Why Your Choice of Will Provider Matters

A will is one of the most important legal documents you'll ever create. The service you choose should:

  • Create a legally valid document
  • Use clear, unambiguous language
  • Cover all your needs
  • Provide expert guidance
  • Offer good value for money
  • Make updates easy

This guide compares the main types of will providers in the UK to help you make an informed choice.

Types of Will Providers

Online Will Services

Modern platforms like WillsConnect that guide you through creating a will online with expert review included.

High Street Solicitors

Traditional law firms offering face-to-face will-writing services.

Specialist Will Writers

Companies that focus exclusively on writing wills, often visiting you at home.

Bank and Building Society Services

Some financial institutions offer will-writing to customers.

Charity Will Writing

Free or discounted wills offered by charities (usually in exchange for including them in your will).

DIY Will Kits

Templates you fill in yourself (not recommended).

Detailed Provider Comparison

WillsConnect (Online Service)

Price: £89 per will

Time: 20-30 minutes online

Process: Guided online questionnaire with expert review before download

Features:

  • Clear step-by-step guidance
  • Expert review by qualified wills specialist
  • Legally valid for England & Wales
  • Covers: executors, guardians, beneficiaries, specific gifts, residuary estate
  • Both standard and Islamic wills
  • Unlimited drafts before finalizing
  • 30 days of free updates after completion
  • Secure digital storage
  • Easy to update later
  • Email and phone support

Pros:

  • Affordable flat fee
  • Fast and convenient
  • Expert review included (worth £150+ elsewhere)
  • No appointments needed
  • Do it from home, any time
  • Clear explanations throughout
  • Professionally drafted

Cons:

  • Online only (no face-to-face)
  • May not suit extremely complex estates

Best for: Anyone with straightforward to moderately complex estates who values convenience, expert review, and affordability.

High Street Solicitor

Price: £150-500+ (simple wills), £500-2,000+ (complex estates)

Time: Usually 2-4 weeks from first appointment to completion

Process: Initial consultation, they draft will, you review and sign

Features:

  • Face-to-face meetings
  • Personalized legal advice
  • Handle complex situations
  • Estate planning advice
  • Often offer storage services
  • Can handle probate later

Pros:

  • Personal service
  • Best for very complex estates
  • Established reputation
  • Can provide ongoing legal advice
  • Good for business owners, multiple properties abroad

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Requires appointments during business hours
  • Time-consuming (weeks not minutes)
  • Quality varies significantly by firm
  • Updates often require new appointments and fees

Best for: Complex estates, business owners, high net worth individuals, people with properties in multiple countries, those preferring face-to-face service.

Specialist Will Writers

Price: £100-300 per will

Time: Usually home visit of 1-2 hours

Process: They visit your home, discuss your wishes, draft will, return for signing

Features:

  • Home visits (convenient for elderly or less mobile)
  • Personal service
  • Focus exclusively on wills

Pros:

  • Come to you
  • Personal attention
  • Usually cheaper than solicitors
  • Convenient for those who can't travel

Cons:

  • Not always legally qualified
  • Quality varies enormously
  • No regulation (anyone can call themselves a will writer)
  • Sometimes use high-pressure sales tactics
  • Often push expensive add-ons (storage, trusts)
  • May not have professional indemnity insurance

Best for: People who prefer home visits and can't access online services or travel to solicitors. Important: Check qualifications carefully.

Bank/Building Society Services

Price: £100-200 (often free for premium account holders)

Time: Varies

Process: Usually refer you to partner law firm

Features:

  • May be free with certain accounts
  • Often includes free storage
  • Can integrate with their estate services

Pros:

  • Sometimes free for customers
  • Trusted brand names
  • Integrated with banking services

Cons:

  • Often actually provided by third parties
  • Limited to bank customers
  • May not be best value
  • Updates may be complicated

Best for: Bank customers who get this as a free perk with their account.

Charity Will Writing

Price: Free or discounted

Time: Varies

Process: Charity arranges solicitor, often during specific campaign weeks

Features:

  • Free or low-cost
  • Usually partnered with actual solicitors
  • Supports charity

Pros:

  • Free or very cheap
  • Supports good causes
  • Often professionally drafted

Cons:

  • Strong expectation you'll include charity in will
  • Limited availability (campaign weeks only)
  • May feel pressured
  • Updates usually not free
  • Often restricted to simple wills

Best for: People on very tight budgets who plan to include charity in their will anyway.

DIY Will Kits

Price: £10-30

Time: 1-2 hours

Process: Fill in template yourself

Features:

  • Very cheap
  • Do it yourself
  • Basic templates

Pros:

  • Cheapest option
  • Do it yourself

Cons:

  • No guidance or advice
  • Easy to make mistakes
  • Often unclear or ambiguous
  • No review or checking
  • Frequently challenged or invalid
  • May not cover your situation
  • False economy – errors cost thousands later

Best for: Nobody. The risks far outweigh the £60-80 saving compared to a proper service.

Key Factors to Consider

1. Legal Validity

  • Is the will properly drafted?
  • Does it meet all legal requirements?
  • Is there professional review?
  • Do they have legal qualifications/insurance?

2. Value for Money

  • What's the total cost?
  • What's included?
  • Any hidden fees?
  • Cost of updates?
  • Storage costs?

