge by going to the Principal Registry of the Family Division (see under heading Where to keep a will ). If you want to inspect or take a copy of the will, there is a fee of £5.

Local application

You can order a copy of a will or grant of probate at any district probate registry.

You will need to give the full name of the person who died, the date probate was granted and the name of the registry office where it was issued. The fee is £5.

To find a district probate registry, search on GOV.UK at  https://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/search/postcode .

Change of circumstances

When a will has been made, it is important to keep it up to date to take account of changes in circumstances.

It is advisable for you to reconsider the contents of a will regularly to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. The most common changes of circumstances which affect a will are:

getting married, remarried or registering a civil partnership

getting divorced, dissolving a civil partnership or separating

the birth or adoption of children, if you wish to add these as beneficiaries in a will

How to change a will

You may want to change your will because there has been a change of circumstances.

You must not do this by amending the original will after it has been signed and witnessed.

Any obvious alterations on the face of the will are assumed to have been made at a later date and so do not form part of the original legally valid will.

The only way you can change a will is by making:

a codicil to the will or

A codicil is a supplement to a will which makes some alterations but leaves the rest of it intact. This might be done, for example, to increase a cash legacy, change an executor or guardian named in a will, or to add beneficiaries.

A codicil must be signed by the person who made the will and be witnessed in the same way. However, the witnesses do not have to be the same as for the original will.

There is no limit on how many codicils can be added to a will, but they are only suitable for very straightforward changes. If a complicated change is involved, it is usually advisable to make a new will.

If you wish to make major changes to a will, it is advisable to make a new one.

The new will should begin with a clause stating that it revokes all previous wills and codicils. The old will should be destroyed. Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

Destroying a will

If you want to destroy a will, you must burn it, tear it up or otherwise destroy it with the clear intention that it is revoked.

There is a risk that if a copy subsequently reappears (or bits of the will are reassembled), it might be thought that the destruction was accidental.

You must destroy the will yourself or it must be destroyed in your presence.

A simple instruction alone to an executor to destroy a will has no effect. If the will is destroyed accidentally, it is not revoked and can still be declared valid.

Although a will can be revoked by destruction, it is always advisable that a new will should contain a clause revoking all previous wills and codicils.

Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

If a person who made a will takes their own life

If a person who made a will takes their own life, the will is still valid.

Challenging a will

A person may want to challenge a will because:

they believe that the will is invalid or

they believe that they have not been adequately provided for in the will

There are strict time limits for challenging a will and if you want to challenge a will, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

If you want to challenge the will because you believe you haven't been adequately provided for, the time limit is 6 months from the grant of probate. Your local Citizens Advice can give you lists of solicitors. You can  search for your nearest Citizens Advice .

If you are named in someone else's will as an executor, you may have to apply for probate so that you can deal with their estate.

For more information about probate, see  Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

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Making a will is the only way to make sure your money, property, possessions and investments (known as your estate) go to the people and causes you care about.

How do I value my estate?

How do i divide my estate, how do i write my will, how do i make sure my will is valid, where should i store my will, how do i update my will, what happens if i don’t make a will.

Paul Lewis, financial expert and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox, explains why it's important to make a will.

Your will should cover your whole estate, so it's a good idea to draw up a list of your assets and debts. Then you have a clear idea of how much it's worth, which can help you decide how to distribute it.

Assets that typically make up an estate include:

  • any property you own (in the UK or abroad)
  • savings in banks, building societies or elsewhere (Premium Bonds, for instance)
  • insurance such as life assurance or an endowment policy
  • pension funds that include a lump sum payment on death
  • investments such as stocks and shares or investment trusts
  • jewellery, antiques and other valuable personal belongings
  • furniture and other house contents.

Debts might include:

  • a mortgage or equity release
  • a credit card balance
  • a bank overdraft

It's a good idea to get assets valued regularly. The price of your house, for instance, might have changed substantially since you last checked.

Your will needs to state clearly how you want your estate to be distributed, and who should be responsible for distributing it. Think about:

  • who you want to benefit from your will
  • whether you want to give any specific gifts to particular people
  • where the 'residue' of the estate is to go (any property or money left over after paying funeral and administrative expenses, legacies and taxes)
  • what you want to happen if any of your beneficiaries should die before you
  • whether you want to leave any money to charity. 

Executors are legally responsible for dealing with someone's estate after their death. It can involve a lot of work and responsibility, so it's important to choose your executor (or executors) carefully.

When you're choosing who to appoint, you should talk to them to check they understand what's involved and that they're happy to do it.

Find out more about being an executor

Leaving a donation to charity

If you want to leave a gift to a charity in your will, include the charity’s full name, address and registered charity number to make sure they receive it.

