What are mirror wills?
Mirror wills are two wills with matching terms, made by a couple at the same time. A common pattern is for each partner to leave everything to the other, and if the other has already died, to the same people, such as their children. The wills are separate legal documents: each must be signed and witnessed under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837.
Married couples, civil partners and unmarried couples can all make mirror wills. Unmarried partners should read wills for unmarried couples first, because they have no automatic inheritance rights without a will.
How do mirror, joint and mutual wills differ?
Mirror wills describe matching wishes; a joint will puts more than one person's wishes in one document; mutual wills involve an agreement. The terms are not interchangeable.
| Arrangement | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary mirror wills | Two separate documents with matching wishes. | Each person can change their own will. Matching terms alone do not bind the survivor. |
| Joint will | One document operates as each person's separate will when they die. | HMRC describes joint wills as extremely rare. SwiftWill does not prepare them. |
| Mutual wills | An agreement about how property will pass, which can bind the survivor after the first death. | The agreement and property affected need individual legal advice. This is not SwiftWill's mirror-will service. |
HMRC's guidance on mutual wills explains that matching or reciprocal gifts alone are not enough: there must be an agreement. If you already have such an arrangement, take your documents to a solicitor before replacing either will. If your aim is to protect children's inheritance after your partner dies, discuss the available arrangements, including trusts in wills, rather than assuming matching wills will achieve that.
Are mirror wills binding on the survivor?
No, ordinary mirror wills do not bind the survivor. A will can be revoked by a later one (section 20), and the Law Commission's 2025 report notes that a testator remains free to revoke a will and make a new one. After the first death, the survivor can change their will, remarry (which revokes their will under section 18) or spend the money.
That matters most in blended families. If you want to make sure children from an earlier relationship inherit after the survivor dies, you need individual advice about arrangements such as a trust. See second marriage with children and do I need a solicitor for a will.
What does SwiftWill's matching pair share?
- The same residue percentages and third-party beneficiary choices.
- The same specific gifts, amounts and item descriptions.
- The same guardian choices and funeral, digital and other instructions.
- Reciprocal substitutions where a structured role names the other partner, such as executor or beneficiary.
This is a limited shared-wishes workflow. It does not provide separate personal gift lists, and it does not assume a "partner, then children" plan: you enter who inherits and read the backup choices in each preview. Executors are appointed jointly, without separate reserves. If your wishes differ, two single wills cost £70 in total.
Before choosing a pair, compare your intended gifts, beneficiaries and guardians together. If one person wants different gifts or different shares, use two individual wills. See why both spouses need their own will; a couple's package is a pricing and preparation option, not one will covering both people.
Parents with children under 18 can use the guide to making a will with young children to prepare their family decisions before choosing a pair of wills.
How do both people check their wishes?
- Answer the screening questions for both people. Stop if either of you needs advice.
- Enter your shared choices and your partner's details.
- Read both generated previews, including names, gifts, percentages and substitutes.
- Each person reads their own document and completes their own confirmation before payment.
- Print both wills. Each person signs their own, following the signing steps.
The on-screen confirmations are not identity, capacity or consent checks. Neither partner should complete the other's confirmation. Do not use the service if either person is under pressure or cannot understand the document on their own.
When should couples get advice instead?
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, such as a second spouse or children from another marriage, or own property overseas or a business. Add a wish to control what happens after the survivor dies, or any trust or tax planning. SwiftWill's screening stops the interview in these situations.
How much do mirror wills cost?
SwiftWill's pair is £55. Other providers price couples' wills differently and may include individual drafting, human review or an appointment, so check what each price covers. The table below compares published prices, with links to each provider's own page.
SwiftWill publishes this selected comparison and sells one of the services shown. Offers provide different levels of advice, review and support. Price records checked 24 September 2026 to 6 October 2026; see each row’s date; confirm the current offer and scope before buying.
| Provider / source | Single / two wills | Who checks your will? | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwiftWill Checked 24 September 2026 | £35 / £55 | Automated checks; no individual solicitor review | Free regeneration using your recovery file for the same people |
| FreeWills Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs FreeWills | £0 / £0 | Advertises a solicitor check for every will | Free updates |
| TenMinuteWill Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs TenMinuteWill | £59.99 / £89.99 (published as £49.99 + VAT / £74.99 + VAT) | Individual check by a professionally qualified will writer after purchase | Unlimited free updates for 60 days; then 20% off a new document |
| Make a Will Online Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs Make a Will Online | £60 / £90 | Individual solicitor check | 28 days free; optional £10 per year afterwards |
| ClearLegacy Checked 6 October 2026 SwiftWill vs ClearLegacy | £89 / £129 | Automated check against the Wills Act 1837; the founder checks anything it flags | One free update; later changes are a full rewrite at the standard price |
| Which? Wills Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs Which? Wills | from £99 / Confirm quoteWills advertised from £89.10 on 6 October 2026; the offer ends 31 October 2026. This is a promotional starting price, not a verified price for every package or for two wills. Confirm the chosen package and final price on its website. Checked 6 October 2026. | Self-service or separately priced specialist-review package | No update subscription published; the service page says later changes can be made by codicil |
| Farewill Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs Farewill | £100 / £160 | Specialist document check; terms exclude substantive legal advice | Optional subscription advertised at £10/year; confirm any introductory period and subscribe within 30 days under current terms |
| Co-op Legal Services Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs Co-op Legal Services | from £149 / from £249 | SRA-regulated service with follow-up call to finalise the will | Ask for a quote for the changes you need; no annual update price modelled |
| Octopus Legacy Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs Octopus Legacy | £150 / £250 | Legal expert review | One year free; then £10 per year |
| MyIntent Checked 24 September 2026 SwiftWill vs MyIntent | £249 / £349 | Legal advice in a video appointment with a law firm or MyIntent’s legal team | No update subscription or amendment price published; ask the adviser who prepares the will |
A lower price does not establish equivalent service. “Two wills” can mean different products: Farewill’s online pair is individually prepared, while SwiftWill’s pair shares instructions. Which? starts with self-service and charges separately for reviewed packages. TenMinuteWill publishes prices plus VAT; the totals shown add VAT at 20%. See delivery, printing, storage and cancellation details.
What happens when one person wants to update their will?
Each person controls their own will and can replace it at any time. The shared recovery file contains both people's information, so keep it private and only use it with your partner's agreement. If your wishes now differ, the pair may no longer suit you. A new document only takes effect once it is signed and witnessed. See changing your will.
Sources
- Wills Act 1837, sections 9, 15, 18 and 20
- Law Commission: Modernising Wills Law, summary (16 May 2025)
- GOV.UK: Write your will
- HMRC Inheritance Tax Manual: joint wills, IHTM12062
- HMRC Inheritance Tax Manual: mutual wills, IHTM12063
Original guidance sources checked 24 September 2026. Joint and mutual will sources checked 30 September 2026.