- When an online will is enough, and when it isn't
- Online will services worth comparing
- How to sign a will so it counts
- What to have ready before you start
- Mistakes that cause problems later
- Business owners: a will is only part of it
- Talk to your family before you finish
- Signing and storing it safely
- Frequently asked questions
The best online will makers are Trust and Will, FreeWill, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and Quicken WillMaker in the US, and Farewill and Octopus Legacy in the UK. An online will is valid only once it's signed and witnessed as your local law requires.
Most adults know they should have a will, and most keep putting it off. If you run a business, have children or own property, that delay carries real risk for the people you leave behind. Online will makers have made the first step much easier. You answer questions at your kitchen table, and the service turns your answers into a document. The part people miss is that the document only counts once it's signed and witnessed the right way.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between countries and US states, so check yours or speak to a solicitor or attorney.
When an online will is enough, and when it isn't
- Usually fine online: you want to leave everything to a partner, then children; you're naming guardians for young children; you have a home, savings and a pension.
- Worth a solicitor or attorney: you own a business or shares in one; you have children from different relationships; you own property in more than one country; someone may contest the will; you want to leave money to a person who can't manage it themselves.
- Always get advice: if you're unsure whether the person making the will has the mental capacity to do it.
Online will services worth comparing
| Service | Where it works | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Trust and Will | US | Wills and trusts with a guided online process |
| FreeWill | US | Simple wills, often promoted by charities |
| LegalZoom | US | Wills plus wider legal services and attorney help |
| Rocket Lawyer | US and UK | Legal documents with access to lawyers |
| Quicken WillMaker and Trust | US | Desktop and online software from Nolo, a long-standing legal publisher |
| Farewill | UK | Online wills with optional phone support |
| Octopus Legacy | UK | Online wills with support from will specialists |
Services, coverage and what's included change often, so read each service's current pages before you start.
How to sign a will so it counts
England and Wales
Under the Wills Act 1837, a will must be in writing and signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are both there at the same time. The witnesses then sign too. A witness, or a witness's husband, wife or civil partner, shouldn't be someone who benefits from the will, or that gift can fail. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check if you live there.
United States
Each state sets its own rules. Most require two adult witnesses, and many people add a self-proving affidavit signed in front of a notary, which can make probate quicker. Some states accept handwritten wills, and some now accept electronic wills. Your online service should give signing instructions for your state, so follow them to the letter.
What to have ready before you start
- A list of what you own, including property, savings, pensions, investments and any business interests.
- Who you want to inherit, with full names.
- Who you'd like as executors, the people who'll carry out your wishes, and a backup.
- Guardians for any children under 18.
- Any specific gifts, such as jewellery or a car, and who should receive them.
- Your wishes for your funeral, and for your digital accounts and passwords.
Mistakes that cause problems later
- Signing without the right witnesses. The most common reason a homemade will fails. Follow the signing instructions exactly.
- Handwritten changes after signing. Crossing things out or adding notes can cause doubt. Make a new will or a formal codicil instead.
- Forgetting a residuary clause. This says who gets everything not specifically mentioned. Without it, part of your estate may pass under intestacy rules.
- Naming only one executor. If they die before you or can't act, there's no backup.
- Leaving out digital assets. Online accounts, domains and business software logins need instructions too.
- Never reviewing it. A will written before children, a divorce or a business sale may no longer say what you want.
Online services help you avoid most of these by asking the right questions in order. Take your time on the review screen at the end, and read every line out loud before you print.
Business owners: a will is only part of it
If you run a company, your will can say who inherits your shares, but that doesn't mean the business keeps running smoothly. Look at your company's articles and any shareholder agreement, and think about who could make decisions if you were ill. Lasting powers of attorney in England and Wales, and similar documents in other places, cover decisions while you're alive. A business continuity plan covers the day-to-day side.
Talk to your family before you finish
A will is a legal document, but it's also a message to the people you love. Tell your executors that you've named them and ask whether they're willing. Talk to the guardians you've chosen for your children before you put their names down. You don't need to share every detail, but a short conversation now avoids surprise and hurt later, and it gives people a chance to say no while you can still choose someone else.
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Signing and storing it safely
Many online services post you a printed copy to sign. Some let you sign other documents electronically, but in England and Wales a will still needs to be signed and witnessed in the traditional way. If you're comparing signing tools for your other business paperwork, my guide to the best e-signature software covers the options. Store the original somewhere safe, tell your executors where to find it, and review it after big life changes, such as marriage, divorce, a new child or selling a business. In England and Wales, getting married usually cancels an existing will, which catches many people out.
Make an online will service? See how to get it featured on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best online will maker?
In the US, Trust and Will, FreeWill, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and Quicken WillMaker are the best known. In the UK, Farewill and Octopus Legacy are popular. Choose one that covers your country or state and offers help if your situation is complex.
Are online wills legally valid?
Yes, as long as they're signed and witnessed the way your local law requires. In England and Wales that means signing in front of two witnesses who are present at the same time and who also sign.
Can a witness to my will inherit from it?
In England and Wales, a gift to a witness, or to a witness's spouse or civil partner, can fail. Choose witnesses who don't benefit from the will.
When should I use a solicitor instead of an online will?
Get advice if you own a business, have property abroad, have a blended family, expect the will to be contested, or want to set up trusts for someone who can't manage money.
