Making a Will UK: How to Write a Valid Will (2026)

What this document is

A will is a written legal document that sets out what you want to happen to your money, property and possessions, known collectively as your estate, after you die. It also lets you name the people who will carry out those instructions, called executors, and, if you have children under 18, the people you would want to look after them.

The main law that governs wills in England and Wales is still the Wills Act 1837, which is surprisingly old but has been amended over the years. For a will to be valid, the person making it (the testator) must be aged 18 or over, have the mental capacity to understand what they are doing, and sign the document in the presence of two adult witnesses who then sign it themselves.

The witnesses cannot be anyone who stands to inherit under the will, or their spouse or civil partner, because that would invalidate their gift. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate rules, so if you have assets or connections there, the position can be different.

For most people resident in England or Wales with straightforward affairs, a clearly worded will that meets the Wills Act requirements will do the job.

How to use this document

1. Take stock of what you own and what you owe. Before you can decide who gets what, you need a clear picture of your estate. List your property, savings, investments, pensions with death benefits, life policies, vehicles, and anything of meaningful value. Note any debts, mortgages, or joint ownership arrangements, because these affect what is actually yours to give away.
2. Decide who inherits and in what shares. Think about your partner, children, wider family, friends, and any charities you care about. You can leave specific items (a watch, a piece of jewellery), fixed sums of money (pecuniary legacies), or shares of whatever is left after debts and expenses (the residue). Be realistic about family dynamics and plan for the possibility that a beneficiary might die before you.
3. Choose your executors and guardians. Executors are the people who will deal with probate, pay off debts, and distribute your estate. Pick people who are organised, trustworthy, and likely to outlive you, and always ask them first. If you have children under 18, name guardians and have a proper conversation with them before putting it in writing.
4. Put the will in writing and sign it correctly. The document must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two adults who watch you sign and then sign themselves. Witnesses must not be beneficiaries or married to a beneficiary. Get this step wrong and the will, or at least parts of it, can fail, which is one of the most common reasons wills are challenged.
5. Store it safely and review it regularly. A will that nobody can find is almost as bad as no will at all. Tell your executors where the original is kept, whether that is at home in a fireproof box, with a solicitor, or with the Probate Service's storage facility. Review the document after major life events like marriage, divorce, the birth of children, or buying property, because marriage in particular revokes an earlier will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage.