Free wills under 55: Charity schemes and your options - My Local Will Writer
Can you use Free Wills Month if you are under 55?
Yes, you can often get a free will under 55, though usually not through Free Wills Month. That campaign runs each March and October, including this October, and is aimed at people aged 55 and over. Its age rule is not a general one, so free wills under 55 are still available elsewhere. Some charities fund simple wills for adults of any age all year round, and Will Aid runs every November on a suggested donation basis.
Free Wills Month runs in March and October in selected areas. Participating charities pay solicitors to write or update simple wills for people aged 55 and over.
Only some areas take part in each campaign, so check whether yours is included before you plan around it. If it is not, our guide to will-writing services near you covers other options.
So there is no Free Wills Month for under 55s as such, but there is one exception. If you are making mirror wills as a couple, only one of you needs to be 55. Mirror wills are two separate wills with near-identical terms, usually made by partners. If you are 48 and your partner is 56, you can both take part.
The age limit is set by the charities that fund the campaign. The law in England and Wales lets you make a will from 18, so you do not need to wait until 55.
Charity will-writing options for younger adults
If you want free will writing for under 55s, the main route is a charity’s own will-writing service. These run separately from Free Wills Month and set their own rules. Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie are two examples.
Marie Curie’s published wording is “over the age of 18”, so if you are exactly 18, ask the charity to confirm before you apply.
Both services focus on simple wills. If your wishes turn out to be more involved, the provider may charge for the extra work. Cancer Research UK’s terms say any cost above what the charity covers is yours to pay, and that the charity can pause or withdraw the service at any time.
The charity does not write your will. You contract with the solicitor or will-writing firm, so read that provider’s terms too. Some partners are regulated law firms and some are not, so check who will prepare your document before you start.
Other charities run similar schemes. Check each one’s own rules rather than assuming they match these two.
Is Will Aid an option if you are under 55?
Yes. Will Aid runs every November, and anyone aged 18 or over can have a simple will written or updated by a participating solicitor, in person or remotely.
The funding works differently from the charity services above. Instead of charging their usual fee, solicitors invite you to make a voluntary upfront donation to Will Aid. The suggested amounts are £120 for a simple single will and £200 for mirror wills. The amounts are only suggestions. The scheme depends on them, though, so think of Will Aid as low-cost rather than free.
Donations are shared between eight partner charities, including Shelter, Age UK and the NSPCC. If your affairs are complex, expect the solicitor to charge for the extra work.
Do you need to leave a gift or pay anything?
Three things are easy to mix up. A gift in your will is left to a charity after you die, and every scheme in this guide makes it optional. A voluntary upfront donation is paid now, and only Will Aid invites one. Charges for extra work apply if your will goes beyond the simple will each scheme covers.
Before you go ahead, confirm what the offer covers and ask for any extra costs in writing. Ask whether storing the original will costs anything and what you would pay to update it later.
Choosing a service that fits your circumstances
Start with how you want to work. Most Free Wills Month appointments are face to face at the solicitor’s office, although some firms offer remote meetings. The charity services above also offer online or phone routes.
Check the service covers where you live. Will law differs between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and some offers only apply in one of them.
Then think about how complicated your wishes are and who will prepare the document. GOV.UK suggests professional advice if, for example, you share a home with someone you are not married to, want to provide for a dependant who cannot care for themselves, own property overseas or run a business. That does not automatically rule out a free service, but raise it at the start.
If you share your life with an unmarried partner, our guide on whether unmarried couples need a will covers the questions worth raising.
A paid alternative through My Local Will Writer
If you would rather pay for a will than use a charity scheme, My Local Will Writer is one option. It is a paid service and is not part of Free Wills Month or any charity offer.
You submit your details online, then speak to a will writer by phone about your wishes. The service covers England and Wales, and each will is checked by a solicitor before it is sent to you to sign and have witnessed. Our guide to how much a will costs in the UK explains what affects the price.
Being under 55 does not mean you need a paid will. This route may suit you if none of the free options fits your situation.
Questions about free wills under 55
Can I get a free will at 30 or 40?
Yes, through services with an 18-plus rule, such as those run by Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. Will Aid is also open to adults of any age in November, for a suggested donation. Free Wills Month itself is for people aged 55 and over.
Can I take part in Free Wills Month if my partner is 55?
Yes, if you are making mirror wills together. Only one of you needs to be 55.
Must I leave money to charity?
No. Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and Free Wills Month all say a gift in your will is optional. Will Aid invites a voluntary donation when you make your will, which is a separate thing.
Can I use a charity service outside October?
Yes. Cancer Research UK’s and Marie Curie’s services are not tied to a campaign month, though either charity can change or pause its offer. Will Aid runs in November, and Free Wills Month also runs in March.
Check each scheme’s rules against where you live and what your will needs to cover, then follow the signing instructions you are given. If you would prefer a paid will arranged by phone, you can ask us for a price.