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Willow Wills vs Online Wills vs Solicitors' Wills

Published 27 August 2026 · 9 min read

Making a Will is one of those things that many people know they should do, but putting it off is incredibly easy. Whether it is because the process seems daunting, you do not have the time or money, or simply because talking about death is something many people would rather avoid, there are plenty of reasons why making a Will can remain on the to-do list.

Traditionally, the obvious option has been to make an appointment with a solicitor. Today, however, there are other ways to create a Will, including online Will-writing services such as Willow Wills.

So, which option is right for you?

There is no single answer. The most appropriate way to make a Will depends largely on your personal circumstances and how complicated your wishes are.

In this article, we explain why having a Will is important, introduce Willow Wills and what it offers, explain when an online Will may be suitable, when it may be appropriate to consult a solicitor, and what you should consider when choosing an online Will provider.

Why do I need a Will?

Strictly speaking, none of us need a Will. If someone dies without one, their estate is distributed according to the laws of intestacy. These rules determine who inherits and in what proportions, rather than allowing the individual to decide for themselves. You can read the Government's guidance on what happens when someone dies without a Will.

Therefore, if your circumstances are straightforward and the intestacy rules happen to reflect exactly what you would want to happen to your estate, it is technically acceptable to die without making a Will.

Unfortunately, most people's circumstances and intentions are not quite that simple. The laws of intestacy can fall short in a number of important areas. For example:

• Your estate may not pass entirely to your spouse or civil partner. Depending on the value and circumstances of your estate, the intestacy rules can result in other family members — including children, parents, siblings or others — inheriting a share. This may be very different from what you would like.
• Your estate may pass to someone you would not want to inherit. Family circumstances can change, and you may not want particular relatives to benefit from your estate.
• You cannot choose precisely how and when your beneficiaries should receive their inheritance. For younger beneficiaries, a suitably drafted Will can provide for assets to be held and distributed at a later age or in accordance with other conditions.
• You can provide for people who may not inherit under the intestacy rules. This can include:
  • unmarried partners;
  • stepchildren;
  • friends; and
  • charities.
• You can choose your Executors. Executors are the people responsible for dealing with your estate following your death, including collecting assets, paying liabilities and distributing your estate to the beneficiaries.
• You can appoint Guardians for minor children. If you have children under 18, your Will can record your wishes regarding who should care for them if you die while they are minors.
• You can make specific gifts. For example: “I give £10,000 to my niece Jane Doe,” or “I give my Rolex watch to my son John Doe.”
• You can provide greater clarity for your family. A properly drafted and executed Will provides clear instructions about what you want to happen to your estate. While no Will can guarantee that a dispute will never arise, clear instructions can reduce uncertainty and the potential for disagreements.

Ultimately, the biggest benefit of having a Will is simple: control. Without a Will, the law determines who inherits your estate and, depending on the circumstances, how much they receive and when. With a Will, you have the opportunity to make those decisions yourself.

So, we have established why having a Will is important. The next question is: how should you go about making one?

Why Willow Wills?

If you have decided that making a Will is the right step for you, the next question is how to do it.

At Willow Wills, we believe that there is a middle ground between the traditional solicitor appointment and a basic online Will template. Our aim is to make creating a Will simple, affordable and accessible, while still providing customers with the opportunity to receive additional professional support where they want it.

Affordable

One of the biggest advantages of using an online Will service is the cost. Our Basic Will costs £49.99 and our Premium Will costs £99.99. Mirror Wills are £149.99, meaning couples can put their affairs in order without paying the fees that can come with a traditional solicitor appointment. We believe that the cost of making a Will should not be a barrier to putting your affairs in order.

Convenient

There is no need to arrange an appointment, take time away from work or travel to a solicitor's office. Our online questionnaire allows you to provide your instructions at a time and place that suits you. Once you have completed the process, your Will is generated based on the information you have provided. For people with straightforward circumstances, this can make creating a Will considerably quicker and easier.

Professional review available

We recognise that some people want the convenience of making their Will online but would also like the reassurance of having their completed document checked by a professional. For this reason, Willow Wills offers an optional professional review service. This gives you the flexibility to create your Will online while still having the option of additional professional input. Importantly, this means you can choose the level of support that is appropriate for you rather than automatically paying for a solicitor appointment when you may not require one.

More than just a basic Will

Willow Wills offers a range of Will-writing options designed to cater for different requirements. We offer a single Basic Will, a single Premium Will, Mirror Wills (two Premium Wills for a couple, married or unmarried), and Islamic Will variations so you can always choose the right option for you. We also provide optional services including professional review, printing and posting, and ongoing amendments.

Easy amendments

Making a Will is not necessarily a one-time exercise. Your circumstances can change as you get married, have children, acquire new assets or simply change your wishes. Willow Wills offers an amendment service, allowing customers to make changes to their Will without having to start the process from scratch. This can make it easier to keep your Will up to date as your circumstances evolve, and can work out more cost effective than continually paying the fees for a new Will.

We know when an online Will isn't appropriate

Perhaps most importantly, we do not believe that an online Will is right for everyone. As explained later in this article, if your circumstances involve complex trusts, business interests, specialist tax planning or other complicated estate-planning requirements, we recommend that you consider consulting a solicitor. We would rather be transparent about this than suggest that an online Will is suitable for circumstances where specialist legal advice may be required.

When is an online Will appropriate?

If your circumstances are straightforward and do not involve the complexities outlined below, an online Will may be an appropriate alternative to using a solicitor. The principal advantages of an online Will are convenience and cost.

You can generally complete an online Will at a time that suits you, without needing to arrange an appointment or travel to a solicitor's office. For many people with straightforward wishes, this can make the process considerably easier.

Online Wills can also be significantly less expensive than using a solicitor. The exact cost varies between providers and depending on the level of service selected, so it is important to compare what is actually included rather than simply comparing headline prices.

Another advantage is speed. An online Will can often be completed within minutes, meaning you can deal with something that might otherwise remain on your to-do list for months.

Are online Wills legally valid?

An important misconception is that a Will must be prepared by a solicitor to be legally valid. This is not the case. A Will can be legally valid regardless of whether it was prepared by a solicitor, an online Will-writing service or by the individual themselves, provided the legal requirements for making and executing the Will are satisfied.

Once your online Will has been prepared, you should carefully check the document to make sure that all names, addresses, beneficiaries and other details are correct. Some online Will providers also offer a professional review service, which can provide an additional level of reassurance.

The Will must then be properly executed. In England and Wales, this generally means signing the Will in the presence of two witnesses, with the witnesses also signing the Will. The method by which a Will is produced does not determine whether it is legally valid.

What should you look for in an online Will?

Not all online Will services are the same. Before choosing one, it is worth considering what level of assistance you are actually receiving. Some services simply provide a template for you to complete yourself. Others use a questionnaire to generate a Will based on your answers. Some also offer professional review, allowing your completed Will to be checked by a Will-writing professional.

It is therefore worth considering:

• How is the Will actually produced?
• Does the service explain what information you need to provide?
• Can you have the completed Will professionally reviewed?
• What happens if you make a mistake?
• Can you make amendments in the future?
• What exactly is included in the price?

An online Will should not simply be judged by how cheap it is. The level of support and the quality of the service are equally important.

When is a Will from a solicitor appropriate?

A solicitor can provide valuable advice where your circumstances or intentions are complicated. In these situations, the benefit of professional advice may go far beyond simply producing the Will itself.

Some circumstances in which you should consider consulting a solicitor include:

• You own a business, particularly where the ownership structure or succession arrangements are complicated.
• You want to provide for someone who cannot personally manage funds or assets, such as a beneficiary who may require a trust or other specialist arrangements.
• You require specialist tax or estate-planning advice, for example in relation to Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax or Trust Anniversary Charges.
• You require a trust within your Will, particularly where the trust arrangements are complex or require specialist advice.

These are examples rather than an exhaustive list, but there are also some practical matters to consider when choosing a solicitor to prepare your Will.

For example, some solicitors charge an hourly rate rather than a fixed fee. In these circumstances, the overall cost can increase depending on the amount of time spent communicating with you and dealing with your instructions.

You should also understand whether the solicitor or their firm is being appointed as a professional Executor of your Will. Professional Executors can charge for administering an estate, so it is worth understanding the potential implications before making that decision.

Finally, you should be clear about what is and is not included in the quoted price. Some firms offer additional estate-planning services alongside Will writing, which may be useful in some circumstances but may not be necessary for everyone.

The important point is not that solicitors should be avoided. Rather, you should understand what service you are paying for and whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.

So, should you use an online Will or a solicitor?

Ultimately, there is no universally correct answer.

If your circumstances are complicated, you require specialist tax or estate-planning advice, or you need complex trust arrangements, consulting a solicitor is likely to be the most appropriate option.

If your circumstances are straightforward and your wishes can be expressed through a conventional Will, an online Will provides a convenient and cost-effective way to put your affairs in order.

The important thing is to recognise the difference between the two and choose the option that is appropriate for you.

At Willow Wills, we believe that making a Will should be straightforward and accessible. Our online service is designed for people whose circumstances are suitable for an online Will, while our professional review service provides the option of having your completed Will checked by a qualified professional. The aim is not to replace solicitors where specialist advice is required. It is to provide a convenient alternative for people who may not need that level of involvement.

Because, ultimately, the most important thing is not how you make your Will. It is making sure that you have one that properly reflects your wishes.

So, why Willow Wills?

Ultimately, we believe Willow Wills provides a balance between convenience, affordability and support.

If your circumstances are straightforward, you can create your Will online, at a time that suits you and at a fraction of the cost of many traditional solicitor services. If you want additional reassurance, you can choose to have your Will professionally reviewed.

We are not trying to replace solicitors where specialist advice is needed. Instead, we want to make the process of making a Will easier and more accessible for the many people whose circumstances do not require a traditional solicitor appointment.

Making a Will doesn't have to be complicated. With Willow Wills, it doesn't have to be expensive either.

This article is general information about Will writing in England and Wales and is not legal or tax advice. If your circumstances are complex, or you are unsure which option is right for you, consider speaking to a solicitor.