If you're going down the solicitor route for your will, the next question is how they'll charge: a fixed fee (one agreed price for the will) or hourly billing (the running clock model). The difference can be hundreds of pounds, even for a relatively simple will, and the choice matters more than people realise.
This is a plain-English breakdown of how each one works, where the hidden costs sit, and how the alternatives - including guided online wills - compare.
Fixed-fee wills explained
A fixed fee is exactly what it sounds like: an agreed price for the will, regardless of how long it takes the solicitor to draft. The firm tells you the price up-front; that's what you pay.
Typical 2026 fixed fees:
- Standard single will - £150-£400 depending on firm and region.
- Mirror wills for a couple - £250-£600.
- More complex wills (some trust-based provisions, multiple property considerations) - £400-£800.
- Bespoke trust-based or business-succession wills - usually quoted separately, often £600-£1,500+.
What's usually included:
- An initial consultation (often 30-60 minutes).
- Drafting and one round of revisions.
- A final document.
- Witnessing in the office.
- Storage of the original (sometimes - check the small print).
What's usually not included:
- Subsequent updates if your circumstances change.
- Probate work later (a separate engagement).
- Any complex tax planning.
- Specialist trust or international advice.
Hourly-rate wills explained
Some solicitors charge by the hour rather than offering a fixed fee. Hourly rates for private-client work in the UK in 2026 typically range from £150 to £400+ per hour, depending on the seniority of the lawyer and the firm's location.
A standard will at hourly rates can run from two to six hours of work - so anywhere from £300 to over £2,000 in fees. The cost is unpredictable until the work is done.
This model is more common at:
- Larger or city-centre firms.
- Senior private-client partners doing complex work.
- Firms working on estates with significant complexity.
The hidden costs of hourly billing
The headline rate isn't the only cost. Hourly billing can include:
- Time for emails and phone calls. Five-minute calls billed at the relevant fraction of the hourly rate add up.
- Time for reviewing your supporting documents.
- Time for revisions - if you change your mind about an executor halfway through, that's billable.
- Travel time in some firms.
- Disbursements - stamp duty, copying, postage.
The cost can spiral on a job that started out feeling simple. Before agreeing to hourly billing, ask:
- What's the estimated total cost (in writing)?
- What's the cap - if any?
- Are calls and emails billed?
- What's the firm's policy on revisions during drafting?
Why fixed fees are usually better for standard wills
For most straightforward situations, a fixed fee is the better deal:
- You know what you'll pay.
- You're not worried about asking a question for fear of the meter running.
- You can compare quotes between firms easily.
- You can budget without surprises.
Some firms only offer hourly billing for complex work, fixed fees for standard work. That's reasonable - genuinely bespoke trust drafting is hard to predict in advance.
How online wills compare on price
The conversation about fixed vs hourly is somewhat overshadowed by what's happened to the will-writing market in the last decade. Guided online will builders typically charge a flat £40-£100 for a single will, usually with an option to keep it updated for a small annual subscription.
For estates that don't need bespoke trust drafting, the maths is hard to argue with: £80 vs £400 for the same legal outcome. Both produce a will compliant with the Wills Act 1837 section 9; the validity depends on signing and witnessing, not on who drafted it.
We have a full will cost comparison for 2026 covering every option.
If you'd rather just see what £80 looks like in practice, the Trusted Hands will builder is free to start.
When solicitor fees are genuinely worth it
There's a real case for paying solicitor fees, fixed or hourly, when your situation needs bespoke drafting. Real cases include:
- Complex trust arrangements. Life-interest trusts, discretionary trusts, trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries.
- Business succession. Where the will needs to coordinate with shareholder agreements or partnership documents.
- Cross-jurisdiction estates. Property or assets outside the UK.
- Likely IHT planning. Estates well above the £325,000 nil-rate band and £175,000 residence nil-rate band (frozen until April 2030 under current UK government policy).
- Disputed-inheritance risk. Estranged children, blended families with conflict, anticipated 1975 Act claims.
- Capacity concerns. Where evidence of capacity at the time of signing matters.
For complex estates, we recommend you seek assistance from a Trusted Hands Advisor or your own legal advice.
> Need to map out which route fits? Trusted Hands' guided flow flags when professional advice is genuinely worth it. Start free - if your situation is complex, the questions tell you.
What about updates?
Wills aren't a one-time purchase. Life changes. Beneficiaries die, marriages happen, divorces happen, children are born, houses are bought and sold.
The cost-of-updates picture differs sharply by route:
- Solicitor (fixed-fee or hourly). Each update is a fresh engagement - either a codicil (£100-£200) or a new will (often charged at the full original rate again).
- Guided online builder. Often included in an annual updates subscription (Trusted Hands offers this). Re-issue the will whenever life changes for a small annual fee.
Over a typical 30-year adult life, the difference between paying for a fresh solicitor will every five years vs subscribing to a £12-a-year updates option is significant - several thousand pounds across a lifetime.
We have a separate piece on when to update your will covering the events that should trigger a review.
How to compare quotes
If you've decided to use a solicitor, here's how to get apples-to-apples quotes:
- Ask each firm for the total fee for your situation, in writing.
- Confirm whether it's fixed-fee or estimated-hourly.
- Ask what's included (consultation, drafting, revisions, witnessing, storage).
- Ask what triggers extra charges (extra revisions, calls, etc.).
- Ask about update costs over time.
- Compare at least three firms.
> Ready to start your will? Trusted Hands turns these decisions into a 15-30 minute guided builder. Start free → — only pay when you download.
Frequently asked questions
What's the typical fixed fee for a will in the UK?
Around £150-£400 for a standard single will in 2026, depending on region and firm. Mirror wills for a couple are usually £250-£600.
Are hourly-rate solicitors more thorough?
Not necessarily. Many firms use fixed fees for standard work and hourly for complex work, which is a reasonable split. Hourly billing isn't a quality marker on its own.
Can I get a solicitor's will for free?
Some banks and insurers offer "free" wills as a customer perk, but most require the bank to be appointed as executor - which can mean significant percentage-based executorship fees on the estate later. Not free in the long run.
Why is the gap so big between solicitor and online prices?
Because you're paying for very different products. A solicitor sells professional time. An online service sells software-driven document production. For standard wills, the legal output is the same; the cost difference is the delivery model.
What happens if I change my mind midway through a fixed-fee engagement?
Most firms allow some revisions within the fixed fee but cap them. Major changes (a new beneficiary structure, a different will type) often trigger an extra fee. Ask up-front.
Ready to write your will?
Trusted Hands is a guided, plain-English will builder. You answer simple questions, see your draft as you go, and only pay when you're ready to download.
- Free to start - no card details to begin
- Smart Will Engine - only asks what's relevant to your situation
- Fixed price - no hourly bills, no surprises
- Annual updates option - keep your will editable as life changes