Why Every Parent Needs a Will (And How to Do It Online for Under 50 Pounds)

If you have children and you do not have a will, nobody legally has the right to look after them if something happens to you. That sentence is uncomfortable to read. It should be. It is the single most important piece of life admin you can do as a parent, and most of us have not done it.

This is not a sales pitch disguised as a scare tactic. It is a genuine plea from one parent to another. Making a will takes less time than a Netflix episode and protects your children in the worst-case scenario. Here is how to do it.

What Happens Without a Will

If you die without a will, which is called dying intestate, your estate is distributed according to a fixed legal formula, not according to your wishes. Your partner might not automatically inherit everything, especially if you are not married. If both parents die and there is no will naming a guardian, the court decides who raises your children. That decision might not match what you would have chosen.

How Online Will Services Work

Online will services cost 30 to 90 pounds compared to 300 to 500 pounds for a solicitor. They guide you through the questions step by step: who gets what, who looks after the children, who manages the estate. For straightforward situations like married with kids and no complicated assets, an online will is perfectly legal and valid. You fill in the form, the service generates the document, you print it, sign it with two witnesses, and store it safely.

If your situation is more complex, involving business assets, property in multiple countries, blended families, or trusts, you should still see a solicitor. But for most families, an online will is more than adequate.

What to Include

Name a guardian for your children. This is the single most important thing in your will. Name a backup guardian in case your first choice cannot do it. Specify who gets your property, savings, and possessions. Name an executor, the person who deals with the paperwork after you die. Include any specific wishes like education preferences, sentimental items you want particular people to have, or funeral arrangements.

When to Review It

Review your will every two years or after any major life change: new baby, separation, divorce, remarriage, house purchase, or death of someone named in it. An outdated will can be worse than no will if it names an ex-partner as guardian or leaves assets to someone you are no longer in contact with. Set a calendar reminder. It takes 20 minutes to review and update.

This is not exciting content. It is not fun to think about. But if you do one thing after reading this, please make a will. Your children deserve that protection.

Common questions

Is an online will legally valid in the UK?

Yes, provided it is executed properly. A will has to be in writing, signed by you, and signed by two witnesses who are both present when you sign. The document itself being produced online makes no difference to its validity. What invalidates wills is almost always the signing, not the drafting.

Who can and cannot witness my will?

Your witnesses must be over 18 and must not be beneficiaries, nor married to or in a civil partnership with a beneficiary. If a beneficiary witnesses your will, the will still stands but that person loses their gift. Neighbours, colleagues and friends who inherit nothing are the safe choice. Do not use your partner or your children.

What actually happens if I die without a will?

Your estate is divided by the intestacy rules, which are a fixed legal formula and take no account of what you would have wanted. An unmarried partner inherits nothing under those rules, however long you have been together. If there is no surviving parent and no will naming a guardian, the court decides who raises your children.

When should I use a solicitor instead of an online service?

If your situation is genuinely straightforward, an online will is fine. Use a solicitor if you have business assets, property abroad, a blended family, anyone who might contest, a disabled beneficiary, or you want to use trusts. The cost difference stops mattering the moment something goes wrong.

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