A lady in a pink jumper and a man in a check shirt sit on a sofa reviewing a file of documents with a laptop open on a coffee table in front of them.

Our online Will-writing service

Write or update your simple Will for free* online, from the comfort and privacy of your own home

Choose from our two trusted providers

How to write your Will with Co-op Legal Services

  1. Visit our dedicated page on the Co-op Legal Services website.
  2. Write your Will using their online form. It takes approximately 20 minutes.
  3. Check your Will together. A dedicated Wills specialist will call you back within 24 hours, or the next working day if a weekend, to go through your Will with you and answer any questions you may have. Your Will is then finalised.
  4. Review and approve your Will. Your draft Will is sent to you by email to approve. When you're happy, you’ll be sent a professionally-bound Will in the post for you to sign.
  5. Make your Will legally binding. When you receive your Will in the post, you must sign it in front of two witnesses to make it legally binding. 
  6. Store your Will in a safe place and let your executors know where it is.

When writing your Will, Co-op Legal Services can advise on a variety of more complex circumstances such as blended family scenarios, dealing with business ownership, and assets held abroad.

How to write your Will with Farewill

  1. Visit our dedicated page on the Farewill website.

  2. Write your Will using their online form. It takes approximately 15 minutes.

  3. Enter the voucher code RNLI-WEB at the check-out. (This code will be automatically applied if you access Farewill through our website.)

  4. A dedicated Wills specialist will check your Will. Any recommended changes are emailed to you. Once you’re happy with your Will, you’ll receive a link to download it. This can take up to 5 days.

  5. Make your Will legally binding. Once you’ve downloaded your Will, you must print and sign it in front of two witnesses to make it legally binding.

  6. Store your Will in a safe place and let your executors know where it is.

     

*For more complex Wills, our Will-writing partners will speak to you about any potential costs beforehand, so you won’t suddenly face an unexpected bill. 

Frequently asked questions

What are the differences between Co-op Legal Services and Farewill?

Available locations

The free online Will-writing services offered by both Co-op Legal Services and Farewill are available to people living in England and Wales (excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).

Complex Wills

  • Co-op Legal Services You can write a complex Will online with Co-op Legal services, but only simple Wills are free. Complex Wills may involve potential costs, which will be discussed with you in a follow-up telephone call.
  • Farewill - If your Will is complex, you’ll be referred to Farewill’s telephone Will-writing service. Complex Wills may involve potential costs, which will be discussed with you.

Callback service

  • Co-op Legal Services - You can start your Will-writing process online and set out your initial wishes and objectives. Once this is completed, a dedicated Wills specialist will call you back within 24 hours, or the next working day if a weekend. During this follow-up call, you’ll have a chance to discuss your wishes and ask any questions before your Will is finalised and your instructions are formally taken.
  • Farewill - A callback service isn’t available when writing or updating your Will online with Farewill. However, if speaking to a specialist is important to you, you can use Farewill’s free telephone Will-writing service instead. 

Why is online Will writing only available in England and Wales?

This is due to differences in laws around Will writing in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and jurisdictional restrictions in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. If you can’t find a Will-writing service for you, please contact our Gifts in Wills Team and they’ll help find a solution that works for you.

Can I leave a gift to other charities in my Will as well?

Yes - you can leave a gift to more than one charity in your Will.

What do I need to hand when using the free online Will-writing service?

  1. Personal details - full name, date of birth, current address, relationship status and the names of any children you have, along with their date of birth. 
  1. List of your assets - for example, property, bank accounts, stocks and shares, vehicles, foreign assets, and anything else of value such as jewellery. You should also consider what debts and liabilities you have such as a mortgage or outstanding loan. This will help you to calculate the net value of your estate. 
  1. Full names and addresses of your beneficiaries - who you want to leave things to, and what you want to give them. 

    It's worth noting that gifts and donations to charity in a Will are normally exempt from inheritance tax. To qualify for the inheritance tax exemption, the charity must have a charity reference number, and you will need to state this number in your Will. The following wording may be helpful:

    The Royal National Lifeboat Institution of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (CHY 2678 and 20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney.
  1. Full names and addresses of your executors - your executors are the people who will administer your Will after you die.
  1. If you have children under 18 - you’ll need the full names and addresses of whoever you wish to be their legal guardians.
  1. Full names and addresses of any trustees - if you wish to put certain assets into trust.

Co-op Legal Services will send you a checklist of the information you'll need to hand.

Farewill have this handy article on what to put in a Will.

Is an online Will legally legitimate?

Yes, as long as it is printed and signed alongside two witnesses to make it legally binding. It’s important that both witnesses watch you sign your Will at the same time, then they need to add their own details and signatures. This is so that, if your Will is ever contested in the future, your witnesses can testify that they watched you sign your Will. Your witnesses should be people you trust, over the age of 18. They cannot be a beneficiary in your Will or married to one of your beneficiaries. Under current law, electronic signatures for Wills are not accepted.  

Why does the RNLI use Will-writing partners?

The RNLI, like several other charities, offers a free Will-writing service with the primary goal of making the process more accessible for people like you. Our aim is to eliminate barriers to Will writing, enabling supporters like you to gain access to specialist and legal advice, and to ensure you can choose a method of Will writing that suits you best (online, over the phone or face-to-face). It also ensures coverage of the UK and Ireland. We hope that you may choose to support our vital lifesaving work after providing for your loved ones. 

I want to update my existing Will. How do I do this?

If you have an existing Will that has been written through your own solicitor, you can make small amends to that Will for free using our face-to-face Will-writing service with the National Free Wills Network or Irish Free Wills Network.

If you wish to update your Will online or over the phone, you’ll need to create a new Will and can do this for free using Co-op Legal Services or Farewill.

Why do I need to start a new Will to make changes with Co-op Legal Services or Farewill?

This is to ensure that your Will adheres with its precedents and the latest legislation.