Do I Need a Solicitor for a Will?

You are not legally required to use a solicitor to write a will in the UK — DIY templates and online will-writing services are both legitimate options. The real question isn't "is a solicitor required," but "does my situation carry enough risk or complexity that professional advice is worth paying for."

Situations where a solicitor is genuinely worth it

A solicitor is generally the sensible choice if any of the following apply to you:

• You own property jointly with someone you are not married to or in a civil partnership with — how you co-own decides whether your will even controls the house.
• You have children from a previous relationship, or a blended family situation where inheritance could be contested.
• You own a business, or have complex assets such as overseas property.
• You want to set up a trust within your will — for a vulnerable beneficiary, for example (trusts in wills, explained).
• Your estate is large enough that inheritance tax planning is relevant (see our inheritance tax guide).
• You are estranged from someone who might otherwise expect to inherit, or you anticipate your will being contested — our guide to how wills are challenged shows what good drafting has to withstand.
• You have concerns about your mental capacity being questioned later — a solicitor can assess and document capacity at the time of signing, which is harder to establish after the fact with a DIY will.

Situations where a simpler option is often fine

If your situation is genuinely straightforward — a single estate, clear beneficiaries (such as a spouse and children with no complications), no business or overseas assets, and no reason to expect a dispute — a well-reviewed online will-writing service is often entirely adequate, at a lower cost than a full solicitor.

What a solicitor actually adds beyond a template

The value of a solicitor isn't the document itself — templates can produce a similar-looking will. It's the advice: spotting an issue you didn't know to ask about, structuring a trust correctly, advising on inheritance tax planning, and ensuring the will is drafted to withstand a challenge. This advisory element is what a template or online form, however well designed, cannot fully replicate.

A middle-ground option

Some online will-writing services offer an optional solicitor review of a will you've drafted yourself through their online process — a middle ground that can catch obvious errors at a lower cost than starting entirely from scratch with a solicitor, though it's not a substitute for full advice on genuinely complex situations.

How to choose a solicitor if you need one

Look for a solicitor accredited by STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) or Solicitors for the Elderly, both of which indicate specific expertise in wills and estate planning, rather than just general legal practice.

This is general information about the law in England and Wales, not personalised legal advice. Rules, thresholds and processes change, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules in places — for anything that depends on your own circumstances, it is worth speaking to a solicitor (ideally one accredited by STEP or Solicitors for the Elderly) or checking GOV.UK and Citizens Advice for current detail.