What determines the cost of a Will?
Key factors include property ownership, trusts, children or vulnerable beneficiaries, business assets, overseas assets, tax considerations and whether the Will is part of a wider plan involving LPAs or severance of joint tenancy.
DIY and template Wills
DIY options can be inexpensive, but the cost comparison is misleading if the document does not reflect ownership, family structure or signing rules. A mistake may only become apparent after death, when it cannot simply be corrected by the testator.
Professional Standard Wills
A professional Standard Will should include a consultation about executors, beneficiaries, guardians where relevant, fallback provisions and correct signing. The current Xwills fee should always be taken from the live pricing page rather than an older article.
Mirror Wills for couples
Mirror Wills are two separate Wills drafted on broadly matching terms. They can be suitable where a couple has aligned wishes, but they are not contractually locked together and the survivor can generally change their Will later.
Trust Wills cost more because they do more
Property Protection Trust Wills involve additional drafting, ownership considerations and often tenancy severance work. The relevant question is not just whether they cost more, but whether the trust solves a genuine planning problem.
What should be included in the quote?
Check whether the quoted fee includes consultation, drafts, amendments, signing guidance, Land Registry work where relevant, storage, postage and VAT if applicable. Cheap headline pricing can become expensive if essentials are add-ons.
Current Xwills fees
Because pricing can change, this guide deliberately does not hard-code every fee. The Xwills pricing page is the source of truth for current Standard Will, Mirror Will, Property Protection Trust Will and LPA fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheap Will legally valid?
Price does not determine validity. A low-cost Will can be valid if correctly drafted and executed, but low cost may reflect limited advice or customisation.
Why do trust Wills cost more?
They usually require more detailed drafting, beneficiary/trustee provisions and property-ownership work.
Are there extra probate fees when I make a Will?
Probate fees arise after death and are separate from the fee for preparing the Will.
Does Xwills offer fixed fees?
Xwills publishes fixed-fee options. Check the current pricing page for the latest amounts and what is included.
Tell us what you want to achieve
You do not need to know the name of the legal document or trust before speaking to us. Explain the family, property or planning issue and we can discuss the relevant options.