  • Leaving a legacy to Age UK

There are a few different ways you can write your will:

  • It’s usually best to get advice from a lawyer (such as a solicitor or chartered legal executive). You might want to choose one who specialises in wills and probate. Check they're licensed with the relevant professional body, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
  • Some charities and campaigns offer free will-writing services to encourage people to make wills and leave charitable legacies. For more information, visit Will Aid or Free Wills Month – Age UK takes part in both schemes.
  • Some banks offer will-writing services and advice about estate planning. An adviser at your local branch can explain what's on offer. Some banks charge high fees for these services – so it's important to read any small print carefully.

It's possible to use a professional will writer  to make your will, but they aren't qualified solicitors and may not be regulated – so if you decide to use one, first check whether they're a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers.

You can also  make your own will , but it's easy to make mistakes or miss out important details. While it might seem like the best option now, it could cause costly legal problems for your executors and beneficiaries further down the line, so it's normally better to get professional advice.

For a will to be valid:

  • it must be signed by you and witnessed by 2 people
  • you must have mental capacity to make the will and understand the consequences of making it
  • you must have made the will voluntarily and without pressure from anyone else.

The beginning of the will should state that it revokes all others. If you have an earlier will, you should destroy it. The government advises burning it safely or tearing it up.

Signing and witnessing the will

You must sign your will in the presence of 2 independent witnesses, who must also sign it in your presence – so all 3 people should be in the room together when each one signs. If the will is signed incorrectly, it isn't valid.

No one listed in the will as a beneficiary should act as a witness – they'll lose their right to their inheritance. They shouldn't even be in the room when the will is signed. It’s also best not to ask an executor to act as a witness.

If you can’t sign your will, it can be signed on your behalf as long as you’re in the room and it's signed at your direction. Any will signed on your behalf must contain a clause saying you understood the contents of the will before it was signed.

If you have a serious illness or dementia diagnosis, you can still make a will – but you need to have mental capacity for it to be valid. Your solicitor should make sure of this, and you may need a medical practitioner’s statement at the time the will is signed, certifying that you understand what you're signing.

You can leave your will with a solicitor or bank or with the Probate Service. Alternatively, you can store it safely at home.

Find your local Probate Service using the directory on GOV.UK

You must let your executors know where your will is kept. It's important not to attach any documents to the will with paperclips or staples – if they detach and leave marks it'll raise questions about whether the will is missing any parts or amendments.

You should review your will every 5 years or after a major change in your life – such as the birth of a new grandchild or moving house. But it's important you never make alterations to the original document.

If you want to make a minor change to your will, you can add a supplement, known as a codicil . This must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the will – although the witnesses don’t have to be the same as the original ones.

If you want to make a major change, you should make a new will and cancel your old one.

Do I need to change my will if I get remarried or divorced?

If you marry, remarry or enter a civil partnership, this cancels a previously existing will. Divorce doesn’t automatically invalidate a will made during the marriage – but it does exclude your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner from benefitting if they're mentioned.

You should arrange to make a new will if you marry, separate or divorce.

If you don’t make a will, you're said to have died  intestate – and your estate may not go to the people you want.

If you have a partner and you aren't married or in a civil partnership, they have no automatic right to inherit from you if you haven't made a will – even if you've lived together for a long time or have children.

Intestacy rules state that:

  • If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner and children,  your spouse or civil partner will inherit all your personal possessions and at least the first £270,000 of your estate, plus half of anything above this amount. Your children are then entitled to the other half of this balance.
  • If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner but don’t have children, your spouse or civil partner will inherit your whole estate, including any personal possessions.
  • If you're survived by children but not a spouse or civil partner,  your children will inherit everything, divided equally between them.
  • If you don't have a spouse, civil partner or children,  then other relatives inherit in a set order.
  • If you have no surviving relatives who can inherit,  your estate will pass to the Crown.

Find out more about intestacy rules on GOV.UK

Want more information?

Wills and estate planning information guide (PDF, 3MB)

How to be an executor information guide (PDF, 2 MB)

You help make our work possible

Leaving a gift in your will to Age UK is a special way to make sure older people have the support they need in the years to come. Learn how a gift in your will could be a lifeline for those who have nowhere else to turn.

Find out more

We're here to help

We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.

About the Age UK Advice Line Find your local Age UK

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Last updated: Apr 08 2024

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solicitor will writing service

  • Births, deaths, marriages and care
  • Death and bereavement

Making a will

Write your will.

Your will should set out:

  • who you want to benefit from your will
  • who should look after any children under 18
  • who is going to sort out your estate and carry out your wishes after your death (your executor)
  • what happens if the people you want to benefit die before you

You can also include a charity in your will .

