> Source: https://swiftwill.co.uk/online-will-vs-solicitor/ — SwiftWill, first published 24 September 2026, updated 24 September 2026. This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the page's HTML. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice.

# Online will vs solicitor: which do you need?

By [SwiftWill](https://swiftwill.co.uk/about/) · Updated 24 September 2026 · England and Wales

Quick answer

A solicitor advises on your circumstances, drafts the will to fit them and can supervise the signing; an online service turns your answers into a document, sometimes with a check by a will writer, paralegal or solicitor. Preparing a will is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales, so online will writers need not be regulated, and the Legal Ombudsman handles complaints only about regulated providers. Use a solicitor for inheritance tax planning, trusts, overseas or business assets, a blended family, leaving out a dependant or doubts about capacity.

## What is the difference between an online will and a solicitor’s will?

The difference is advice and accountability, not legal validity. Any will is valid if it meets [section 9 of the Wills Act 1837](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/9): in writing, signed by you in front of two witnesses present at the same time, who then sign. A solicitor starts from your circumstances and advises on what the will should do. An online service starts from a questionnaire and produces a document from your answers; what happens next ranges from nothing more than software checks to a solicitor reading the finished will.

The [Competition and Markets Authority’s guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-consider-when-buying-will-writing-services/what-to-consider-when-buying-will-writing-services) puts it plainly: one type of will writer is not necessarily better than another, and you should decide whether the price, quality, experience, knowledge and protections on offer meet your needs.

## What does a solicitor add?

-   **Advice on your circumstances.** Inheritance tax, trusts, how your home is owned and who could claim against your estate are questions a questionnaire cannot answer for you.
-   **Drafting to fit.** Clauses beyond a standard template, such as wording showing that a will is made expecting a particular marriage and should survive it, without which [section 18 of the Wills Act 1837](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/18) means the marriage revokes the will.
-   **Evidence for later.** Where capacity could be questioned or a challenge is likely, a solicitor can arrange for capacity to be assessed and keep a record of your instructions.
-   **Regulatory protection.** The CMA says a regulated will writer must follow its regulator’s codes of conduct, you can take certain complaints to the Legal Ombudsman, and you may have access to compensation through the firm’s insurance or a regulator’s compensation scheme.

That help costs more, and for a simple estate it may add little to the finished document. Our [guide to whether you need a solicitor](https://swiftwill.co.uk/do-i-need-a-solicitor-for-a-will/) covers each situation in detail.

## What do online will services actually do?

They differ more than the phrase “online will” suggests. The table groups the services in our comparison by who looks at your will. Prices are the published single-will price including VAT, checked on 24 September 2026 unless shown.

Routes to a will in England and Wales, with examples of published single-will prices. SwiftWill publishes this page and is one of the services listed.
| Route | Who looks at your will | Examples | Advice on your circumstances? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Automated online will | Software checks your answers; nobody reads the will | SwiftWill £35; Which? Wills self-service from £99 | No |
| Online will with a checker | A will writer, specialist or paralegal reads the finished will, or the answers software flags | [TenMinuteWill](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-tenminutewill/) £59.99; [ClearLegacy](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-clearlegacy/) £69; [Farewill](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-farewill/) £100; [Octopus Legacy](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-octopus-legacy/) £150 | Usually not: several of these providers’ terms say the check is not legal advice |
| Online will with a solicitor check | A solicitor reads the finished will | [Make a Will Online](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-make-a-will-online/) £60; [FreeWills](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-freewills/) £0 (advertised check) | Ask what the check covers; it is not described as advice on your circumstances |
| Online interview plus advice | A legal adviser discusses your answers in a video appointment and prepares the will | [MyIntent](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-myintent/) £249 | Yes, a 30-minute appointment |
| Solicitor or regulated firm | A regulated professional advises, drafts and can supervise signing | [Co-op Legal Services](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/swiftwill-vs-co-op/) from £149 (last verified 24 September 2026); other firms set their own prices | Yes, within the agreed scope |

A check of the finished document catches errors such as contradictions or unclear gifts. It is not the same as advice on whether the will suits your family, your tax position or the way you own your home, and several providers’ terms say so. SwiftWill is an automated service with no individual review; its suitability questions send people with the circumstances below to professional advice before they pay.

