A DIY will template can look like a simple way to put your wishes in writing. For straightforward circumstances, it may be enough. A will does not have to be prepared by a solicitor or professional will writer to be valid in England and Wales.
The difficulty is that a template cannot always tell you whether your circumstances are actually straightforward. A document can look complete while still containing unclear wording, missing important instructions or being signed incorrectly.
This guide explains the main risks of using a DIY will template, when a DIY approach may be reasonable, and when professional will-writing guidance may be worth considering. For a wider overview of the decisions involved, see our Complete Guide to Making a Will in England and Wales.
Can a DIY will be legally valid?
Yes. A DIY will can be legally valid in England and Wales if it meets the legal requirements.
Broadly, the person making the will must be aged 18 or over, make the will voluntarily, have the required mental capacity, put the will in writing and complete the signing and witnessing process correctly.
The important point is that the law focuses on whether the will is valid and properly executed, not on whether you paid someone to prepare it.
That means a DIY will is not automatically a bad will. The risk is that you are responsible for recognising the issues, choosing the right wording and completing the formalities correctly.
What are the main risks of using a DIY will template?
1. The template may not recognise that your circumstances are more complex than they seem
Many DIY templates work best where the family structure, assets and wishes are simple.
Problems can arise where there are factors such as:
- a second marriage or blended family;
- stepchildren you want to benefit;
- an unmarried partner;
- a vulnerable or disabled beneficiary;
- property owned jointly or in different ways;
- business or agricultural interests;
- property or assets overseas;
- trust arrangements; or
- people who may expect to be provided for but are being left out or receiving very different shares.
A generic form can give you boxes to complete, but it cannot necessarily identify the questions you did not know you needed to ask.
2. Small drafting errors can change the result
A will needs to say clearly who should receive what, who should deal with the estate and what should happen if circumstances change before death.
For example, a will may need to deal with:
- what happens if a beneficiary dies before you;
- who receives the remainder of the estate after specific gifts have been made;
- who acts if your first-choice executor cannot act;
- how personal possessions are dealt with; and
- whether a gift is intended for a named person, a group of people or their descendants.
Ambiguous or incomplete wording does not always make the whole will invalid, but it can create uncertainty for executors and beneficiaries and may mean the result is not what you intended.
3. Signing and witnessing mistakes can make the will invalid
Even a carefully written will can fail if it is not executed correctly.
Under the current rules in England and Wales, the will must be signed or the signature acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses who are present at the same time. The witnesses must then sign or acknowledge their signatures in the presence of the person making the will.
It is easy to underestimate this stage because the document already looks finished. In practice, the signing process is one of the most important parts of making a valid will.
4. Using a beneficiary as a witness can cause a gift to fail
The choice of witnesses matters.
A beneficiary should not witness the will. A gift to a witness, or generally to that witness’s spouse or civil partner, can fail even though the rest of the will may remain valid.
A DIY template may contain instructions about witnesses, but the person using it still needs to understand and follow them correctly.
5. A template may not deal properly with the whole estate
People often focus on the main assets they can immediately think of: the home, savings and personal possessions.
But a will also needs a clear plan for the remainder of the estate. A well-drafted residue clause is important because it deals with assets not otherwise specifically gifted and can help avoid part of the estate being left without an effective destination.
It is also important to understand that not every asset necessarily passes under a will. For example, the position with a jointly owned home can depend on how the property is legally owned. Pensions, life assurance and other arrangements may also have separate nomination or ownership rules.
A template can record instructions, but it may not help you identify which assets the will can actually control.
6. Family relationships can make a simple-looking will less simple
A common example is a blended family.
Someone may want to provide for a spouse or partner while also making sure children from an earlier relationship ultimately benefit. A basic template may not be designed to explore the different ways those wishes could be structured.
Similarly, an unmarried partner does not automatically have the same inheritance position as a spouse or civil partner under the intestacy rules. Stepchildren are not automatically treated in the same way as biological or legally adopted children.
Where family relationships are more complicated, the issue is often not whether you can fill in the template. It is whether the template gives you enough information to make the right decisions.
7. Life changes can make an old DIY will ineffective or unsuitable
A will should be reviewed when important circumstances change.
Marriage or the formation of a civil partnership will usually revoke an earlier will unless the will was made in contemplation of that particular marriage or civil partnership and the required intention is expressed. Divorce or dissolution can also affect provisions involving a former spouse or civil partner.
Other sensible review points include the birth of children or grandchildren, buying or selling property, a significant financial change, the death of an executor or beneficiary, and a change in your wishes.