When you need legal advice

You can get advice from a professional if your will is not straightforward, for example:

  • you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner
  • you want to leave money or property to a dependant who cannot care for themselves
  • you have several family members who may make a claim on your will, such as a second spouse or children from another marriage
  • your permanent home is outside the UK
  • you have property overseas
  • you have a business

Keep your will safe

You can keep your will at your home or store it with:

  • your solicitor
  • a company that offers the storage of wills - you can search online
  • the national probate registry in Newcastle

Read full guidance on storing your will with the Probate Service .

You should tell your executor (the person you’ve chosen to carry out your will), a close friend or relative where your will is.

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Editing, Citations and the Table of Authorities: Keys to Persuasive Legal Writing

Effective legal writing combines articulate argumentation, authoritative citation, and proficient use of tools like the Table of Authorities.

Table of Authorities and the Keys to Persuasive Legal Writing

Table of contents

The hierarchy and importance of legal authorities, selecting and citing authorities for maximum persuasion, using credibility and sound reasoning to ensure persuasion, the table of authorities and how to build it, use the toa as a citation balancing tool, combine writing skills with technology for better legal advocacy.

Effective legal writing connects compelling arguments to cited support from relevant legal authorities. Understanding the hierarchy of these authorities will amplify the strength of your assertions. Tools like Microsoft Word’s Table of Authorities (TOA) feature can improve your productivity.

Combine your legal writing skills with technological assistance to elevate the quality of your work, ensure adherence to court timelines, and help you concentrate on your argument.

The TOA does more than list the citations: It improves the credibility of your arguments and helps you avoid depending too much on certain types of sources — particularly nonbinding secondary sources.

Remember, citations infuse credibility into your writing, bolstering its persuasive power. Effective legal writing combines articulate argumentation, authoritative citation, and proficient use of tools like the TOA.

In our legal system, courts refer to previous decisions — precedents — for guidance. Precedents provide consistency and confidence in the law. Binding precedents fall under the doctrine of stare decisis , requiring courts to follow their own decisions and those of higher courts in the same jurisdiction. Persuasive precedents require courts to consider previous decisions for guidance.

Legal authorities fall into three categories: binding primary, persuasive primary, and secondary sources. Each carries a different weight, influencing their impact on legal arguments and their citation order.

  • Binding primary sources: Constitutions, statutes, regulations and court rulings carry the most weight. These primary authorities provide binding precedents.
  • Persuasive primary sources: Persuasive authorities are primary sources from other jurisdictions or lower courts. These sources are not binding but offer more perspectives.
  • Secondary sources: While carrying the least weight, these sources offer valuable analysis of primary sources, adding depth to arguments. Secondary authorities include legal treatises and law review articles. They often bring clarity and insight that enrich legal narratives.

Understanding the weight of different authorities helps you strategically structure arguments to solidly support your claims and highlight the strengths of different sources. Factors like factual relevance, recency and judicial trends influence authority and determine citation order.

A persuasive legal brief requires a sound citation plan , dictated by the Bluebook’s guidelines and enhanced by thoughtful, stylish citation strategy. Rule 1.4 of the Bluebook stipulates that authorities should be arranged based on their weight and relevance to the issue. Think of it as an extension of your argument, putting binding precedents first, persuasive precedents second, and secondary authorities last. The right citations can help you convince a court to follow, distinguish or overrule precedent.

Treat citations as an integral part of the writing, editing and revising process, not mere technicalities. Citations communicate important details about the authority’s weight and validity , such as the issuing court and year of the decision. You need not repeat that data in the prose. During revision, carefully assess citation placement to ensure every legal assertion requiring support is adequately cited.

To improve your credibility, make sure the authority you use to support your arguments is sound, properly interpreted, and presented according to Bluebook rules. Even if your legal brief is well written, it may fail if the judge feels your position would require taking legal risks. So, clearly explain why an appellate court would likely adopt your reasoning and conclusions.

The TOA, a critical tool in legal writing, provides an organized list of legal citations in a document. It helps readers — including judges and opposing counsel — efficiently locate and review the authorities cited. However, the TOA primarily serves as an alphabetical index of all legal citations in your brief, offering a clear layout and easing navigation and review of references. It isn’t designed to reflect the weight of authority.

To create a TOA in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

  • Identify legal citations in your document for your TOA.
  • Determine where your TOA should be placed within the document.
  • Position your cursor at the desired location.
  • Navigate to the References tab on your Word menu and select the Insert Table of Authorities option.
  • Follow the prompts given by Word to create your TOA, selecting your citation format, adjusting settings and adding citations.

WordRake has a video tutorial and Legal Office Guru has a written guide with screenshots .

