Make a Will with confidence.

What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document that sets out what should happen to your money, property and belongings when you die. It also lets you choose executors, who are the people responsible for carrying out your wishes. If you have young children, you can use your Will to name the guardians you would like to look after them.

Without a Will, the law decides who inherits. In England and Wales these are called the intestacy rules, and they may not match what you would want. You can read more about what happens if someone dies without a Will in our help centre.

Who may find a Will helpful?

Almost any adult can benefit from thinking about a Will. It is often especially useful if you:

• own a home, on your own or with someone else
• have children, stepchildren or grandchildren
• live with a partner but are not married or in a civil partnership
• want to leave gifts to friends, relatives or a charity
• have recently married, separated or divorced

Life changes can affect an existing Will. For example, GOV.UK explains that getting married cancels any Will you made before. Our guide on when it may be time to review your Will covers the most common triggers.

What does a Will professional typically do?

A professional will usually start by asking about your family, your assets and your wishes. They can then:

• explain your options in plain language
• draft a Will that reflects your instructions
• help you choose executors and, if relevant, guardians
• suggest whether mirror Wills or separate Wills may suit a couple
• explain how your Will must be signed and witnessed to be valid
• offer to store your Will safely, if you want them to

If you are part of a couple, you may wonder about the difference between single and mirror Wills. A professional can explain which may fit your situation.

When specialist help may be particularly sensible

GOV.UK says you can write your own Will, but suggests getting advice if your Will is not simple. It gives examples, including when:

• 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
• several family members 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

You can read the full list on the official GOV.UK guide to writing your Will. If any of these apply, our questions help us look for a professional with relevant experience.

Can I write my own Will?

Yes. In England and Wales you can write your own Will, and some people do. The risk is that a small mistake can cause problems later. For example, a Will that is not signed and witnessed correctly may not be valid. Our article on how a Will is signed and witnessed explains the basics.

If your wishes are simple, a do-it-yourself Will may be enough. If you have a family or financial situation that is less simple, many people prefer to use a professional so they can ask questions and get it right.

Choosing who writes your Will

Will writing is not a regulated legal activity in England and Wales. This means anyone can offer to write a Will, whether or not they are a solicitor. Professionals who write Wills include solicitors, chartered legal executives and members of will-writing bodies such as the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers.

Whoever you use, it is sensible to check their regulation, insurance and membership yourself. You can search the Solicitors Regulation Authority register to confirm whether someone is a regulated solicitor.

It is also worth thinking about who you would like as your executor. Our guide to what an executor does may help.

What happens after you enquire

1. You answer a few questions. It takes a few minutes, and you can choose “I’m not sure” or skip some questions.
2. We read your enquiry. A member of our team looks at what you have told us.
3. We introduce you, with your permission. If we can help, we share your enquiry with up to three suitable firms, such as solicitors or will-writing companies, and email you their names. We aim to introduce you to firms that are appropriately qualified for your situation.
4. The firms contact you. Each firm explains how it can help, what it may cost and what happens next. You can compare them and decide whether to go ahead.

WillHarbour is an independent introduction service. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal, tax or financial advice. Sending an enquiry does not create a solicitor–client relationship with anyone. You can read more about how the process works and how we work with professionals.

How fees work

Using WillHarbour is free, and there is no obligation to go ahead with any firm we introduce. We do not set prices. Each firm sets its own fees and terms, and should explain them clearly before you decide anything. Ask them to put the costs in writing.

The firms we work with pay WillHarbour a fee for each introduction. You never pay us anything. Each firm must tell you about its referral arrangement with us, as well as its own fees, before you instruct it. If anything is unclear, ask them directly.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

The law on Wills is different in Scotland, and some rules are different in Northern Ireland. At the moment we focus on England and Wales, so we may not be able to route enquiries from elsewhere. You can still send an enquiry and we will let you know if we can help.

For official information, see the nidirect guide to making a Will in Northern Ireland or Citizens Advice Scotland’s information on Wills.

Ready to start?

When you feel ready, start your Will enquiry. If you are not sure which service fits, try our short help me choose questions.