## How much does a solicitor charge for a will?

There is no official figure for what a will should cost from a solicitor, so we do not quote one. The CMA’s guidance gives no price range and suggests getting quotes from at least three will writers. The [SRA Transparency Rules](https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/transparency-rules/) (version in effect from 11 April 2025) require regulated firms to publish costs for services such as residential conveyancing and uncontested estate administration, but will writing is not on the list, so each firm decides whether to publish its will prices.

When you ask for a quote, the CMA suggests checking:

1.  What a one-off fee includes and excludes.
2.  If you are charged by the hour, whether there is an agreed limit on the total.
3.  What you will pay in total, including VAT and any extras such as storage.

Among the services in our comparison, the routes that include a regulated firm or an advice appointment published prices starting at £149 (Co-op Legal Services, last verified 24 September 2026) and £249 including VAT (MyIntent, checked 24 September 2026). These are examples, not a market range: complex wills, trusts and tax planning are quoted separately. For the full price list, see the [cheapest online will comparison](https://swiftwill.co.uk/cheapest-online-will/).

## How is regulation different?

Will writing is open to anyone. Section 12 of the [Legal Services Act 2007](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/12) lists six reserved legal activities that only authorised people can carry out, including “reserved instrument activities”, but [Schedule 2](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/schedule/2) says the instruments covered do not include “a will or other testamentary instrument”. The CMA’s guide confirms that there are no restrictions in law on who can write wills.

Protections by type of will writer in England and Wales, from the CMA’s guidance and the Legal Ombudsman. General consumer law protects you whichever you choose.
| Type of provider | Rules they follow | If a complaint is not resolved | Compensation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Regulated legal practice, such as an SRA-regulated firm | Regulator’s codes of conduct, standards and training requirements | Legal Ombudsman, for certain problems | Possible through the firm’s insurance or a regulator’s compensation scheme |
| Will writer in a self-regulatory body, such as the Society of Will Writers or the Institute of Professional Willwriters | The body’s own rules and training standards; the IPW’s code is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute | The body’s complaint-handling service; not the Legal Ombudsman | Some bodies require members to hold at least £2 million of professional indemnity insurance |
| Other unregulated service | General consumer law and the provider’s own terms | Citizens Advice consumer service, which can pass complaints to Trading Standards | Ask whether the business holds professional indemnity insurance |

The [Legal Ombudsman](https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/for-consumers/complaints-process/complaints-we-can-help-with/) says it can only help if your legal service provider is regulated. Check the business, not just the people: the CMA warns that a will-writing business may appear on the SRA’s website because it employs regulated professionals while the business itself is not regulated, and that a regulated firm shows a green tick and “SRA-regulated firm” on the [Solicitors Register](https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/). Several online services in our comparison employ or work with solicitors but state that the business is not SRA-regulated. SwiftWill is not a law firm and is not regulated by a legal regulator.

## Which situations need which?

Use the table as a starting point. If more than one row applies, or you are unsure, speak to a solicitor before buying any will.

Which route fits your situation, England and Wales. Sources checked 24 September 2026.
| Your situation | Route that fits | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Everything to a spouse or partner, then children; all assets in the UK; no likely dispute | An online will can suit. Choose one with a person checking it if you want a second pair of eyes. | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| You share property with someone who is not your spouse or civil partner | Get advice | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| A dependant who cannot care for themselves | Get advice; a trust may be needed | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| A second spouse, or children from another marriage, who may claim | Get advice | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| Leaving out a spouse, former spouse, partner of two years or more, child or someone you support | Solicitor: they may be able to apply to court for reasonable financial provision | [Inheritance Act 1975, s.1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/63/section/1) |
| Your permanent home is outside the UK, or you own property overseas | Get advice | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| You own a business | Get advice | [GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will) |
| Inheritance tax planning or any trust beyond a simple gift to children | Solicitor or specialist adviser | [SwiftWill suitability guide](https://swiftwill.co.uk/do-i-need-a-solicitor-for-a-will/) |
| You are about to marry | Solicitor: marriage revokes an earlier will unless the will shows it was made expecting that marriage and meant to survive it | [Wills Act 1837, s.18](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/18) |
| Doubts about mental capacity, or a challenge is likely | Solicitor, who can arrange for capacity to be assessed and keep a record of your instructions | [SwiftWill suitability guide](https://swiftwill.co.uk/do-i-need-a-solicitor-for-a-will/) |

Related guides: [wills for unmarried couples](https://swiftwill.co.uk/will-for-unmarried-couples/), [leaving someone out of a will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/can-i-disinherit-someone/), [does marriage revoke a will?](https://swiftwill.co.uk/does-marriage-revoke-a-will/) and [writing a will with children](https://swiftwill.co.uk/writing-a-will-with-children/).