3. Ease of Use

  • How long does it take?
  • Online or face-to-face?
  • Clear guidance provided?
  • Can you save and return?

4. Expertise

  • Who reviews your will?
  • What are their qualifications?
  • How much experience?
  • Professional indemnity insurance?

5. Updates and Changes

  • How easy to update?
  • What does it cost?
  • How long does it take?

6. Support

  • Help available if you have questions?
  • How do you contact them?
  • Response times?

7. Complexity Handling

  • Can they handle your situation?
  • Do they cover special circumstances?
  • What if you have unusual assets?

What Makes WillsConnect Stand Out

The Perfect Balance

WillsConnect combines the best of all approaches:

Affordability of Online Services

  • £89 flat fee with no hidden charges
  • Much cheaper than solicitors (£150-500+)
  • Updates affordable (not free first 30 days)

Expertise of Solicitors

  • Expert review by qualified wills specialist
  • Legally precise language
  • Professional standards
  • Catches errors before finalizing

Convenience of DIY

  • Complete online in 20-30 minutes
  • No appointments needed
  • Do it any time, from anywhere
  • Save and return if needed

Security You Need

  • Legally valid for England & Wales
  • Meets all formal requirements
  • Clear, unambiguous language
  • Covers all essential elements

How We're Different

Clear Guidance Every Step

  • Plain English questions
  • Explanations when you need them
  • Suggestions to help you decide
  • Warnings about common mistakes

Expert Review Included

  • Every will reviewed by qualified specialist
  • Worth £150+ elsewhere
  • Catches mistakes DIY would miss
  • Ensures legal validity

Both Standard and Islamic Wills

  • Only UK provider offering both
  • Islamic wills with Shariah compliance built in
  • Same price for both types

Genuine Value

  • £89 – no hidden fees
  • Includes expert review
  • Includes 30 days of updates
  • Secure storage included
  • Updates easy and affordable

Common Situations: Best Provider Choice

Straightforward Estate (House + Savings)

Best choice: WillsConnect or solicitor
Why: Either works well. WillsConnect saves £200+ for same legal validity.

Young Person/First Will

Best choice: WillsConnect
Why: Simple, affordable, properly done. Can update easily as life changes.

Unmarried Couple

Best choice: WillsConnect
Why: Critical you make wills. WillsConnect makes it affordable and easy. Each person needs their own will.

Parents with Young Children

Best choice: WillsConnect
Why: Covers all essentials including guardians. Expert review ensures it's right. Much more affordable than solicitors.

Very Complex Estate

Best choice: Specialist solicitor
Why: Multiple properties abroad, complex business interests, significant tax planning needs – these genuinely need specialist advice.

Blended Family

Best choice: WillsConnect for straightforward, solicitor for complex
Why: If needs are clear, WillsConnect handles it well. If extremely complicated with trusts needed, see solicitor.

Elderly/Limited Mobility

Best choice: WillsConnect (with family help) or specialist will writer
Why: WillsConnect can be done from home with family support. Alternatively, reputable will writer who visits home.

On a Tight Budget

Best choice: WillsConnect
Why: Professional quality at affordable price. Don't risk DIY to save £60 – costs far more if it goes wrong.

Red Flags: What to Avoid

Be wary of providers who:

  • Use high-pressure tactics: “Sign today or lose this priceâ€
  • Push expensive add-ons: Trusts or storage you don't need
  • Have no legal qualifications: Ask about their credentials
  • Have no professional indemnity insurance: What happens if they make a mistake?
  • Won't show you costs upfront: Transparent pricing is essential
  • Make claims about “inheritance tax saving†without proper analysis: Tax planning requires expertise
  • Offer free wills with pressure to include them as beneficiary: Your will should reflect YOUR wishes

Making Your Decision

Decision Framework

Choose WillsConnect if:

  • You want professional quality at affordable price
  • You value convenience (no appointments)
  • Your estate is straightforward to moderately complex
  • You want expert review without high costs
  • You need standard or Islamic will
  • You value clear guidance and explanations

Choose Specialist Solicitor if:

  • Your estate is genuinely very complex
  • You own multiple businesses
  • You have significant overseas assets
  • Complex tax planning needed
  • You prefer face-to-face service
  • Money is not a major concern

Avoid DIY Unless:

  • Don't. Just don't. The £60-80 saving isn't worth the risk.

Questions to Ask Yourself

  1. How complex is my estate really?
  2. Do I need face-to-face service?
  3. What's my budget?
  4. How quickly do I need this done?
  5. Do I value convenience?
  6. Am I confident in online services?

For most people, WillsConnect offers the best combination of quality, value, convenience, and security.

Start Your Will Today

You've compared the options. Now it's time to take action.

Why Start with WillsConnect

  • No commitment to start: Begin for free, pay only when ready to finalize
  • 20-30 minutes: That's all it takes
  • £89 total cost: No hidden fees
  • Expert reviewed: Qualified specialist checks every will
  • Legally valid: Meets all requirements for England & Wales
  • Easy updates: Life changes, your will can too

Don't let another day pass without protecting your family. Whether you choose WillsConnect or another provider, the important thing is to actually make your will.

But if you want the best combination of quality, value, and convenience, the choice is clear.

Start your will with WillsConnect today. 30 minutes to complete peace of mind.