NOTE: TOA requirements may vary by jurisdiction. For example, some jurisdictions require a Table of Points and Authorities (a combined TOA and table of contents).

Your TOA serves as more than a reference list — it’s a strategic tool for assessing and improving your legal writing and citation practices, which makes it a valuable part of your legal writing strategy . For example, it can be useful in helping you notice an imbalance of references in these situations:

  • Overcitation: Unnecessary repetition or excessive citations can clutter your prose and diminish the impact of your strongest authorities. Carefully assess your citation placement during revision to ensure every assertion requiring support is cited but not overdone.
  • Overuse of string cites: String cites are lists of citations that all support the same point. Using too many can make your argument confusing. The TOA can reveal if you’re relying too much on these, pushing you to reconsider your choices and achieve balance.
  • Overreliance on secondary sources: If no mandatory authority exists in your jurisdiction, persuasive authority from a higher court or a court at the same level could be your best choice. Be mindful, though — if your TOA is mostly citing secondary sources, you might need to revisit your research and argument. Strengthen your argument with more binding authority to give the judge the confidence they need to make a favorable decision.

Mastering legal writing requires an approach that balances clarity, persuasiveness, and a comprehensive understanding of legal authorities and technology. Integrating Microsoft Word’s TOA and other tools into your writing process helps legal professionals meet court deadlines and improves overall legal writing quality. Save valuable time you can better use to effectively communicate persuasive arguments.

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

Image © iStockPhoto.com.

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solicitor will writing service

Ivy B. Grey is the Chief Strategy & Growth Officer for WordRake . Prior to joining the team, she practiced bankruptcy law for 10 years. Ivy was recently recognized as a 2020 Influential Woman in Legal Tech by the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA). She has also been recognized as a Fastcase 50 Honoree and included in the Women of Legal Tech list by the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center. Follow Ivy on Twitter @IvyBGrey or connect with her on LinkedIn .

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Mixed credit file lawsuit investigation

Meryl harris  |  may 22, 2024, category: lawsuits to join, mixed consumer credit file: who’s affected.

Women pulling credit report papers out of envelope.

Does your consumer credit file include information about someone else? Have you been denied financing, jobs or housing because of these errors?

Mixed credit files occur when someone else’s information is wrongfully added to your credit file due to having similar names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers or other information. 

Although these errors are often the result of simple mistakes, they can have serious consequences. If someone else’s debt, credit usage or other information is wrongfully attributed to you, you may be denied the opportunity to get certain jobs, receive financing opportunities or live in various properties. 

Due to the complexity of this issue, it can be very difficult to resolve a mixed credit file through a credit bureau’s automated dispute resolution system. You may be able to take legal action to correct your file and collect compensation for financial damages stemming from the credit mix-up.

Do you qualify?

If your credit file contains accounts and information that don’t belong to you, you may qualify to participate in this mixed-credit file investigation.

Please fill out the form on this page for more information.

Mixed credit files: causes and consequences

A mixed credit file occurs when someone else’s information is included in your credit file with a credit bureau such as TransUnion, Experian or Equifax. These digital mix-ups often occur as a result of simple errors such as similar names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, phone numbers or addresses. Similarities or errors in this information can result in multiple files being combined into a single credit file. People who have common names may be at a higher risk for having a mixed credit file.

Unfortunately, mixed credit files can have serious consequences for consumers.

A mixed credit report may result in a decreased credit score if someone else’s debt, credit utilization or hard inquiries are erroneously included in your credit history. If someone else’s debt is included in your credit report, you may be wrongfully denied lending opportunities, jobs or even housing. Having your credit judged based on someone else’s information can be a frustrating experience that is difficult to solve. 

Luckily, you have options to try to remedy this issue and take action under federal law.

Your rights under FCRA

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to dispute any inaccuracies on your credit report, including those stemming from mixed credit files. 

To dispute an error on your credit report, you can contact the credit reporting agency to have them correct the issue. Unfortunately, because Transunion, Experian and Equifax receive thousands of these disputes each day, they are often handled by automated processes. Although these systems effectively resolve simple disputes, they may be unequipped to handle the tangled web of a mixed credit file.

If you reach a real person within the agency, he or she may be able to remove or change information in your file to resolve the issue. However, it can be challenging to reach someone with the authority to do so, leaving some consumers frustrated.

Join a mixed credit file lawsuit investigation

You may be able to take legal action against the credit reporting agency that mixed your credit file, including requiring credit bureaus to correct your file. You may also be able to recover compensation for financial harm related to mixed-credit files, such as denied job or credit opportunities.

If your credit file contains accounts and information that don’t belong to you, you may qualify to participate in this mixed-credit file investigation. 

