Online wills: are they legal and safe to use?

Online wills are legally valid in England and Wales if they meet strict requirements under the Wills Act 1837. Many wills encounter probate problems due to witness errors, unclear intent, or missing safeguards. This guide explains what actually makes an online will binding, the hidden risks most people miss, and when DIY platforms work versus when solicitor advice saves families thousands in disputes. For added peace of mind, it can be worth consulting a probate solicitor to help ensure everything is properly structured and legally robust.

Key takeaway: Can you make a will online in the UK?

• Online wills are legally valid under the Wills Act 1837 if properly signed and witnessed by two independent adults present simultaneously, the platform itself does not determine validity; legal compliance does.
• Witness errors, clerical mistakes, and unclear intent cause most online wills to fail probate, potentially costing families thousands of pounds in litigation that might have been avoided.
• The safest approach: create your will online, then pay a solicitor £200–400 to review it before signing; this hybrid method combines affordability with professional protection.

If your circumstances involve trusts, overseas assets, blended families, or significant wealth, speak to a solicitor specialising in wills and probate before proceeding.

Are online wills legally valid in the UK?

Yes, online wills are legally valid and regularly hold up in probate courts when properly executed. The courts don’t care where the will was created; they care whether it complies with the legal requirements and your intent is clear.

Under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, your online will must satisfy strict execution formalities. Additional factors such as capacity and freedom from undue influence are crucial if the will is later challenged.

• Be in writing: printed from the online platform (handwritten amendments can create serious validity and interpretation problems unless formally executed; a codicil or new will is usually safer.)
• Be signed by you with clear intent: your signature must demonstrate you understand this is your will.
• Be witnessed by two independent adults present simultaneously: they must be independent adults and must not be beneficiaries (or married to/civil partner of a beneficiary). Using close family members is discouraged because it increases dispute risk.
• Have each witness sign in your presence: they must see you sign and sign immediately after; separate or delayed signatures can invalidate the will.
• Demonstrate testamentary capacity: you must understand the nature of the will, the extent of your assets, and the claims of your family, as established in Banks v Goodfellow [1870] LR 5 QB 549.
• Use unambiguous language: your wishes must be clear and capable of only one reasonable interpretation.
• Show no evidence of fraud, coercion, or undue influence: the will must be made freely and voluntarily.

How online wills work

An online will service guides you through a questionnaire, generates a document, and delivers it for printing and signing.

The process:

• Complete an online questionnaire about your estate, beneficiaries, and executor.
• The platform generates a legally drafted will document (Word or PDF).
• You download, review, and print the document.
• You sign it in front of two witnesses (they must see you sign).
• Both witnesses sign immediately after; still in your presence.
• You store it safely and tell your executor where to find it.

How to choose a regulated online will service

Not all online will makers are created equal. Some are backed by lawyers and insurance; others have minimal regulation and no recourse if something goes wrong. Choosing the right provider protects you far more than the platform itself.

Three regulatory standards exist:

1. Law Society (Highest Standard): Solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Mandatory professional indemnity insurance (£2–3m). Full complaints procedure. Maximum protection.
2. Society of Will Writers: Non-solicitor will writers with professional standards and mandatory insurance requirements. Mid-tier protection. Verify individual member status on the Society’s website.
3. Unregulated services have no professional qualifications, no mandatory insurance, and no complaints process. If something fails post-death, you have no recourse.

Your 5-point verification checklist before choosing:

• Regulatory body? Check their website directly. Visit the Law Society or Society of Will Writers to confirm membership.
• Insurance limit? Minimum £1–3m professional indemnity coverage. Ask for proof.
• Complaints procedure? Can you escalate if something goes wrong?
• Human support available? Email, phone, or video consultation should be offered.
• Review service included? Some providers offer a review option (£50–150 extra) where a qualified person checks your completed will before signing.

The real risks of DIY online will writing

Online will services carry genuine risks that solicitor-drafted wills typically avoid:

• Witness errors: Signatures signed separately, video calls, family members, beneficiary spouses, or unclear presence can invalidate the will.

• Lack of capacity assessment: Platforms cannot assess whether you truly understand your assets and the effect of your will, unlike solicitors who conduct capacity interviews.
• Undue influence gaps: Platforms cannot verify you’re making the will freely, without pressure from family or caregivers.
• Ambiguous clauses: DIY templates often produce unclear wording that courts must interpret, creating disputes and executor confusion.
• Clerical errors: Incorrect names, addresses, or sums can change meaning; review screens help, but user error remains the leading cause of invalid wills.
• Regulatory gaps: Not all online will makers are regulated. Many lack professional indemnity insurance, leaving no compensation route if something fails post-death.

Online wills vs. Solicitor wills: cost, safety, and speed compared

The choice between an online will and a solicitor-drafted will depends on complexity, confidence, and risk tolerance. Below is how they genuinely compare:

Electronic wills vs. Online wills: what’s changing in 2026

Confusion surrounds “electronic will,” “digital will,” and “online will”. They’re not synonymous, and the law is shifting.

Current status (as of March 2026): Traditional online wills are legal, provided they’re printed, signed on paper, and properly witnessed. Fully electronic wills (where you sign digitally on screen with no paper version) are still not legally valid under the current Wills Act 1837.

However, the Law Commission’s “Modernising Wills Law” report (May 16, 2025) recommends that fully electronic wills should become valid if they meet strict security standards:

• Distinguishable as an original (not altered copies).
• Digitally signed with a signature linked to your identity.
• Executed through a secure, tamper-proof digital system.
• Witnessed by two people remotely or in person, with real-time verification.

These proposals are not yet law. Parliament would need to enact these proposals, and legislative timelines can vary. Until then, if you’re using an online will service, ensure you’re printing and signing the paper version, not relying on digital signatures.

FAQs

How do I get a copy of a will online UK? Download a copy from your will writing service account. Most platforms store digital copies indefinitely. Keep a physical copy alongside your original signed will. If you lose the digital copy, the original signed version is what matters legally.

Can I find a will online free UK? Yes. Charities like Age UK, Macmillan, and the RNLI offer free online wills through regulated partners (typically Co-op Legal or Farewill) in exchange for optional donations. These are fully legal, professionally drafted, and backed by insurance.

Are free online wills safe? Yes, if provided by an established charity or regulated provider. Free wills from unknown websites without clear regulation or insurance should be approached cautiously.

Can I update my online will later? Yes. You can either create a new will (which automatically revokes the old one) or make a formal amendment called a codicil. Most solicitors recommend a new will if more than a year has passed or circumstances have changed significantly.

Online wills are legal, affordable, and increasingly reliable, but only if executed correctly. The thousands of wills that fail probate annually don’t fail because they were created online; they fail because of witness errors, unclear intent, or unaddressed complexity.

This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for regulated legal advice tailored to your personal circumstances.

Consult a Qredible solicitor

Qredible connects you with SRA-regulated solicitors who specialise in wills and probate matters.

NEXT STEPS:

• Gather your details: List your assets, decide on beneficiaries and executor, identify two independent witnesses who can sign together at the same time.
• Choose your approach: Create an online will (£50–£300) or consult a solicitor (£300–£1,500+), or use the hybrid method: create online, then get professional review for £200–400.
• Sign, store, and tell your executor: Print and sign with witnesses present, store safely (fireproof safe or Wills Registry), and tell your executor where to find it.