Solicitor’s costs can quickly mount up! Unlike them
We charge £200 for a single will and £250 for a mirror will, and every client gets expert financial guidance and professional legal support included as standard.
As a thank you for reading this guide, we’re also offering an exclusive 10% discount — just quote TRUE COST when you get in touch.
Single will: £200 £180 | Mirror will: £250 £225
Keep reading to find out why who writes your will matters just as much as what it costs.
When someone passes away and leaves a will, one of the first questions families ask is:
“Do we still need probate?”
The honest answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Having a will makes things clearer, but it does not automatically remove the need for probate.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly when probate is required, when it is not, and how to tell the difference quickly. If you’re dealing with a loss right now, my aim is to give you clarity, not confusion. As always, we’re always here to help if you need someone to talk to.
In short, if you’re over 18 and own any assets (home, savings), or more importantly – you have children – then, yes! We would recommend that you have a Will and an LPA. If you don’t have a will the government will decide what happens to your money and property when you die. Each year the government makes millions in unclaimed estates because they die without a will and no named beneficiaries.
A will isn’t just about deciding who gets what. More importantly, it protects families, ensuring your assets go to the right people, and gives you peace of mind. Without one, you leave your estate in the hands of UK intestacy laws, which may not distribute your assets the way you’d like. There are so many scenarios where having a will is recommended. Take a look at our guide, Do I Need a Will. In it, we explore lots of different scenarios and explain what could happen in each situation when someone dies without a will in place.
Solicitors are general legal practitioners, which means they typically handle all sorts of cases. This includes, conveyancing, family law, disputes, and sometimes, will writing. And that’s the first problem. Their expertise is spread too thin.
When a solicitor writes a will, their job is to ensure it’s legally valid. That’s it. They’ll take your instructions, write them down in the correct legal format, and have you sign it, along with some appropriate witnesses. What they don’t do is:
And this is where people unknowingly lose out, big time.
I once spoke to a woman whose late husband had a will written by a solicitor. It was legally sound, but because no thought was given to inheritance tax, she ended up paying thousands more than necessary. If he’d had proper advice, that money could have stayed in the family.
Let’s take a look at how much solicitors charge to make a will. Solicitors aren’t cheap, and while will writing might not be their biggest money maker, you can still expect to pay:
However the cost of making a will with a solicitor are very generalised, so for the sake of context and accuracy we researched several solicitor firms in our local area of Market Harborough and found costs ranging from £258 – £420 for a single and basic will while joint mirror wills costs between £450 – £720 including VAT.
The most concerning thing with many solicitors is that there are lots of hidden costs. For more complex wills that might include step-children, shared property ownership, and multiple properties the cost soon spirals out of control.
The same pattern applies to probate. Solicitor fees for probate administration can reach thousands of pounds for estates that many families could handle themselves. Our guide to DIY probate costs in 2026 lays out exactly what you would pay, and what you could save.
Plus, if you ever need to update your will, some firms will charge another £100–£200 per change! Another big area of concern is some solicitors may encourage you to name them as executors by pushing the idea that the role of executor is really difficult. Solicitors then charge £1000s more to execute your will which is typically paid out of your estate when you die. Always remember to check the drafted version of your will and double check who has been named as executor. For more information remember to read our guide, How to Choose Executors of a Will.
Now, if you’re getting expert estate planning advice alongside that price tag, fair enough. But most people aren’t. Most of the time you’re just paying for the legal paperwork, not the financial foresight.
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A lot of charities and online platforms offer free will-writing services. These can be tempting, especially if you just want something simple in place. But before you jump at the opportunity, consider the hidden costs:
A man I spoke to had used a free online service to draft his will. He thought he’d covered everything, but when I checked it, it wasn’t legally binding. Luckily, I was able to spot the errors he had made and draft a new, legally binding will that would ensure his wishes were carried out in the event of his death. While charities provide free wills they do often expect a legacy payment in your will which is usually a percentage of your estate being donated to the charity. There are a lot of positive reasons for donating to charity, including a reduction on your inheritance tax bill. Just make sure you fully understand what you’re signing up to.