Please fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a FREE case evaluation. 

See If You Qualify

By submitting your information, you agree to receive communications from Top Class Actions and to be contacted by an attorney or law firm or their agents to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify.

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— Attorneys At Law — THE CONSUMER LAWYERS CONTRACT FOR REPRESENTATION

*IF THERE IS NO MONEY RECOVERED, I SHALL OWE NOTHING TO THE FIRM AS A FEE OR COST

FOR THEIR SERVICES*

* I WILL NEVER HAVE TO PAY THE CONSUMER LAWYERS ANY MONEY OUT OF POCKET IF MY CASE IS UNSUCCESSFUL FOR SOME REASON. THE CONSUMER LAWYERS WILL ONLY EVER GET PAID IF THEY RECOVER MONEY FOR MY CASE, IN WHICH EVENT THEY WOULD KEEP A PERCENTAGE AND RECUPERATE THE COSTS AS OUTLINED BELOW. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS PROCESS IS “RISK FREE” FOR ME AS FAR AS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE CONSUMER

LAWYERS GO*

If a recovery is made, I the “Client” shall be obligated to pay The Consumer Lawyers, “The Firm” a fee. This fee will be based upon a percentage of the amount recovered from the Defendant(s). Prior to any final settlement the Client will be consulted by The Firm concerning the terms and amount of settlement. The fee, as stated above, will be calculated on a contingency basis. I. CONTINGENCY I agree to pay The Firm forty-five percent (45%) of the total amount of settlement recovered on my behalf. (Total amount recovered may include amount of debt erased and money award). In the event attorneys’ fees are recovered from any adverse party pursuant to any state or federal statute, the attorneys’ fees shall be the greater of the court-awarded fee or contingency fee stated above.

II. COSTS I also acknowledge that The Firm will deduct costs from my share of the recovery after the contingency fee has been calculated. I understand and agree that I am only obligated pay costs if there is a recovery in this claim. Said costs shall include, but are not limited to, cash and non-cash expenditures for: investigator mileage to and from any initial sign up meeting, court filing fees, medical records charges, experts, mediation fees, subpoenas and deposition costs, witness fees, long-distance telephone calls, facsimiles, photocopies, postage, in-house printing, travel, parking, investigative services and all other costs necessary for proper performance of legal services, and that such costs shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month. In the event that The Firm withdraws from the case, The Firm reserves the right to be reimbursed for said costs if a recovery is made by another firm. Typical costs in a case of this nature may include, for example purposes only, $405 for filing the lawsuit and $150 per Defendant for service of process. If a monetary recovery is made in my case, The Firm would deduct these costs from my portion of the settlement. If there is no recovery, or the recovery is less than the total amount of costs, I would not owe The Firm any money. III. GENERAL PROVISIONS If The Firm wishes to co-counsel with another attorney or law firm to provide legal services on my behalf, they have my authority to do so, provided any fee paid to such attorney is paid by The Firm and does not in any way increase my fees as set forth above. If The Firm does associate with co-counsel that is not already listed in Section IV below, The Firm will inform me in writing of any attorneys’ fees split(s) with such associated lawyers or law firms. I agree that preparation and trial of my lawsuit will be handled at the sole discretion of The Firm. I also agree to all reasonable requests by The Firm to aid in the investigation of this claim including responding timely to telephone calls, emails, correspondence, and requests for information and documents; assisting in discovery, disclosure, and trial preparation; cooperating in scheduling and related matters; and informing The Firm of any changes in my physical and email addresses and telephone numbers. I understand that this is a contingent fee contract and, if no recovery is made, I will not be obligated to pay attorney’s fees or costs. I agree that upon written notice, The Firm may terminate their representation under the terms of this agreement. IV. ASSOCIATION WITH LEGAFI LAW LLC I understand and consent to The Firm associating with LegaFi Law LLC (“LegaFi”) regarding the client’s FCRA case(s) (“case”) and that the legal fee described above in Section I shall be split so that 75% of any attorneys recovered shall go to The Consumer Lawyers, PLLC and 25% of any attorney fees recovered shall go to LegaFi. I understand that in no event, however, shall I incur any additional legal fees or charges by virtue of the aforesaid attorney association. The Firm and LegaFi shall assume joint legal responsibilities to me for the performance of legal services and will be available for consultation with me. It is agreed that the only person(s) represented by The Firm and LegaFi is/are the person(s) signing this agreement as set forth in the capacity below.

