Updated 17 August 2026.
The short answer
A DIY Will template can be a practical option in England and Wales when the estate, family and wishes are genuinely straightforward. It is a poor substitute for legal advice where there are dependants, overseas assets, trusts, tax planning, a business, a likely dispute or any concern about capacity or pressure.
The right comparison is not "template versus solicitor" in the abstract. It is whether a particular document safely matches a particular person's circumstances.
What is a DIY Will template?
A DIY Will template is a document designed for the person making the Will to complete themselves. A useful pack should provide more than a blank form. It should explain who the document is designed for, how to complete each section, when to stop and obtain advice, and how to sign the final Will correctly.
A well-structured pack may include:
- an editable Last Will and Testament;
- a suitability checklist;
- guidance on executors and beneficiaries;
- specific-gift and residuary provisions;
- fallback provisions if a beneficiary dies first;
- a signing and witnessing guide; and
- clear warnings about circumstances outside the template's scope.
Can a DIY Will be legally valid?
Yes. A solicitor is not a statutory requirement for every Will in England and Wales. A self-completed document can be valid if its wording is effective for the person's circumstances and it is executed in accordance with section 9 of the Wills Act 1837.
Buying or downloading a template does not itself create a Will. The final document must be completed accurately, printed and signed with two witnesses following the required ceremony.
For the full signing requirements, read How to Make a Will in England and Wales.
Who is a straightforward Will template for?
A narrowly designed single-person template may be suitable where every statement below is true:
- you are aged 18 or over and understand the nature and effect of making a Will;
- you are acting freely, without pressure from another person;
- you are unmarried, not in a civil partnership and not planning an imminent marriage or civil partnership;
- you have no children and no person treated by you as a child of the family;
- nobody is financially dependent on you;
- your permanent home and straightforward assets are in England or Wales;
- all beneficiaries are adults who can manage their inheritance;
- you are not trying to exclude someone who may expect financial provision;
- you do not require tax planning, a trust or a right to occupy property; and
- there is no realistic concern about capacity, undue influence or a family dispute.
If one of those statements is uncertain, stop. Standard wording is not elastic. Stretching it until it fits is how DIY becomes expensive.
When should you not use a DIY Will template?
You have a spouse, civil partner, former partner or cohabitant
Relationship status can affect both revocation and possible claims against an estate. Separation is not the same as divorce, and cohabitation can create factual dependency issues. Do not use an unmarried, no-dependants template to avoid dealing with those questions.
You have children or dependants
Parents may need to consider guardianship, ages of inheritance and trust arrangements. A dependant may have a potential claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Those are not minor additions to a basic form.
You own foreign property or have connections with another country
Succession rules, domicile, residence and tax can interact across borders. A broad revocation clause can also interfere with another Will. Obtain coordinated advice.
You own a business, farm or complex company interest
Business succession needs to be checked against shareholder agreements, partnership terms, tax reliefs and practical control. A general gift clause is not a succession plan.
You want a trust or need to protect a vulnerable beneficiary
Life interests, discretionary trusts, disabled-person trusts and rights to occupy property require tailored drafting and administration. They should not be copied from a random internet clause.
You expect a dispute
If a close relative, former partner, cohabitant or dependant may challenge the arrangements, use a solicitor. The process and evidence around the Will may matter as much as the wording.
Capacity or influence may be questioned
Where age, illness, medication, cognitive impairment or family pressure could later be raised, professional involvement and appropriate evidence can be crucial.
Template, online questionnaire or solicitor?
| Option | Best suited to | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic free form | Learning the basic shape of a Will | Little or no cost | May not state its jurisdiction or suitability limits |
| Scenario-specific DIY pack | Simple estates and clearly defined family circumstances | Structured, affordable and immediate | No personalised advice or individual legal review |
| Online questionnaire | Common scenarios supported by the provider's logic | Guided data entry | Quality depends on questions, logic and exclusions |
| Solicitor-drafted Will | Complex, valuable or disputed circumstances | Bespoke advice, drafting and evidence | Higher cost and more time |
What should a good Will pack include?
A narrow statement of who it is for
"Suitable for everyone" is marketing nonsense. A trustworthy template should state the exact family and estate profile it covers.
A proper residuary clause
Specific gifts do not dispose of everything. The residue deals with what remains after liabilities, expenses and earlier gifts. Without an effective residuary provision, part of the estate may pass under the intestacy rules.
Fallback beneficiaries
The document should address what happens if a named beneficiary dies before the person making the Will or fails to survive a stated period.
An executor and substitute
A substitute executor reduces the risk that nobody named in the document can act when the time comes.
Completion rules
The guide should distinguish fields that can be replaced from legal clauses that should not be rewritten. It should instruct the user to remove unused rows and check that residuary percentages total exactly 100%.
A signing checklist
The execution ceremony should be treated as a controlled sequence, not a vague instruction to "get it witnessed".
What does price tell you?
Very little about validity. A free Will can be valid if it is suitable, clear and correctly executed. An expensive document can fail if it is wrong for the circumstances or signed badly.
Pay for useful structure, jurisdiction-specific wording, completion guidance and clear limits. Do not pay for decorative claims that the purchase itself makes the document "legal".
Before using any template
- Confirm that it expressly applies to England and Wales.
- Read every suitability and stop condition before editing.
- Check that your relationship and family status matches the stated scenario.
- Confirm that foreign assets, trusts, tax and business matters are outside scope if not covered.
- Identify a primary and substitute executor.
- Decide who receives the residue and what happens if they die first.
- Choose two independent witnesses before signing day.
DIY Will pack for a single person with no children
Does every suitability statement above apply?
The England and Wales Single Person Will Pack includes an editable Will, completion guide and execution-day checklist.
Related guidance
Important: This article provides general information, not legal or tax advice. If the template's suitability criteria do not match your circumstances, use a solicitor.