This is where professional will writers like us at Online Probate come in. Unlike solicitors, Wills, LPAs and Probate is all we do. Our entire focus is on making sure your will is not just legally valid, but also financially smart and future-proof.
Here’s why our approach is different:
And the best part? Our pricing is clear, fair, and far more affordable than solicitors.
Our team isn’t made up of general legal practitioners who dip in and out of will writing. We’re specialists. Every single member of our team is trained in wills and probate, and we’re all working towards the same goal. Which is ensuring your loved ones are looked after properly.
Our co-founder, Jane, is a qualified solicitor with 23 years of experience. But instead of being tied to a traditional law firm, she wanted to create something better. A will writing and probate service that puts people first, not legal bureaucracy.
Together, Jane and I have 38 years of combined experience in will writing and we’ve helped countless individuals and families secure their legacies with confidence. Our deep knowledge of estate planning and 20 + years experience in financial services, ensures that every will we draft is legally sound, personalised, and designed to protect your loved ones. Whether you have straightforward wishes or complex family dynamics, our expertise means we can guide you through the process with ease and clarity. When you choose us, you’re not just getting a will, you’re getting peace of mind.
Quality will writing should be affordable and accessible without unnecessary legal fees. While solicitors charge hundreds of pounds for a basic will, experienced will writers specialising in estate planning can provide the same level of expertise at a fraction of the cost.
The additional cost of making a will with a solicitor often come from overhead expenses, not necessarily better service. Why pay extra when an experienced will writer can provide the same legally valid, tailored will for significantly less?
For most people, cost-effective solutions that don’t compromise on quality are the best choice, making experienced will writers the smarter, more affordable alternative.
That’s why, at Online Probate, we:
For more details about the types of questions we ask you to create your will, take a look at our Making A Will Checklist.
Finally, unlike solicitors and other Will Writers, we use our expert knowledge of funeral planning to help people make important decisions around their funeral. Many people don’t realise that funerals can be planned in advance, which not only saves your nearest and dearest a lot of anguish, but could potentially save you a lot of money. For a year I worked with a funeral directors and crematorium, consulting on many different aspects of the business. This gave me valuable insight into the many options available and gained valuable insight into the industry. Because of this, I always recommend that clients think about how they want to be remembered and show them how to plan their own funeral which we then incorporate into the will.
The biggest mistake people make with their will is assuming that as long as it’s legally valid, everything will be fine.
But a badly planned will can lead to:
And all of this could have been avoided with the right advice from the start.
It’s important to point out that even with a will, probate may still be required. Take a look at our guide Do You Need Probate if There is a Will for more information.
Solicitors typically charge between £150 and £300 plus VAT for a simple will, and £250–£600 plus VAT for a mirror will for couples. More complex estates involving trusts or multiple properties can cost £1,000 or more. Our local research in Market Harborough found prices ranging from £258–£420 for a single will and £450–£720 for joint wills including VAT.
No. You are not legally required to use a solicitor to make a valid will in England and Wales. Many people use professional will writers, who typically charge less and specialise exclusively in wills and estate planning.
The cheapest options are online will writing services (from around £30–£100) or professional will writers (typically £100–£200 for a single will). Whilst free charity will services exist, they often expect a legacy donation in your will.
Solicitors typically charge £100–£200 per amendment to an existing will. Professional will writers often charge less and some include updates within their service.
Making a will isn’t just about ticking a legal box. It’s about securing your family’s future which should take time and careful, professional consideration.
If you go to a solicitor, you’ll get a legally sound will, but will it be financially sound? Probably not. If you use a free online service, you’ll get a will, but will it be reliable? That’s a gamble.
At Online Probate, we believe getting a will should be affordable, personal, and built on real expertise.
So, if you’re ready to write a will that truly protects your loved ones, let’s have a chat. No stuffy legal jargon, no unnecessary fees. However, we do offer clear, expert guidance from people who care.
Get in touch today, and let’s make sure your will does what it’s supposed to: take care of the people you love.
As a ‘thank you’ for reading this guide, we’re offering an exclusive discount. Save 10% off the cost of making your will with Online Wills and Probate today. Simply use “TRUE COST” as the referral code.
Our will writers and advisers will call you back during our opening hours. Monday-Thursday 9am – 6pm and Friday 9am-5pm.