V. LIMITATION OF REPRESENTATION This contract applies only to the incident involving myself as Plaintiff against the entity(s), Defendant(s), discussed with The Firm and described in the intake. If the Defendant is collecting a legitimate debt, I understand that they or another entity such as the original creditor or other Debt Collector, may file a separate lawsuit or counter-claim concerning this case. I understand that The Firm advises me to obtain counsel and not try to represent myself. If I am unsure of the extent of my attorney’s representation in this matter, it is my obligation to seek clarification on this issue. Any assistance provided by The Firm in these areas or other areas is not to be considered a waiver of this provision but is recognized solely to be a courtesy extended by the lawyer. It is agreed that the only person represented by The Firm is the person or entity signing this agreement as set forth below in the capacity set forth below. Any person not signing this contract is not represented by the lawyer or law firm set forth below. VI. STATEMENT OF CLIENT’S RIGHTS The Client has, in conjunction with this Contract of Representation, also received and read the “Statement of Client’s Rights” and understands each of the rights set forth therein. The undersigned Client has signed the Statement and has received, or will be receiving, a signed copy to keep while being represented by the undersigned attorneys. VII. LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SETTLEMENT I give The Firm limited Power of Attorney to sign any settlement documents and/or check for settlement or a Release. (If The Firm does endorse a check for the Client, the check will be deposited in a trust account and the Client will be written a check prior to The Firm taking out their fees and costs for services). VIII. CONTACT I understand and agree that The Firm may contact me at any phone number (including mobile, cellular/wireless or similar devices) or email address I provide at any time, for any lawful purpose. The ways in which The Firm may contact me include live operator, automatic telephone dialing systems (auto-dialer), prerecorded message, text messaging systems or email. I understand that this authorization overrides any previous registrations on any federal or state Do Not Call registry(ies). Phone numbers and email addresses I provide include those I give to The Firm, those from which I contact The Firm or which is obtained through other means. I also understand and agree that The Firm may monitor/and or record any of my phone conversations with The Firm representatives. IX. MEDIA AND ADVERTISEMENT I provide my consent or The Firm, LegaFi, and their employees to publish the results of my case including, without limitation, trial verdicts, arbitration awards, settlement amounts (without disclosing the names of the parties where confidential), and/or fee awards in advertisements and other media.

X. ARBITRATION By executing this agreement you the Client, agree that, with one exception, any and all disputes between you and the Firm arising out of this agreement, our relationship with you or our performance of any past, current or future legal services, whether those services are subject of this particular agreement or otherwise, will be resolved through a binding arbitration proceeding to be conducted under the auspices of the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. The disputes subject to binding arbitration will include without limitation, disputes regarding attorneys’ fees or costs, and those alleging negligence, malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud or any claim based upon a statute. Both the agreement of the parties to arbitrate all disputes and the results and awards rendered through the arbitration will be final and binding on you and us and may be specifically enforced by legal proceedings. Arbitration will be the sole means of resolving such disputes, and both parties waive their rights to resolve disputes by court proceedings or any other means. The parties have agreed that judgment may be entered on the award of any court of competent jurisdiction in the state of Florida and, therefore, any award rendered shall be binding. The arbitration may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative of a class proceeding. The one exception to your agreement to arbitrate concerns ethical grievances which you may have. Nothing in this agreement limits, in any way, your right to pursue any ethical grievance against The Firm as permitted by applicable law. You understand that by agreeing to arbitration as a mechanism to resolve all potential controversies, disputes, or claims between us, you are waiving certain rights, including the right to bring an action in court, the right to a jury trial, the right to broad discovery, and the right to an appeal. You understand that in the context of arbitration, a case is decided by an arbitrator (one or more), not by a judge or a jury. You agree that, in the event of such controversy, dispute, or claim between us, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover from the losing party all costs and expenses he, she, or it incurs in bringing and prosecuting, or defending, the arbitration, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. Please review this contract carefully to be certain that it accurately sets forth our agreement. In the event that you do not understand anything in this agreement, please let us know so further written explanations can be provided.

NOTICE: This Agreement contains provisions requiring arbitration of fee disputes. Before you sign this agreement you should consult with another lawyer about the advisability of making an agreement with mandatory arbitration requirements. Arbitration proceedings are ways to resolve disputes without use of the court system. By entering into agreements that require arbitration, you give up (waive) your right to go to court to resolve those disputes by a judge or jury. These are important rights that should not be given up without careful consideration.

