U.K. Legal Wills

U.K. Legal Wills: online wills for England and Wales

U.K. Legal Wills presents itself as the leading provider of online wills and living wills for England and Wales. Its proposition is to prepare a legal will and other estate planning documents quickly, easily and affordably, in about 20 minutes or less, without the need for a solicitor or notary. The company states it has more than two million users and over 25 years in business.

How the service works

The process is divided into three steps. First, the user completes an online form answering simple questions, with help available at every stage. Then they print their personalised documents at home or ask the company to print and send them for an additional cost. Finally, they sign the documents. The company states that no solicitor or notary is required and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if the customer is not satisfied.

The service is described as solicitor-designed, with step-by-step instructions and coverage for England and Wales. The company also notes that the purchase is a one-time payment, with no automatic subscriptions, and that customer support is available by email, live chat and toll-free phone.

Legal documents and legacy services

The offering is organised into three standard packages, plus the option to build your own. The Essentials package includes MyWill™, which guides the user through a wizard with questions in plain language and automatically generates a legal will tailored to their province or territory. The Premium package adds MyLivingWill™, which documents healthcare wishes and allows you to name someone to make medical decisions, including preferences on life support, pain management and treatment options. The Ultimate package also includes MyLifeLocker™, described as a record of critical personal information for the family.

Alongside the legal documents, the company offers legacy services not usually found from other providers. MyFuneral™ lets you specify preferences for burial or cremation, cemetery, open or closed coffin, organ donation and how much should be spent. MyMessages™ lets you write personal messages to loved ones to be delivered after death. MyKeyholders™ lets you designate trusted individuals who can access documents and information at the right time, with control over what each can see and when. Packages include one year of updates.

Pricing and commercial terms

The catalogue shows three tiers with prices in pounds sterling, taxes included. The Essentials package is listed at £89.85, reduced to £69.95. The Premium, the most popular, appears at £139.75, reduced to £79.95, and includes everything in Essentials plus MyLivingWill™. The Ultimate, presented as the best value, is shown at £189.65, reduced to £129.95, and includes everything in Premium plus MyLifeLocker™. The company also offers gift cards and the option to build a custom package.

Customer reviews

The website collects user opinions highlighting ease of use, value for money compared with other online alternatives and personal customer service. Several comments mention that the result is comparable to a will prepared by a solicitor years ago, but at a much lower cost. The ability to appoint keyholders for digital access is also valued, as is the recommendation to use a detailed addendum for executors that can be kept private and amended at any time. Other users stress that the process is faster, simpler and cheaper than going to a solicitor, and that the step-by-step instructions are clear and practical.