Free will writing schemes let you have a simple will written or updated at no cost by a qualified solicitor or will writer, usually in return for an optional charity donation. The three best known in England and Wales are Free Wills Month (March and October), Will Aid (November) and the year-round National Free Wills Network run through charities.
These schemes exist because charities fund them in the hope that some people will leave a gift in their will. That makes them a genuine way to put a valid will in place at little or no cost, particularly for a straightforward estate. This guide sets out how each one works, who qualifies, and the points to check before you rely on one. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
What are free will writing schemes?
A free will writing scheme is an arrangement where a solicitor or professional will writer prepares a basic will without charging their usual fee. The cost is met by a charity partner, or the professional donates their time, on the understanding that clients may choose to make a donation or leave a legacy. You are under no legal obligation to give anything, and your will is valid whether or not you do. The trade-off is that these schemes are designed for simple wills, so more involved planning generally falls outside them.
The main free will writing schemes compared
Four routes cover most people looking to make a will for free in England and Wales. The table summarises when they run and who they suit.
| Scheme | When it runs | Who qualifies | What you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Wills Month | March and October each year | Aged 55 or over (one of a couple for mirror wills) | Nothing. A gift to the charity is hoped for, not required |
| Will Aid | November each year | No age limit | A voluntary donation, suggested £120 single / £200 mirror wills |
| National Free Wills Network | Year-round, via charities | Varies by charity, often aged 55 or over | Nothing. Charities hope you will consider a legacy |
| Trade union & online schemes | Year-round | Union members, or open online services | Usually free for basic wills |
Sources: Free Wills Month, Will Aid and MoneySavingExpert, all as at August 2026, subject to change.
Free Wills Month
Free Wills Month runs in March and October each year and lets people aged 55 or over have a simple will written or updated at no cost by a participating solicitor. Where a couple make mirror wills together, only one of them needs to be 55 or over (freewillsmonth.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). You find a taking-part solicitor by entering your postcode on the campaign website. The scheme covers simple wills only, and if your affairs need extra work the solicitor may ask you to pay the difference.
Will Aid
Will Aid runs every November, with bookings usually opening in September. Participating solicitors write a basic will and, instead of their normal fee, invite you to make a donation to Will Aid's partner charities. There is no age limit. The suggested donation is £120 for a single basic will and £200 for a pair of mirror wills, though you can give less (willaid.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Because appointments are limited, the November slots tend to fill quickly.
The National Free Wills Network and charity schemes
Many charities run their own free will service through the National Free Wills Network, which connects supporters with local solicitors year-round. Close to 300 charities take part, and household names such as Age UK, Macmillan and the NSPCC promote schemes of this kind (MoneySavingExpert, as at August 2026, subject to change). Eligibility varies by charity, and many are aimed at supporters aged 55 or over. There is no requirement to leave the charity a gift, though the hope that you might is the reason the service is free.
Are free wills actually free? The points to check
They can be genuinely free, but it helps to go in with eyes open. The donation is optional, yet the schemes are funded by charities that hope for legacies, so there is a gentle expectation to give. More importantly, these services cover simple wills. If your situation is more involved, the solicitor may quote a fee for the extra work, and you are free to decline. Appointments are also time-limited, since Free Wills Month and Will Aid run only in set months. None of this is a reason to avoid a free scheme. It is a reason to confirm at the outset what is included and what would be charged.
- The donation is voluntary. Your will is valid whether or not you give.
- Simple wills only. Trusts, tax planning and unusual family situations usually fall outside.
- Limited windows. Free Wills Month and Will Aid run in set months, so slots are finite.
- Check the quote. Ask what counts as "simple" before the appointment.
Are free wills legally valid and safe?
A will made through one of these schemes is as legally valid as any other, provided it is signed and witnessed correctly under the rules that apply in England and Wales (gov.uk, Making a will, as at August 2026, subject to change). One point worth knowing is that will writing itself is not a regulated activity in England and Wales. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, but a will writer who is not a solicitor may instead belong to a voluntary body such as the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers (MoneySavingExpert, as at August 2026, subject to change). Free Wills Month and Will Aid both work with solicitors, which gives an extra layer of oversight. It is still sensible to ask who is preparing your will and how they are regulated.
When a free scheme may not be enough
A simple will suits many people, and a free scheme is a sound way to get one. Some situations sit beyond what a basic will covers, and this is where the low cost can be a false economy if it leaves gaps. Common examples include a second marriage or blended family, children from a previous relationship, business or agricultural assets, property abroad, a vulnerable or disabled beneficiary, or an estate large enough to face inheritance tax. In these cases a will is often only one part of the plan.
Two points are worth flagging. First, a will does not cover mental capacity. A lasting power of attorney is a separate document, and each one carries a registration fee of £92 payable to the Office of the Public Guardian (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Second, free schemes do not include inheritance tax planning. The standard inheritance tax rate is 40% above the available thresholds, and the nil-rate band of £325,000 and residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 are frozen until 5 April 2031 (gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at August 2026, subject to change). As more estates are drawn into that net over time, some families choose to look at wider estate planning alongside the will itself.
- Free Wills Month: March and October, aged 55+, simple wills (freewillsmonth.org.uk).
- Will Aid: November, no age limit, suggested donation £120 single / £200 mirror (willaid.org.uk).
- Will writing is not a regulated activity in England and Wales; solicitors are SRA-regulated (MoneySavingExpert).
- LPA registration fee: £92 per document, paid to the OPG (gov.uk).
A note on Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide describes the position in England and Wales. Free Wills Month and Will Aid also operate in Scotland, but Scottish succession law differs, including legal rights that can entitle a spouse and children to a fixed share of an estate, so a will drafted under Scots law works differently. Northern Ireland has its own separate system that is broadly similar to England and Wales. If your estate touches more than one UK nation, it can be worth checking the rules that apply in each.
Frequently asked questions
Are free will writing schemes actually free?
Yes, the recognised schemes provide a simple will at no charge, and any donation is voluntary. Free Wills Month and the National Free Wills Network ask for nothing, while Will Aid suggests a donation, currently £120 for a single will (willaid.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). The charities fund these services in the hope that some people will leave a gift, but your will is valid whether or not you give.
Who qualifies for Free Wills Month?
Free Wills Month is open to people aged 55 or over, and it runs in March and October each year. Where a couple make mirror wills together, only one partner needs to be 55 or over (freewillsmonth.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). You use the campaign website to find a participating solicitor in your area.
When is Will Aid and how much is the donation?
Will Aid runs every November, with bookings usually opening in September. There is no age limit, and the suggested donation is £120 for a single basic will and £200 for a pair of mirror wills, although you can give less (willaid.org.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Appointments are limited, so booking early helps.
Are wills made through free schemes legally valid?
Yes. A will made through a recognised scheme is as valid as any other, as long as it is signed and witnessed correctly under the rules for England and Wales (gov.uk, Making a will, as at August 2026, subject to change). Free Wills Month and Will Aid work with solicitors, which adds regulatory oversight to the drafting.
What is the catch with free will schemes?
The main limits are that they cover simple wills only, run in set months in the case of Free Wills Month and Will Aid, and are offered in the hope of a charity gift. If your affairs are more involved, the solicitor may quote a fee for the extra work, which you are free to decline. It is worth confirming what is included before your appointment.
When might a free will not be enough?
A simple will may not fully cover a blended family, business or foreign assets, a vulnerable beneficiary, or an estate facing inheritance tax, which is charged at 40% above the available thresholds (gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at August 2026, subject to change). In those situations a will is often one part of a wider plan that may also involve trusts, tax planning and a lasting power of attorney.