Online wills · England & Wales
A legally valid will, in your inbox in seconds
Make a will online: answer a few simple questions, pay £35 once, and download your personalised will instantly. Print it, sign it with two witnesses, and it's done — no subscriptions, no upsells, no waiting days for a reviewer.
- Instant PDF delivery — no review queue, no 3–5 day wait
- One price, free updates for life — never a £10/year subscription
- No upsells, ever — no storage fees, no executor services, no funeral plans
England & Wales only · not Scotland or Northern Ireland · 30-day money-back guarantee · £2m PI insurance · IPW member
Quick answer
How it works
How do you make a will with SwiftWill?
Answer plain-English questions, pay £35 once, download the PDF instantly, then print and sign with two independent witnesses in one room. That signing ceremony is section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 — who drafted the document does not matter. Step-by-step: how to make a will in the UK.
Answer simple questions
Plain-English guidance at every step. About 15 minutes, save and return any time.
Download your will instantly
Your personalised PDF arrives in your inbox in seconds, with a step-by-step signing card.
Sign with two witnesses
Print, sign in front of two independent witnesses, and your will is legally valid. Keep it safe and tell your executors where it is.
What it really costs
How much does a will cost in the UK?
From free charity schemes (with restrictions) to £300 or more at a solicitor. Online services run from about £10 to £250. SwiftWill is £35 once with free updates for life. Pay a solicitor instead if you need tax planning, trusts or expect a dispute. See the full price comparison →
| Option | Typical cost | Speed | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity free wills (Free Wills Month / Will Aid) | Free / donation | Weeks (appointment) | Over-55s or specific months only; legacy expected |
| SwiftWillBest value | £35 once | Instant | None — free updates for life |
| Make a Will Online | £60 + £10/yr updates | Fast, not instant | Update subscription |
| Farewill | £100 + £10/yr updates | 3–5 days | Review-queue wait; subscription |
| Co-op Legal Services | £150 | Days (call + draft) | Phone call required |
| High-street solicitor | £300+ | Days–weeks | Right choice for complex estates |
Every will, one price
What does a SwiftWill will include?
Executors, guardians, specific gifts, residue, and a correctly worded attestation clause — one price, no add-ons. Print it, sign it with two witnesses, and it is a valid England and Wales will. Skip SwiftWill if you need tax planning, trusts or foreign property.
- Executors and substitute executors
- Guardians for children under 18
- Specific gifts of items and cash sums
- Residuary estate — split any way you like
- Trusts for children until 18, 21 or 25
- Funeral wishes
- Pets and digital assets provisions
- Step-by-step witnessing instruction card
Who should not use SwiftWill?
Online wills are right for straightforward estates in England and Wales. They are the wrong tool if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or if you need inheritance tax planning, trusts, have business or foreign assets, are protecting children from a previous relationship, plan to exclude a dependant, or expect a dispute.
Our 60-second suitability check screens for all of this before you pay — and sends you to a solicitor, with a checklist of what to ask, if you need one. Read the honest answer: do I need a solicitor for a will? →
54–60%
of UK adults have no will — more than 30 million people. Without one, the intestacy rules decide who inherits: an unmarried partner gets nothing at all, and stepchildren inherit nothing unless adopted.
See exactly who inherits if you die without a will →What makes a will legally valid in England and Wales?
Under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, a will is valid if it is in writing; signed by you (or by someone in your presence and at your direction) with the intention of giving it effect; your signature is made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses, both present at the same time; and each witness then signs in your presence. No solicitor or notary is required — see the government's guidance at gov.uk/make-will. Signing must be physical — wet ink on paper; electronic signatures are not valid for wills.
That is why every SwiftWill includes a step-by-step signing card: how the document was created is irrelevant to the law, but how it is signed is everything. The exact witnessing rules →
30-day money-back guarantee
Not satisfied for any reason? Email us within 30 days for a full refund — no questions, no forms.
£2m professional indemnity insurance
Real cover behind every document we generate.
IPW member
Membership of the Institute of Professional Willwriters — which itself requires £2m PI insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is a will made with SwiftWill legally valid?
Yes. A will made online is just as legally valid as one written by a solicitor, provided it is signed correctly. Under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, your will must be in writing, signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are both present at the same time, and the witnesses must then sign in your presence. We check your answers, generate a properly drafted will, and include a step-by-step signing guide so you get the signing exactly right.
How do I receive my will?
Instantly. The moment your payment completes, you can download your personalised will as a PDF, and we email you a copy within 60 seconds along with a signing instruction card. There is no review queue and no waiting days for someone to check your answers.
Do I need a solicitor to make a will?
No. Will writing is not a reserved legal activity, and no solicitor or notary is required for a will to be valid. For straightforward estates, a properly drafted online will does the same job. If your situation needs tax planning, trusts, business assets or involves likely disputes, we will tell you — our suitability check redirects you to a solicitor before you pay a penny.
What does “free updates for life” actually mean?
It means you pay once and can change your will as often as you like, forever, at no cost. Log back in, update your answers, and download a fresh will to print and re-sign. Unlike Farewill, Make a Will Online and others, we never charge a £10-a-year update subscription.
Can my partner and I make wills together?
Yes — choose mirror wills at checkout for £55. You each get your own will with reciprocal provisions (typically leaving everything to each other, then to the same people). Only your personal details and any personal gifts differ.
What happens if I die without a will?
Your estate is divided by the intestacy rules, not by your wishes. An unmarried partner inherits nothing at all, regardless of how long you have been together, and stepchildren inherit nothing unless adopted. If you are married with children, your spouse receives the first £322,000 plus half the remainder — which may not be what you would choose.
What if my situation is too complicated for an online will?
We will tell you before you pay. Our 60-second suitability check screens for the situations that genuinely need a solicitor — inheritance tax planning, trusts, business assets, foreign property, excluding a dependant, or likely family disputes — and redirects you with a checklist of what to ask a solicitor. We would rather lose a sale than sell you the wrong document.
What if I change my mind after paying?
Every will comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason, email us within 30 days for a full refund — no questions, no forms.
Dealing with a death in the family?
Free, plain-English guides to the practical steps — no sign-up, no sales pitch.
Make a will online in about 15 minutes
One-time £35. Instant download. Free updates for life. No subscriptions, no upsells — ever.
30-day money-back guarantee · £2m professional indemnity insurance · IPW member