Wherever you are, we can help
Estate planning and probate can arrive at any stage of life. We designed our services around three types of people, each with different needs and very different timelines.
Planning ahead
You need a Will or an LPA
First-time parents, homeowners, anyone who has been meaning to get this done. Making a Will is not a morbid task. It is a practical act of care for the people you would leave behind. You do not need to book an office appointment or pay hundreds of pounds to do it properly.
Protecting yourself
You need a Lasting Power of Attorney
Martin Lewis has said it plainly: every adult over 18 should have one. Without an LPA, even your spouse has no automatic legal right to manage your affairs if something unexpected happens to you. It is not planning for the worst. It is making sure someone you trust can help you.
Handling an estate
You are dealing with probate
Most families in England and Wales do not need a solicitor for probate. You are entitled to apply yourself, and thousands do every year. What most of them wish they had was clearer guidance and a structured process to follow. That is exactly what Jane built.
The People Behind It
Wherever you are, we can help
Every tool, every guide, and every piece of guidance on this site was built by Phil and Jane. Not a marketing team. Not a content agency. The people who have spent decades in this profession and decided there had to be a better way.
Phil Izzard (Phil The Will)
Will-writing specialist & co-founder
Phil spent years writing wills for families across England and Wales and watching the same friction repeat itself: unnecessary appointments, opaque pricing, and a process that felt designed to intimidate rather than help. He built Online Wills & Probate because he believed you should be able to get a legally sound will without needing to take half a day off work.
He is the expert behind our wills and LPA services, and the reason the process feels nothing like going to a solicitor’s office.
“A good will is not complicated. It should reflect all your wishes as well as your family dynamics. The hardest part is finding someone who will explain it properly and not charge you for every follow-up question.”
Jane Morris-Rowlinson
Probate Solicitor, 20+ years & Co-founder
Jane has been a practising solicitor for over two decades. She has guided hundreds of families through the administration of estates, from the routine to the genuinely complex. She built the DIY Probate Portal because she saw, repeatedly, what it cost families to instruct a solicitor for an estate that did not need one.
The portal does not cut corners. It applies the same structured process Jane would apply in practice. You just do not pay her hourly rate to follow it.
“Most estates in England and Wales are handled by families who have never done it before, and most of them manage it without a solicitor. They just need to know what they are doing, and in what order.”
Handle Probate yourself with optional support
Complete Probate yourself with step-by-step guidance, templates and support: The only Probate resource designed by a Probate Solicitor.
- Structured tasks and progress tracking
- Simple explanations
- Downloadable templates and resources
- Interactive quizzes
- checklists and spreadsheets
What Families Say
Real People, Real Estates
Every review below is from a family who has used our services in England or Wales. They’re real people with real views.
Free Guidance
Essential Guides to Planning Your Affairs
Our guides are designed to help you get the information you need. Each one has been written by either Phil Izzard or Jane Morris-Rowlinson. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, call us.
Do I Need a Solicitor For Probate?
There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor for probate in England and Wales. Most families who paid thousands of pounds for one did not need to. Here is how to know which situation you are in
Read More >>What Is a Grant of Probate?
The Grant of Probate is the document that unlocks a deceased person's estate. Without it, banks won't release funds, the Land Registry won't transfer property, and most investment providers won't act. If you are an executor trying to understand what it is, whether you need one, and how to get...
Read More >>When Is Probate Required? A Plain-English Guide
Probate is not always required when someone dies, but knowing whether you need it early can save weeks of delay and unnecessary cost. Jane Morris-Rowlinson, probate solicitor with 23 years' experience, sets out exactly when a Grant of Probate is needed in England and Wales, when it is not, and...
Read More >>We make dealing with financial affairs easy
At Online Probate we’re on a mission to empower people. We believe that planning and dealing with legal matters around death doesn’t need to be complicated and expensive. Instead, we’re making it simple and affordable.
