A single Will is a Will for one person. It names your executors, your beneficiaries and guardians for any children under 18. Without one, the intestacy rules decide who inherits, and an unmarried partner gets nothing. Most single Wills cost between £90 and £300 in 2026.
What is a single Will?
A single Will is a legal document for one person that says what should happen to your money, property and possessions when you die. It is the most common type of Will in England and Wales and suits anyone who is single, divorced, widowed, or in a couple where each person wants different wishes.
Couples who want the same wishes usually choose mirror Wills instead, which are two matching single Wills prepared together, often at a lower combined price.
What a single Will covers
- Executors: the people who will deal with your estate, apply for probate and pay out your gifts.
- Guardians: who will look after children under 18 if both parents have died.
- Gifts: specific items, sums of money or gifts to charity.
- Your residuary estate: everything left after debts, costs and gifts, and who receives it.
- Trusts: for example to hold an inheritance until children reach a set age, or a property protection trust over your share of the home.
- Funeral wishes and pets: not legally binding, but a clear guide for your family.
What happens if you die without a Will?
If you die without a valid Will, the intestacy rules decide who inherits. For deaths on or after 26 July 2023, a surviving spouse or civil partner receives the personal possessions, the first £322,000 and half of anything above that, with the rest shared between the children. If there is no spouse, everything usually passes to children, then parents, then brothers and sisters.
An unmarried partner has no automatic right to inherit under the intestacy rules, however long you have lived together. Stepchildren who were not adopted also inherit nothing. A Will is the simplest way to make sure the people you care about are provided for.
When a Will stops working
- Marriage or civil partnership cancels an existing Will in England and Wales, unless it was written in contemplation of that marriage.
- Divorce or dissolution does not cancel your Will, but your former spouse is treated as having died, which can leave gaps.
- New children, a house move or a death in the family can all make your wishes out of date.
Most firms recommend reviewing your Will every three to five years and after any major life event.
How a Will must be signed
A Will in England and Wales must be in writing and signed by you in front of two independent witnesses who are present at the same time. A witness, or the husband, wife or civil partner of a witness, should never be a beneficiary, or their gift can fail. The Law Commission has recommended modernising the rules, including electronic Wills, but the current signing rules still apply.
Will writer or solicitor?
Will writing is not a reserved legal activity, so anyone can offer it. That is why every firm on our panel is a member of a recognised body such as the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers, or is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and holds professional indemnity insurance. A solicitor is worth considering for overseas assets, business interests or a likely dispute.
How much does a single Will cost?
| Route | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Online Will service | £90 to £150 |
| Professional Will writer | £100 to £300 |
| Solicitor | £150 to £300+ |
| Will with a property protection trust | £250 to £500 |
Prices vary by firm and by how complex your wishes are. See our 2026 Will cost guide for more detail.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Is the price fixed, and what exactly does it include?
- Which professional body are you a member of, and are you insured?
- Will someone check my Will is signed and witnessed correctly?
- Do you offer secure storage, and is there an annual fee?
- Can I update my Will later, and what does that cost?