DIY will UK — write your own legally valid will online
No solicitor. No pen. Write your own legally valid will in eight questions.
A DIY will is a will you create yourself, without paying a solicitor to draft it for you. Historically that meant printing a blank template, filling it in by hand, and hoping you got the legal language right. Most people didn't.
Today, DIY doesn't have to mean alone. Modern tools guide you through every step — asking the right questions, generating the correct legal structure, and flagging potential issues before they become problems.
The modern DIY option
Exit State IS the modern DIY option. DIY doesn't mean alone — it means you're in control. You answer questions about your life, and we handle the formatting, legal language, and document structure. You stay in charge of every decision.
Yes. Under the Wills Act 1837, a will is legally valid regardless of who drafted it — as long as it meets three requirements:
A written document
The will must be written or typed. Handwritten, printed, or generated online — all count.
Signed by you
You must sign the will at the end of the document, with the intention of it being your will.
Witnessed by two people
Two independent adults must watch you sign, then sign the document themselves in your presence.
Exit State handles the formatting and legal language — you just answer questions about your life.
| Handwritten will | Government template | Exit State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | Free to start |
| Legally structured | Basic | ||
| Digital assets | |||
| Error checking | |||
| Updates | Rewrite | Rewrite | Lifetime |
| Witness management | Manual | Manual | Built-in |
| Time | Hours | 1 hour | 15 mins |
Answer questions
Eight questions. Identity, family, assets, wishes. We guide you through everything.
Review your will
We generate a legally structured document. Check everything looks right.
Unlock, print, sign
Unlock for £79, print it, sign with 2 witnesses present. Legally valid. Done.
Free to build
£0
Build the whole will — drag beneficiaries onto assets, add guardians, include digital assets. Read it back before you pay a penny.
Everything, once
£79
One payment. Download it, print it, send it to your witnesses — and everything after the will comes with it. Edit it for as long as you are here. No renewals, ever.
Compare: people who used a solicitor paid £328 on average (MoneyHelper, May 2025 survey). Exit State starts free.
£0
To build the whole thing
£79
Once, for the signed copy
£0
To change it, ever again
Is a DIY will legally valid in England and Wales?
Yes. Under the Wills Act 1837, any will is legally valid as long as it is a written document, signed by you, and witnessed by two independent adults. It doesn't matter whether you wrote it yourself, used an online service, or hired a solicitor.
Do I still need witnesses for a DIY will?
Yes. Every will in England and Wales requires two independent witnesses who watch you sign and then sign the document themselves. Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries. Exit State includes built-in witness management to help you through this step.
Can I update my DIY will later?
Yes. The will is £79 one-time and includes edits for life, with no renewals. Simply log back in, make your changes, and print and re-sign the updated document. Traditional DIY wills on paper require you to rewrite the entire document or add a codicil.
What if my situation is complex?
Exit State covers most common situations including property, digital assets, cryptocurrency, pets, guardianship, and charitable gifts. For very complex estates involving trusts, overseas assets, or business succession planning, we recommend consulting a solicitor alongside using Exit State.
How is Exit State different from a template?
Templates are blank forms you fill in yourself with no guidance or error checking. Exit State asks you guided questions, validates your answers, generates legally structured language, handles digital assets, manages witness details, and lets you update your will anytime — all for free to start.
Free to start. Eight questions. No solicitor needed.