## Can you combine the two?

Yes. Some online services offer a step up when your needs outgrow a questionnaire: Farewill and TenMinuteWill sell wills drafted over the phone, Which? lets you upgrade a self-service will to a reviewed one, and ClearLegacy’s terms describe a discussion draft to take to a solicitor rather than sign. Whatever route you take, it helps to prepare first: our [free will planner](https://swiftwill.co.uk/tools/will-planner/) lists your people, assets and questions without an account.

## What should you ask before choosing either?

The CMA suggests asking any will writer, whoever they are, for:

-   Their qualifications, training and experience, and whether they are a solicitor, another legal professional, a professional will writer or a salesperson.
-   Whether they will draft the will themselves, use someone else, or give you a template to fill in online.
-   Their complaints process and what you can do if things go wrong.
-   Whether they hold professional indemnity insurance.
-   Whether their service suits the part of the UK where you live.

Also be wary of extras you do not need. The CMA says will storage, update subscriptions and appointing a professional executor are not necessary for a valid will, and a professional executor’s fees are charged to your estate. If your situation is straightforward and you are comfortable checking your own answers, you can [start a SwiftWill will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/start/) and read the preview before paying; otherwise compare [services with a checker or advice](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/).

## Sources

-   [Competition and Markets Authority: what to consider when buying will writing services](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-to-consider-when-buying-will-writing-services/what-to-consider-when-buying-will-writing-services) (published 9 October 2024)
-   [Legal Services Act 2007, section 12](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/12) and [Schedule 2](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/schedule/2)
-   [SRA Transparency Rules](https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/transparency-rules/) (version in effect from 11 April 2025)
-   [Legal Ombudsman: complaints we can help with](https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/for-consumers/complaints-process/complaints-we-can-help-with/)
-   [GOV.UK: write your will](https://www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will)
-   [Wills Act 1837, section 9](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/9) and [section 18](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4and1Vict/7/26/section/18)
-   [Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, section 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1975/63/section/1)
-   Provider prices and terms: the sources listed on our [comparison page](https://swiftwill.co.uk/compare/)

Sources checked 24 September 2026.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is an online will as legally valid as a solicitor’s will?**

Yes, if it is made and signed correctly. Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 requires a will in writing, signed by you in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time, who then sign. Who drafted it does not affect validity, but advice can affect whether it does what you intend.

**Do I need a solicitor to make a will in England and Wales?**

No. GOV.UK says you can write your will yourself, and the CMA notes that anyone can write a will. GOV.UK recommends advice if your will is not straightforward, for example if you have property overseas, a business or a dependant who cannot care for themselves.

**Are online will writers regulated?**

Not necessarily. Preparing a will is not a reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007, so will writers do not need to be regulated. Some are regulated firms, some belong to voluntary self-regulatory bodies, and some are neither; check the provider’s terms and the regulator’s register.

**Can I complain to the Legal Ombudsman about an online will company?**

Only if the provider is regulated. The Legal Ombudsman says it can only help with complaints about regulated legal service providers. For other providers, complain to the business first, then use a self-regulatory body’s scheme if it is a member, or get consumer advice from Citizens Advice.

**How much does a solicitor charge for a will?**

There is no official figure. The CMA guide gives no price ranges and suggests getting quotes from at least three will writers, and the SRA’s price-transparency rules do not require firms to publish will prices. Ask for a fixed fee in writing that says what is included.

**Should I appoint my will writer or solicitor as executor?**

You do not have to. The CMA says a professional executor is not a legal requirement and that your estate will be charged for the service; you can appoint family or friends, who can take professional advice later if they need it.

Published by SwiftWill. First published 24 September 2026; updated 24 September 2026. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Sources are linked in the guide; publication is not an individual legal review. Spotted an error? See our [corrections log](https://swiftwill.co.uk/corrections/).