Wills · 9 min read · Published
How much does a will cost in 2026? A clear breakdown
What a will should cost in 2026 from a solicitor, a will-writer, online or free. Fixed fees, what is included, and the hidden cost of a cheap will that goes wrong.
By Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, a solicitor in Bridlington who writes every guide himself.
This guide is general information about the law of England and Wales, not legal advice. Each case is assessed on its own merits.
Guides · Wills · No. 8 of 18Published · 9 minutes
The price of a will varies widely, depending on who writes it and how complicated your circumstances are. What matters more than the headline figure is whether the will does what you need it to do.
This guide sets out what you can expect to pay in 2026 across the main options, what should be included in the price, and why the cheapest will is often the most expensive in the long run.
What each kind of will costs
There are four common routes to making a will. Each sits at a different point on the price-versus-protection scale.
Your options at a glance
| Cheaper, higher risk | More protection |
|---|---|
| DIY or shop-bought kit: a few pounds, no advice, very easy to get wrong | Unregulated will-writer: variable price, not a solicitor, limited recourse |
| Online will: low cost, automated, no one checks your circumstances | Solicitor: a fixed professional fee, full advice, insured and regulated |
| Free "charity" will schemes: free to you, but usually a basic will, and the charity hopes for a gift in return | STEP-qualified solicitor: a specialist qualification for work involving trusts, tax or step-families |
What should be included in the price
A solicitor's fixed fee for a will should buy more than a typed document. With Aaron, it includes the advice and the safeguards that make the will worth having:
- A proper conversation about your circumstances. Family, property, business interests and what you actually want to happen.
- Plain-English advice. Including issues you may not have thought of, such as guardians for children or how care fees could affect the home.
- A correctly drafted, valid will. Signed and witnessed properly, so it meets the legal formalities.
- Guidance for your executors and beneficiaries. So the people you appoint understand their role.
- Safe storage and a clear copy. So the will can be found when it is needed.
Mirror wills: where couples save
If you and your partner want matching wills, each leaving everything to the other and then to the children, a pair of "mirror wills" costs less than two separate wills, because much of the work overlaps.
Making lasting powers of attorney at the same time as your will saves more again, because the meetings, identity checks and signing happen once. The exact figures are set out on the fees page.
The hidden cost of a cheap will
The most common problems with home-made and online wills are: incorrect signing or witnessing (which makes the whole will invalid), wording that is unclear or contradicts itself, gifts to people who have since died, and no planning at all for tax, care fees or children. These usually do not show up until after death, when they are much harder, and sometimes impossible, to fix.
Solicitor or will-writer: know the difference
Anyone can call themselves a "will-writer". Unlike solicitors, most will-writers are not regulated, are not required to hold professional indemnity insurance, and you cannot complain about them to the Legal Ombudsman. A solicitor is bound by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, carries insurance, and is accountable. For something as important as your will, that accountability matters.
How to get your will sorted
From first call to signed will
- Book a free callTell Aaron briefly what you need. There is no charge for this conversation and no pressure to proceed.
- Get a fixed quote in writingAaron confirms exactly what your will (or wills) will cost before any work begins, so you can decide with full information.
- Talk it through, at home if you preferAaron talks through your circumstances and wishes in plain English, at home if that is easier.
- Review and signAaron drafts your will, you check it, and he makes sure it is signed and witnessed correctly so it meets the legal formalities.
- Store it safelyYour will is kept secure and you receive a copy, so it can always be found when it is needed.
Wills for Bridlington and East Yorkshire
From the first call to completion you deal directly with Aaron Johnson, not a call centre. He is a solicitor and STEP-qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner. He works across Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Hornsea, Beverley, Cottingham and the wider East Yorkshire area. Home visits are available where that is easier. If you made a will some years ago, by whatever route, it is worth a review. Check it still does what you want.
Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 18 June 2026 · Ends