Is a homemade will legally valid?
Yes, if it meets the same rules as any other will. GOV.UK says you can write your will yourself. Validity comes from section 9 of the Wills Act 1837: the will must be in writing and signed by you, with your signature made or acknowledged in front of two witnesses present at the same time, and each witness must then sign in your presence. You must be 18 or over (section 7) and, according to GOV.UK, of sound mind and acting voluntarily.
Get those steps right and a homemade will has the same legal force as one drafted by a solicitor. Get them wrong and it can fail however well it is worded. The steps are set out in how to sign and witness a will.
Is a handwritten will valid?
Yes, as long as it is witnessed. "In writing" includes handwriting, but England and Wales does not accept an unwitnessed handwritten will from ordinary civilians. The narrow exception is for soldiers in actual military service and sailors at sea (section 11). Write clearly in ink, sign at the end in front of both witnesses, and avoid crossings-out.
What should a homemade will include?
GOV.UK says a will should set out who you want to benefit, who should look after any children under 18, who your executor is, and what happens if the people you want to benefit die before you. In practice a complete will also needs:
- your full name and address, and a statement that it revokes earlier wills;
- a residue clause saying who receives everything not given away specifically;
- backup beneficiaries for each main gift;
- a signature section with space for two witnesses and a date.
The annotated sample will shows what each of these looks like in a finished document.
Where do homemade wills go wrong?
| Problem | What happens |
|---|---|
| Witnesses not present together when you sign | The will is not validly signed (s.9). |
| A beneficiary, or their spouse or civil partner, witnesses | The will stands but that gift fails (s.15). |
| No residue clause | Anything not given away passes under the intestacy rules as a partial intestacy (Administration of Estates Act 1925, s.49). |
| No backup beneficiary | A gift to someone who dies first usually fails, unless it was to your child or grandchild who left children (s.33). |
| Vague descriptions, such as "my car" when you own two | Executors may have to ask a court or the family may disagree. |
| Changes written on the will after signing | The changes have no effect unless signed and witnessed (s.21). |
| Marrying after making the will | The will is revoked unless it was made with that marriage in mind (s.18). |
The residue clause deserves special attention: see what a residuary estate is.
Should you use a template, an online service or a solicitor instead?
That depends on how much help you want and how complicated your affairs are. A blank template gives you a structure but no judgement; see free will template. An online service asks questions and generates the wording. A solicitor gives individual advice. All of them still need the same signing ceremony. The options are compared in how to make a will, and is an online will legal covers what online services can and cannot check.
When should you not write your own will?
GOV.UK recommends advice if you share property with someone who is not your spouse or civil partner, want to provide for a dependant who cannot care for themselves, have family members who may make a claim, live outside the UK, own property overseas or own a business. Add to that any need for a trust, inheritance tax planning, or doubt about mental capacity. Our guide to whether you need a solicitor explains why each of these matters.
For a straightforward estate in England or Wales, SwiftWill prepares a will from guided questions for £35, with a preview before payment. It does not include individual legal advice, and its screening questions stop the interview if your answers point to advice.
Sources
- Wills Act 1837: sections 7, 9, 11, 15, 18, 21 and 33
- Administration of Estates Act 1925, section 49
- GOV.UK: Making a will and Write your will
- GOV.UK: Joint property ownership
Sources checked 24 September 2026.