Checked 24 September 2026; Free Wills Month rechecked 6 October 2026. These are selected options, not the whole market. Availability can change. The provider links are direct, without affiliate tracking.
Compare the routes before choosing
| Option | Cost and eligibility | When and how |
|---|---|---|
| Free Wills Month | Simple will fee covered 55+; one person can qualify for mirror wills | October 2026 campaign: check local availability Participating solicitors; mostly appointments |
| Will Aid | Voluntary donation suggested: £120 single / £200 pair Adults; no 55+ campaign threshold | November 2026; booking is open Participating solicitors; phone and video options |
| Cancer Research UK will-writing service | Simple will fee covered through its providers 18+ | Available outside the seasonal campaigns Online or telephone in England and Wales, through its panel of solicitors and will writers |
| FreeWills.co.uk | Will and updates advertised as free 18+ | Available throughout the year Online questionnaire |
What should you know about each option?
Free Wills Month
The official site was accepting enquiries on 6 October 2026. Selected locations and limited appointments; completing the form does not book a place. A charitable gift is encouraged, with no obligation. Ask about any charge for complex work.
Check current local availability →Will Aid
Solicitors waive their basic-will fee and invite a donation. Some charge separately for third-party identity checks. Agree any fee for complex work, home visits or other extras before proceeding.
Find a Will Aid solicitor →Cancer Research UK will-writing service
A charitable gift is hoped for, not required. The charity covers simple work up to its fee limit, up to three uses including updates. Confirm extra fees and information shared with the charity. The service can be paused or withdrawn.
Explore the charity-funded service →FreeWills.co.uk
The provider says all wills are solicitor checked. It is funded through optional products, partnerships and advertising. Its own suitability limits apply.
Check FreeWills and its terms →No email needed
Find options to investigate
For people seeking a will for England and Wales, this filters published age and format information. It does not confirm eligibility, assess your estate or book an appointment. Answers stay in this page.
How does the finder choose options?
It filters the published age and format rules; it does not check your eligibility, availability near you or your estate. It shows options only when you confirm a will for England and Wales, an age of 18 or over, a format, and no known complication. Free Wills Month appears only if you are 55 or over, or want mirror wills with a partner who is. Choosing “online questionnaire” hides the appointment-based campaigns. Answering that your situation is complicated, or that you are unsure, shows a prompt to get advice instead, because a basic-will offer may not cover the work you need.
What if you need a will soon?
Do not wait for a seasonal campaign if a will is urgent, your health is changing or a marriage is planned. Ask a suitable provider what can be arranged now. A campaign’s launch date does not promise a completed will by that date, and an online service still needs time for any checks, printing and proper signing.
What is different about the October campaign?
Free Wills Month is a seasonal route with participating solicitors in selected areas, for people aged 55 and over. Its website was accepting enquiries when checked on 6 October 2026. Enter your details on the official site to find any participating solicitors near you, then contact a firm to ask about an appointment. A place is not reserved by reading this page, using our filter or completing the scheme’s form. Availability depends on your area and the firm’s remaining appointments; the campaign can close before the end of October when places are taken.
Can you get help outside the campaigns?
Yes. The year-round options above may be worth checking. You can also ask your employer, trade union or membership organisation whether will-writing help is included in benefits you already have. Ask who actually prepares the will, which people can use the benefit and whether changes cost extra.
Which charities and unions offer free wills all year?
Several charities pay for simple wills outside the seasonal campaigns, and some trade unions include a free will in membership. The table summarises what each organisation says on its own page. It is a selection, not a full list, and each offer can change or close.
| Offer | Who can use it and what is free | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Macmillan Free Will Service | Everyone over 18 living in the UK. Covers simple wills, including joint and mirror wills; complex wills cost extra. | Any time of year, online, by phone or video, or at home through its partner firms. It cannot provide urgent wills within a week. |
| British Heart Foundation | Free writing or updating of a will; its partners discuss any cost for complex wills first. | Online or by phone with Farewill or Co-op Legal Services (not available in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or in person with a local solicitor through the National Free Wills Network. |
| National Free Wills Network, through charities such as PDSA and Pancreatic Cancer UK | Set by each charity. PDSA's offer is for supporters aged 50 and over. | You request a pack from the charity, which lists participating local solicitors regulated by the SRA; PDSA says between 2 and 6 firms. Appointments are in person. |
| UNISON | Members are entitled to a free standard wills service; members and their families get reduced rates for more complex wills. | An online wills service. |
| Unite | Members who have belonged for 13 weeks can have a simple will prepared free by a legal professional, single or mirror; a small charge may apply if affairs are complex. | Contact your local Unite office. |
| NASUWT | Members can make their own will, and a mirror will for a spouse or partner, free; complex wills are referred on for a discounted fee, and members' families get a reduced-rate service. | An online portal run by BBH Legal Services and Thompsons Solicitors for the union; members in England and Wales use Thompsons' portal. |
Macmillan, the British Heart Foundation and Pancreatic Cancer UK say there is no obligation to leave them a gift. Other charities, unions and employers run similar schemes; ask what is included, who prepares the will and whether later changes cost extra. Terms differ between unions; NASUWT, for example, asks for your membership number.
What should you ask before accepting a free offer?
- Does the offer cover my circumstances and the jurisdiction where I need a will?
- Who prepares or checks my document, and what does that check include?
- Is a donation requested, and is it voluntary? Is there any obligation to leave a gift?
- What will printing, storage, later changes or complex work cost?
- What information will be shared with the charity or another company?
Agree any additional fees before work begins. A low price does not make a simple document suitable for a complex estate. The CMA’s will-writing consumer guide explains what to check when choosing a service, and GOV.UK lists situations where legal advice is sensible.
Where does SwiftWill fit?
SwiftWill costs £35 for a single will or £55 for mirror wills, with automated preparation and checks for supported circumstances in England and Wales. It does not include an individual solicitor review. Our cost guide explains what you receive; our comparison guide includes assisted services too. The preparation tools remain free whichever route you choose.
Use the conversation and review worksheets or the will planner to prepare before contacting a provider.
Sources
- Free Wills Month (age and mirror-will rules, campaign enquiry form and limited local appointments; rechecked 6 October 2026)
- Will Aid and Will Aid FAQs (suggested donations)
- Cancer Research UK will-writing service and its terms (age 18 or over, up to three uses, may be paused or withdrawn)
- FreeWills.co.uk
- Age UK: scheme age rules and Age UK: Will Aid
- CMA: What to consider when buying will-writing services
- Year-round charity offers, checked 22 October 2026: Macmillan Free Will Service, British Heart Foundation, PDSA and Pancreatic Cancer UK (National Free Wills Network)
- Union offers, checked 22 October 2026: UNISON legal services, Unite Legal Services: wills and NASUWT free will writing
Each provider sets its own terms; a change to a source is a reason to review this page, not proof that an offer is still available.
Sources checked 24 September 2026. Free Wills Month’s age rules, campaign form and availability guidance rechecked 6 October 2026; the charity and union offers in the year-round section checked 22 October 2026; other provider checks retain their original date.