The problem is not unique to DIY wills, but someone who has used a template may have no ongoing professional relationship prompting them to review the document.
8. Informal amendments can create further problems
Once a will has been signed and witnessed, it should not simply be altered by handwriting changes into the document.
Changes normally require a properly executed codicil or a new will. Major changes are often clearer to deal with by making a new will that expressly revokes earlier wills and codicils.
Crossing out names, adding notes or changing figures on the signed original can create uncertainty rather than updating the will effectively.
9. The original will still needs to be kept safely and found later
A valid will is only useful if the people dealing with the estate know it exists and can locate the original when it is needed.
However you make your will, think about secure storage and make sure your executor or another trusted person knows where it is kept.
When might a DIY will template be suitable?
A DIY template may be a reasonable option where your wishes and circumstances are genuinely simple, you are comfortable making the decisions yourself and you are confident you can follow the signing requirements precisely.
For example, someone with a straightforward family structure, uncomplicated assets and simple wishes may decide that a reputable template gives them what they need.
The important thing is not to assume that DIY is unsuitable simply because it is inexpensive, or that professional support is automatically necessary for everyone.
When is professional will-writing guidance worth considering?
Professional guidance becomes more useful when the difficulty is not filling in the document but working out what the document should say.
You may want more support if you have a blended family, own property with someone other than a spouse or civil partner, have an unmarried partner, want to provide for a vulnerable beneficiary, own a business or overseas assets, are considering a trust, or expect your wishes could be questioned.
It can also be helpful if you simply want someone to check the wider picture, explain the options in plain English and guide you through signing and witnessing correctly.
What does professional will writing cost?
DIY templates are usually the lowest-cost route, and some are available free of charge. The trade-off is that you are largely responsible for deciding whether the template suits your circumstances and for completing it correctly.
Brooks Wills currently charges £300 for an individual will and £500 for mirror wills for a couple, with more complex wills quoted following discussion. Current fees and what is included are set out on our Fees page.
The question is therefore not simply whether a DIY template costs less. It is whether the savings are worth the amount of uncertainty you are comfortable carrying yourself.
How Brooks Wills approaches will writing
Brooks Wills provides will-writing guidance across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and wider Dorset.
The process is designed to be clear and manageable:
- We discuss your family, assets, priorities and existing arrangements.
- We explain the relevant options in plain English.
- We prepare the will to reflect the agreed instructions and circumstances.
- You have the opportunity to review the document and ask questions.
- We guide you through signing and witnessing correctly.
- We can help you understand when the will should be reviewed in future.
Brooks Wills is a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters and the Society of Will Writers.
So, is a DIY will template worth the risk?
For some people, yes. A good DIY template can be a practical and inexpensive way to make a straightforward will.
But the value of professional support is not simply having someone type the document. It is having someone help identify the questions that a generic template may not ask, explain the trade-offs and help make sure the finished will reflects your real circumstances.
If you are unsure whether your situation is simple enough for DIY, that is often the useful question to resolve first.
Brooks Wills can help you talk through your circumstances, understand your options and decide on the next sensible step.
Call, message or book a consultation.
Simplifying legacies, securing tomorrow.
This article provides general information for England and Wales and is not individual legal advice. The appropriate arrangements depend on your circumstances. Wills law can change, so important decisions should be checked against current guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Are DIY wills legal in England and Wales?
Yes. A DIY will can be valid if it meets the legal requirements, including the rules on capacity, signing and witnessing. A professional does not have to prepare the will for it to be valid.
Can a DIY will be invalid if it is witnessed incorrectly?
Yes. Incorrect execution can make a will invalid. The person making the will must follow the current signing and witnessing requirements carefully.
Can a beneficiary witness my will?
A beneficiary should not witness the will. A gift to an attesting witness, or generally to their spouse or civil partner, can fail even if the rest of the will remains valid.
What situations make a DIY will more risky?
Extra care is sensible where there are blended families, unmarried partners, vulnerable beneficiaries, trusts, jointly owned property, overseas assets, a business or a realistic possibility of disagreement or a claim.
Does getting married cancel an existing will?
Under the current law in England and Wales, marriage or forming a civil partnership will usually revoke an earlier will, subject to limited exceptions where the will was made in contemplation of that particular marriage or civil partnership.
Should I replace a DIY will with a professionally prepared will?
Not automatically. If your existing will is valid, clear and still reflects your circumstances and wishes, it may continue to be suitable. A review can be useful if you are unsure about the wording, signing, family arrangements, property ownership or changes since the will was made.
