Free Wills Month October 2025 - Get Your Will Written for Free

During March and again in October, it’s possible to get a new will written or updated by a solicitor, free of charge, as part of Free Wills Month. The next campaign opens on 1st October 2025; enter your details on the official site for a reminder when appointments in your area go live.

A properly written will is vital to ensure your money is distributed as you wish after your death. According to the rules of intestacy, if you don’t have a will, your estate is shared, which may not suit you or your family. See the government’s guidance on intestacy for details of who inherits if someone dies without a will.

It’s a good idea for everyone to have a will, but it’s particularly important if you aren’t married to your partner, have children from previous relationships, or want part of your estate to go to charity. You’ll also need a will to make specific gifts or appoint guardians for children.

Free Wills Month aims to ensure everyone has access to a simple will written or updated for free by a solicitor, reducing the risk of legal complications for family members. Typical solicitor pricing in 2025 starts at around £150+ for a simple single will, with mirror wills commonly costing £200–£400. Complex circumstances will cost more outside the scheme.

Sources: MoneyHelper guide, Compare My Move pricing overview.

Demand remains high because many adults still don’t have a will. Recent guidance shows that over half of UK adults have no will in place, which can cause real difficulties for families. See the Money and Pensions Service press information and Age UK’s factsheet: MaPS press release, Age UK factsheet (July 2025).

What is Free Wills Month?

Free Wills Month brings together well-known charities and participating solicitors to offer a free simple will-writing service to people aged 55 or over. If you’re making mirror wills as a couple, only one person must be 55. The campaign runs nationwide in March and October each year. Check eligibility and how it works on the official site: freewillsmonth.org.uk. Partner charity pages for more detail: Age UK, Mind.

Register your details with Free Wills Month, or with a supporting charity, so you’re notified when local appointments open. Appointments are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. While the campaign is intended to run all month, it can end early in areas once all solicitor slots are booked.

Free Wills Month covers simple wills. If your needs are more complex, you can still take part; you’ll pay any additional costs agreed with the solicitor.

How do I apply?

Each Free Wills Month, participating solicitors offer free simple wills at selected locations across England, Scotland, and other parts of the UK. Go to freewillsmonth.org.uk, enter your name, email address, and postcode, then choose a local firm from the list when it opens on 1st October 2025. Contact the firm directly to make your appointment.

If appointments in your area are fully booked, check back for cancellations, or consider the next campaign in March. Some charities also offer free will services year-round, which can be a helpful alternative between campaigns.

Leaving a legacy

By taking part in Free Wills Month, you can support a cause close to your heart by leaving a gift in your will to your chosen charity. There’s no obligation to do so, but gifts in wills make a significant difference to UK charities. You can leave a fixed amount, a specific item, or a percentage of your estate after other gifts are made. See examples and guidance from Mind.

Tax tip: gifts to UK-registered charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax, and if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, the IHT rate on the rest may be reduced from 40% to 36%. See GOV.UK. For a plain-English explainer, see Times Money Mentor.

How do I save money writing a will if I’m under 55?

If you’re under 55, there are still ways to get expert help for less. Will Aid runs every November with participating solicitors writing basic wills for a voluntary donation. The suggested donation is £120 for a single will or £200 for mirror wills, with no age restrictions. Learn more at willaid.org.uk or see Age UK’s Will Aid guide.

Will Aid charities include: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF: Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Sightsavers, and Trócaire.

Marie Curie also offers a free will-writing service for adults over the age of 18, working with partners such as Farewill and Bequeathed. As with Free Wills Month and Will Aid, there’s no obligation to leave a gift, but legacy donations help fund vital services.

With the cost of living crisis affecting many people's financial stability, the added cost of drawing up a will could mean those most in need are putting off the process in an attempt to manage everyday costs instead. Campaigns like Free Wills Month grants access to necessary services for the most vulnerable, who may otherwise not be able to afford it. If you’re looking for more ways to save money, our main, Cost of Living Guide contains expert money-saving tips for all areas of life.