How to Write Your Own Will at Home (UK Guide)

A simple guide to doing it properly

A Will does not have to be complicated or expensive. Many people assume you must use a solicitor, but in the UK you can write your own Will as long as it follows the legal rules. A clear, valid Will is one of the most helpful documents you can leave behind, and it gives your family calm and certainty when they need it most.

Here is a straightforward guide to doing it yourself.

What a Will needs to be valid

In the UK, a Will is legally valid if it meets four key conditions.

  • It must be in writing.
    Handwritten or typed is fine.

  • You must be over 18 and have mental capacity.

  • You must sign it.
    This has to be your signature and it must be done voluntarily.

  • Two witnesses must watch you sign.
    They must also sign the Will. They cannot be beneficiaries and they cannot be married to anyone who benefits. Witnesses should ideally be independent adults who are not family members.

If these points are followed, a Will is normally valid.

What to include in your Will

Keeping it clear is more important than sounding formal.

  • Your full name and address.

  • Confirm it is your final Will and you are revoking any previous ones.

  • Who gets what.
    This can be simple gifts or a list of belongings or amounts of money.

  • Residue.
    This is everything left once gifts and debts are handled. It helps to name one person or split it between a few people.

  • Executors.
    These are the people who will carry out your wishes. Many people choose a partner, adult child, or a trusted friend. Two is normal.

  • Guardians for children.
    If you have children under 18, you can name who you want to care for them.

  • Funeral wishes, if you want to include them.
    These are not legally binding but can be very helpful to your family.

The importance of signing and witnessing correctly

This is the one part that can cause problems if done incorrectly.

Everyone signing must be in the same room at the same time. The witnesses should watch you sign, then sign themselves, using their usual signature. They should also print their names and addresses under their signatures.

If witnesses are also named in the Will as receiving anything, those gifts become invalid, so choose witnesses carefully.

Should you use a solicitor?

You can write your own Will, but a solicitor is advisable if your situation is more complex or if you want that reassurance. For example:

  • You own property in more than one country.

  • You have a business.

  • You have a blended family or want to exclude someone.

  • You have inheritance tax questions.

  • You want to set up trusts or protect assets.

For most simple estates, a well written DIY Will is acceptable and common.

Where to store your Will

Your Will must be the original signed paper document. Digital copies are not accepted for probate.

Good options for storage include:

  • At home in a safe place
    Make sure someone knows where it is.

  • With your solicitor
    Often stored if you are using one, it may incur a small fee.

  • With the Probate Service’s “Find a Will” storage service
    This costs a small one-off fee and keeps your Will securely. It can be deposited even if you wrote it yourself:
    https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

Should you register your Will?

Registration is optional, not essential, but it can help your family know where the Will is stored.

The most common UK registration services are:

Registration does not make the Will more legally valid. It simply makes it easier to locate.

When to update your Will

Small changes can be added using a document called a codicil, but if there are major changes it is usually easier to write a new Will.

A good rule is to review your Will after key life events:

  • Marriage or divorce

  • A new child or grandchild

  • A family death

  • Moving house

  • A significant change in finances

Keeping it simple

Most people want their Will to be clear, calm and easy for their family to follow. You do not need complicated wording. You just need it to be understandable, witnessed correctly, and kept somewhere safe.

A straightforward Will, written in your own words, can spare your family stress and confusion later. It is one of the simplest gifts of clarity you can leave.

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Further Information

A simple guide to Will storage and registration options in the UK

If you want extra peace of mind, you can choose to store or register your Will with an official service. These options do not make your Will more legally valid, but they do make it easier for your family to find the right document when the time comes.

Here is how each service works.

Storing your Will with the Probate Service (the “Find a Will” storage service)

You can store your original signed Will with the Government Probate Service for a small one-off fee. This service keeps your Will in a secure government facility.

How it works:

  • You fill in a simple form and post your original Will to the Probate Service.

  • They store it safely until it is needed.

  • When you pass away, your executor can request it through the official probate process.

  • The service can store a Will even if you wrote it yourself at home.

More information:
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

This is safe and official, but it is not a registration service, so people cannot search to confirm that a Will exists. It is simply secure storage.

Registering your Will with The National Will Register

This is the most widely used UK Will registration service. Many solicitors use it, but you can register your self-written Will too.

How it works:

  • You keep the original Will yourself or store it wherever you choose.

  • The register records the location of your Will, not the contents.

  • If your family ever need to find your Will, they can search the register to see where it is stored.

  • Solicitors often check this register when they are looking for a missing Will.

More information:
https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk/

This option is useful if you plan to keep your Will at home or with a solicitor but want a central record so it can be easily traced.

Storing your Will with the Government’s official Will storage service

This government option is specifically for secure storage, not registration.

How it works:

  • You pay a small fee to store your Will.

  • Your Will is kept in an official government archive.

  • Your executor can request the Will when needed.

  • Your Will is not searchable by the public, but it is held securely and cannot be lost.

More information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/store-a-will-with-the-probate-service/how-to-store-a-will-with-the-probate-service

This is a straightforward choice if you want your Will kept somewhere official but do not need anyone to be able to search for it.

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