XI. TAX CONSEQUENCES Please be aware that the attorneys and staff at The Consumer Lawyers, PLLC cannot, and will not, provide any tax advice nor can they provide information as to what tax consequences you may incur due to the receipt of any possible settlement funds. Your attorneys and their staff are not tax attorneys or tax professionals and are in no way qualified to give tax advice. If you have any tax questions related to the settlement, you should speak to a qualified tax professional so that he or she may give you a reliable assessment of what the tax consequences of any settlement agreement may be. XII. CANCELLATION I understand that this contract may be canceled by written notification to the attorneys at any time within three (3) business days of the date the contract is signed, as shown below, and if canceled, I shall not be obligated to pay any fees to the attorneys for the work performed during that time. If the attorneys have advanced funds to others in their representation of me, the attorneys are entitled to be reimbursed for such amount as they have reasonably advanced on behalf of the Client. If I discharge my attorneys for any reason after the initial three (3) days, I agree that my attorneys will be entitled to a fee based upon the percentage set forth above of any offer of settlement outstanding, or if no offer of settlement is outstanding, a reasonable fee based upon the amount of time my attorneys spent on my case. XIII. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I acknowledge that The Firm and LegaFi have made no representations to me regarding the outcome of this matter. I acknowledge that The Firm and LegaFi have not represented me in connection with my decision to enter into this Agreement, and I have the right and am encouraged to retain separate, independent counsel for consultation in connection with this Agreement, including a review of this Agreement. By signing below, I acknowledge that this Agreement has been carefully read and reviewed and its contents understood, and that I agree to be bound by all its terms.

This Contract is entered into on _________________________________, by the below Client and The Firm.

___________________________ _____________________________ [CLIENT NAME] THE CONSUMER LAWYERS “The Client” “The Firm”

— Attorneys At Law —

STATEMENT OF CLIENT’S RIGHTS FOR CONTINGENCY FEES

Before you, the prospective client, arrange a contingent fee agreement with a lawyer, you should understand this statement of your rights as a client. This statement is not a part of the actual contract between you and your lawyer, but, as a prospective client, you should be aware of these rights. 1. There is no legal requirement that a lawyer charge a client a set fee or a percentage of money recovered in a case. You, the client, have the right to talk with your lawyer about the proposed fee and to bargain about the rate or percentage as in any other contract. If you do not reach an agreement with one lawyer, you may talk with other lawyers. 2. Any contingent fee contract must be in writing and you have three (3) business days to reconsider the contract. You may cancel the contract without any reason if you notify your lawyer in writing within three (3) business days of signing the contract. If you withdraw from the contract within the first three (3) business days, you do not owe the lawyer a fee although you may be responsible for the lawyer’s actual costs during that time. If your lawyer begins to represent you, your lawyer may not withdraw from the case without giving you notice, delivering necessary papers to you, and allowing you time to employ another lawyer. Often, your lawyer must obtain court approval before withdrawing from a case. If you discharge your lawyer without good cause after the three (3) day period, you may have to pay a fee for work the lawyer has done. 3. Before hiring a lawyer, you, the client, have the right to know about the lawyer’s education, training, and experience. If you ask, the lawyer should tell you specifically about the lawyer’s actual experience dealing with cases similar to yours. If you ask, the lawyer should provide information about special training or knowledge and give you this information in writing if you request it. 4. Before signing a contingent fee contract with you, a lawyer must advise you whether the lawyer intends to handle your case alone or whether or other lawyers will be

helping with the case. If your lawyer intends to refer the case to other lawyers, the lawyer should tell you what kind of fee sharing arrangement will be made with the other lawyers. If lawyers from different law firms will represent you, at least one (1) lawyer from each law firm must sign the contingent fee contract. 5. If your lawyer intends to refer your case to another lawyer or counsel with other lawyers, your lawyer should tell you about that at the beginning. If your lawyer takes the case and later decides to refer it to another lawyer or to associate with other lawyers, you should sign a new contract that includes the new lawyers. You, the client, also have the right to consult with each lawyer working on your case and each lawyer is legally responsible to represent your interests and is legally responsible for the acts of the other lawyers involved in the case. 6. You, the client, have the right to know in advance how you will need to pay the expenses and the legal fees at the end of the case. If you pay a deposit in advance for costs, you may ask reasonable questions about how the money will be or has been spent and how much of it remains unspent. Your lawyers should give a reasonable estimate about future necessary costs. If your lawyer agrees to lend or advance you money to prepare or research the case, you have the right to know periodically how much money your lawyer has spent on your behalf. You also have the right to decide, after consulting with your lawyer, how much money is to be spent to prepare a case. If you pay the expenses, you have the right to decide how much to spend. Your lawyer should also inform you whether the fee will be based on the gross amount recovered or on the amount recovered minus the costs. 7. You, the client, have the right to be told by your lawyer about possible adverse consequences if you lose the case. Those adverse consequences might include money that you have to pay to your lawyer for costs and liability you might have for attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses to the other side. 8. You, the client, have the right to receive and approve a closing statement at the end of the case before you pay any money. The statement must list all of the financial details of the entire case, including the amount recovered, all expenses, and a precise statement of your lawyer’s fee. Until you approve the closing statement your lawyer cannot pay any money to anyone, including you, without an appropriate order of the court. You also have the right to have every lawyer or law firm working on your case sign this closing statement. 9. You, the client, have the right to ask your lawyer at reasonable intervals how the case is progressing and to have these questions answered to the best of your lawyer’s ability. 10. You, the client, have the right to make the final decision regarding settlement of a case. Your lawyer must notify you of all offers of settlement before and after the trial. Offers during the trial must be immediately communicated and you should consult with your lawyer regarding whether to accept a settlement. However, you must make the final decision to accept or reject a settlement. 11. If at any time you, the client, believe that your lawyer has charged an excessive of illegal fee, you have the right to report the matter to The Florida Bar, the agency that oversees the practice and behavior of all lawyers in Florida. For information on how to reach The Florida Bar, call 850-561-5600 or contact the local bar association. Any disagreement

