Martin Lewis and Will Writing: What MoneySavingExpert Says About Making a Will

If you have searched for “Martin Lewis will writing”, you are probably trying to find out what he and his consumer website, MoneySavingExpert, say about making a Will — and whether you can get one free or cheaply. MoneySavingExpert regularly covers the importance of having a Will and the schemes that offer free or lower-cost Will writing.

This guide explains that guidance independently, sets out how the main options differ, and highlights when a basic or free Will may not be enough. It is general information, not legal advice about your own situation.

What does Martin Lewis say about making a Will?

In short, MoneySavingExpert strongly encourages adults to make a Will, whatever the size of their estate. Its guide to cheap and free Wills explains that a Will lets you decide who inherits, who deals with your estate and, for parents, who you would like to look after young children.

The guide also highlights what can happen if you die without a Will (known as dying “intestate”). Your estate is then shared under fixed legal rules, which may not match your wishes. For example, an unmarried partner has no automatic right to inherit under those rules, however long you have lived together. GOV.UK explains who inherits when there is no Will.

Beyond that, the guide focuses on ways to keep costs down, while recognising that some people's circumstances call for professional advice.

Why is “Martin Lewis Will Writing” being searched so much?

Interest tends to rise whenever MoneySavingExpert features Wills in its emails, articles or broadcasts — for example when covering:

• Free Wills Month campaigns
• Will Aid, the November charity scheme
• other cheap or free Will offers
• wider estate planning, including inheritance
• Lasting Powers of Attorney

MoneySavingExpert's Cheap and Free Wills guide was updated on 1 October 2026, around the time of an autumn Free Wills Month campaign.

What is Free Wills Month?

Free Wills Month is a campaign run on behalf of a group of charities, which pay participating solicitors to write or update simple Wills free of charge for eligible people. Key points from the official Free Wills Month website (checked 4 October 2026):

• Campaigns usually run in particular months, including March and October.
• It is aimed at people aged 55 and over.
• Only solicitors in selected locations take part, and these vary from campaign to campaign.
• It covers simple Wills; more complicated arrangements may be outside the offer or charged for.
• The charities hope people will consider leaving a gift in their Will, but there is no obligation to do so.
• Appointments are limited and may run out before the month ends.

Because participating areas change, check the official site with your postcode rather than assuming your area — including London — is covered.

What is Will Aid?

Will Aid is a long-running charity Will-writing scheme. According to its website (checked 4 October 2026):

• It runs every November.
• Participating solicitors give their time and waive their usual fee for a basic Will.
• Instead, clients are invited to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid's partner charities. The suggested donation for 2026 is £120 for a single basic Will and £200 for a pair of basic mirror Wills.
• Availability depends on which firms take part and how many appointments they offer.

Are Martin Lewis “free Wills” actually free?

Sometimes, but “free Will” covers several quite different arrangements:

• Charity-funded solicitor schemes (such as Free Wills Month): the charity pays the solicitor for a simple Will. There may be age, location and complexity limits, and you may be asked whether you would like to leave a charitable gift.
• Donation-based schemes (such as Will Aid): no fee is charged, but a donation is suggested.
• Charity-linked online Wills: some charities offer free online Wills, usually for straightforward situations and sometimes with optional checking at extra cost.
• DIY templates: cheap to buy, but you take full responsibility for the wording and for signing the Will correctly.

It is worth reading the terms of any offer carefully, including what is excluded and whether any later changes are charged.

Free Will vs solicitor-drafted Will

No single route is best for everyone. A straightforward estate may need less advice than a complex one.

When might using a solicitor be particularly important?

Professional advice is often worth considering where any of the following apply:

• property or other assets abroad
• owning or having shares in a business
• blended families, including children from earlier relationships
• unmarried partners who want to provide for each other
• leaving out someone who might expect to inherit
• a beneficiary who is vulnerable or receives means-tested benefits
• wanting to use trusts
• possible inheritance tax considerations
• significant or unusual assets
• concerns about mental capacity or pressure from others
• otherwise complicated family arrangements

Everyone's circumstances are different, and these are examples rather than a checklist.

It is also worth knowing that, in England and Wales, getting married or entering a civil partnership generally cancels an existing Will, so a Will should be reviewed after major life events.

What about Trust Wills?

“Trust Will” is a broad marketing term rather than one specific product. Searches such as “Martin Lewis trust Wills” usually come from people wondering whether they need one. A Will may include a trust for purposes such as:

• holding money for children until they reach a chosen age
• protecting a vulnerable beneficiary
• giving someone the right to live in, or receive income from, an asset during their lifetime (a “life interest”)
• addressing particular family circumstances, such as second marriages

Trusts can have significant legal and tax consequences, and whether one is appropriate depends on your situation. They should be set up with individual advice.

How much does a solicitor-drafted Will cost?

Solicitors' fees vary depending on the provider and how complex your Will is. AJ W. E. Bennetts' current published fixed fees are:

• Simple Will — £350
• Simple Mirror Wills — £600

No VAT is currently charged. These are this practice's own fees, not national averages.

View Will Drafting Service

Can I arrange my Will by video call?

Yes, much of the process can take place by video call: the initial consultation, giving instructions, receiving advice, drafting and reviewing the draft. Appointments are also available in Teddington, at the Charing Cross, London appointment location, and by home visit where appropriate.

However, the Will itself cannot currently be validly signed and witnessed entirely over video. It must meet the formal requirements of section 9 of the Wills Act 1837: in writing, signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are present at the same time, and signed by those witnesses. A temporary rule allowing video witnessing applied only to Wills made between 31 January 2020 and 31 January 2024. GOV.UK has a short overview of making a Will.

Should I arrange Lasting Powers of Attorney at the same time?

A Will takes effect on death, whereas a Lasting Power of Attorney lets people you trust make decisions for you during your lifetime if you cannot. They do different jobs, and many people choose to consider them together.

Combined Will and LPA packages are available: Simple Will + 2 LPAs — £600, and Simple Mirror Wills + 4 LPAs — £1,100, with no VAT. Office of the Public Guardian registration fees are additional.

Frequently asked questions about Martin Lewis and Will writing