What mirror wills are
Mirror wills are two separate wills that "reflect" each other: typically each partner leaves everything to the other, and when the second partner dies, everything passes to the same agreed beneficiaries — often the children. Each of you signs your own document, with your own two witnesses.
Who they suit
Couples — married, in a civil partnership, or unmarried — who broadly agree on where the estate should go. They are especially important for unmarried couples, because under the intestacy rules an unmarried partner inherits nothing at all without a will.
The warning every couple should read: mirror wills are NOT binding
Either of you can change your own will at any time — even after the first death, and even if you both promised not to. If you need wills that genuinely lock each other in (for example, to guarantee children from a previous relationship will inherit), that is called a mutual will or a life-interest trust, and it needs a solicitor. Our suitability check screens for exactly this situation.
What mirror wills cost
| Provider | Couple price | Delivery | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwiftWill | £55 | Instant | Free for life |
| Make a Will Online | £90 | Fast, not instant (solicitor check) | £10/yr after 28 days |
| Farewill | £160 | 3–5 days (specialist review) | £10/yr after year 1 |
| High-street solicitor | £245+ | Days–weeks | Per-change charges |
Because the second will largely mirrors the first, you should never pay anywhere near double the single-will price for a couple. See the full market price comparison.
How the SwiftWill mirror-will flow works
- You complete the guided interview once — about 15 minutes.
- At the final step, toggle "Make mirror wills — £55 total (saving £15)" and add your partner's details.
- We generate two wills with reciprocal provisions automatically: each of you leaves everything to the other, with the same substitutes, guardians and ultimate beneficiaries.
- Only personal details and any personal specific gifts differ between the two documents. Your partner confirms their own details and receives their own copy.
- You each print and sign your own will with your own two witnesses — the signing rules are the same as for any will (see the exact rules).
A caution for blended families
If either of you has children from a previous relationship, standard mirror wills carry a real risk: everything passes to the survivor, who is then free to change their will and cut those children out — the "sideways disinheritance" problem. Protecting against this usually needs a life-interest trust drafted by a solicitor. Our interview asks about this directly and will redirect you, with a checklist of what to ask, before you pay.