between you and your lawyer about a fee can be taken to court and you may wish to hire another lawyer to help you resolve this disagreement. Usually, fee disputes must be handled in a separate lawsuit, unless your fee contract provides for arbitration. You can rest, but may not require, that a provision for arbitration (under Chapter 682, Florida Statutes, or under the fee arbitration rule of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar) be included in your fee contract. _____________________________ _________________________________ DATE [CLIENT]

_____________________________ _________________________________ DATE THE CONSUMER LAWYERS

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    A will writing service could be a good choice for you if: you understand the basics of how wills work but want some extra advice to make sure your will is done properly. you want to pay less than a solicitor would charge. your will is going to be quite simple.

  14. Cost of making a will

    For details about what to include in your will, our expert Wills Solicitor, James Antoniou, answers questions about wills in this video called questions to consider when writing a will. As part of the Co-op Group our values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others are core to the service we provide.

  15. Which? online will services

    1. Choose a will Answer a few questions to find the right will for you and choose between a Self Service, Review or Premium package. Choose a will and package. 2. Pay and get writing Follow our guidance notes and watch your will come to life online as you write. Pause and save at any point, come back to it later.

  16. Making a will

    Choosing a law firm that's a member of our Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme means your solicitor will meet our high standards for wills and probate services. You'll be using a specialist legal professional who is regulated and insured, unlike most other will-writing services. Information you'll need to give your solicitor

  17. How to make a will

    We explain your options for doing-it-yourself, using a solicitor, or hiring a will-writing service below. Save 20% on wills bundles. Use our affordable online will writing service and save when you buy your will & power of attorney together, or will and letter of wishes together. Offer ends 31 May 2024.

  18. Wills and Probate Solicitors

    At Thompsons, our solicitors' fees for making a will range from £150 inclusive of VAT for a single will and £240 inclusive of VAT for a joint will. If you're a trade union member, you may have access to a will writing service as part of your union legal scheme. Please contact your union for further details.

  19. Top free or cheap will-writing services

    Option 2: Low-cost will-writing services. Will-writing services can offer savings against standard solicitor fees, with prices starting under £100. These services may be online-based - using digital tools to draft your will - operate by post, or will involve someone coming to visit you at home.

  20. Best online will writers

    Online will writing services allows those with simple financial affairs to write a legal will, quickly and simply, without the need for face-to-face meetings and expensive solicitors fees ...

  21. Making a will

    You should remember that a solicitor will charge for their services in drawing up or checking a will. They should give you the best possible information about the cost of their services. ... If you are a member of a trade union, you may find that the union offers a free will writing service. A union will often use its own solicitors to ...

  22. Making a will

    It's usually best to get advice from a lawyer (such as a solicitor or chartered legal executive). You might want to choose one who specialises in wills and probate. ... Some charities and campaigns offer free will-writing services to encourage people to make wills and leave charitable legacies. For more information, ...

  23. Making a will: Write your will

    Write your will. Your will should set out: who you want to benefit from your will. who should look after any children under 18. who is going to sort out your estate and carry out your wishes after ...

  24. The Table of Authorities: Tools for Persuasive Legal Writing

    Navigate to the References tab on your Word menu and select the Insert Table of Authorities option. Follow the prompts given by Word to create your TOA, selecting your citation format, adjusting settings and adding citations. WordRake has a video tutorial and Legal Office Guru has a written guide with screenshots.

  25. Mixed credit file lawsuit investigation

    Top Class Actions is not a law firm, lawyer referral service, or prepaid legal services plan. We do not endorse or recommend any third-party claims processing company, lawyer, or law firm who participates in the network. We do not make any representation, and have not made any judgment, as to the qualifications, expertise, or credentials of any ...