What does a mirror will cost – and is it worth paying for two? - My Local Will Writer
If you and your partner are thinking about making your wills at the same time, a mirror will is the most common way to do it. The cost is lower than writing two completely separate wills, the process is simpler and for most couples it does exactly what they need.
Here is what a mirror will costs in the UK, how the process works and the one thing worth knowing before you go ahead.
What is a mirror will?
A mirror will is two separate legal documents, one for each partner, written at the same time. Each will reflects the other in its main wishes – typically leaving everything to the surviving partner first, then to named beneficiaries if the partner has already died.
Both people sign their own will independently, and each document stands on its own.
Either person can change their will at any point without telling the other. That is how the law works, and it is worth understanding before you go ahead. We will come back to it.
How much does a mirror will cost?
The cost of mirror wills in the UK varies depending on who writes them. Here is a breakdown by provider type.
A high-street solicitor will typically charge around £250 to £500 for a pair of mirror wills.
A phone-based mirror will writing service, where the wills are checked by a solicitor, usually costs around £99 to £150 for the pair.
An online will builder may cost around £60 to £120, although the level of support can vary.
Free Wills Month may allow eligible people to make a simple will for free, but it is usually limited to people aged 55 or over, simple estates, and certain times of year, mainly March and October.
What drives the price difference is the way the service is delivered, not the legal standing of the finished document. A solicitor-checked mirror will from a phone-based service carries the same legal weight as one drafted in a solicitor’s office. You are paying more on the high street for appointments, local overheads and a more traditional model of service.
My Local Will Writer offers mirror wills from £99 for the pair. Your wills are drafted following a phone consultation and reviewed by a solicitor before they are finalised.
What does that price include?
For your £99, you get a will for each partner drafted by a specialist will writer during a phone call. Both documents go to a solicitor for review before they are finalised, and the wills are written in plain language your executors can follow.
You also get guidance on how to sign and witness everything correctly, which matters because a will that is signed in the wrong way is not legally valid regardless of how well it is written.
When a mirror will is the right choice
Mirror wills suit couples across the UK whose wishes broadly align. That usually means leaving everything to each other first, then to children or other named beneficiaries after both partners have died.
They work well if your estate is reasonably simple. For example, if there are no previous marriages, no children from separate relationships and no business interests that complicate things. They also work best if you both understand that either of you could change your will later without telling the other.
If things are more involved, such as a blended family, assets you want to ring-fence, or concerns about what happens if your partner remarries after you die, raise it on the call. MLWW’s will writers can talk through whether a different arrangement would suit you better.
You can also read more about the wider costs involved in our guide to how much a will costs in the UK.
Is a mirror will the same as a joint will?
No. With mirror wills, each person has their own separate document. The two wills reflect the same wishes, but they are independent legal instruments that each stand alone.
A joint will is a single document signed by both partners. Joint wills are rarely used in the UK and tend to create problems when one partner dies and the survivor wants to make changes. Mirror wills avoid this.
The one thing couples often miss about mirror wills
A mirror will is not a binding agreement between partners. If one of you dies and the survivor later changes their will, for example to benefit a new partner or to cut out children named in the original, they are entitled to do so. What you make today does not lock anything in.
For most couples this is not a problem. You are making a will because you trust each other, and the arrangement reflects that.
But if you have children from a previous relationship, or if you care a great deal about what happens to assets after the second death, it is worth raising on the call. MLWW’s will writers can advise whether a different arrangement would give you stronger protection.
Start your mirror wills today
Getting a pair of mirror wills done by phone, at a fixed price, with solicitor oversight, is a practical way for most couples to get this sorted. My Local Will Writer charges from £99 for the pair.
Start your will today with a simple phone appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mirror will?
A mirror will is two separate legal documents, one for each partner, written at the same time and reflecting the same main wishes. Each person signs their own will independently.
How much does a mirror will cost in the UK?
A pair of mirror wills can cost anywhere from around £60 to £500 depending on the provider. Online will builders tend to be cheaper, high-street solicitors usually cost more and phone-based mirror will writing services often sit in the middle. My Local Will Writer offers mirror wills from £99 for the pair.
Is a mirror will the same as a joint will?
No. A mirror will means each person has their own separate will, with wishes that reflect each other. A joint will is a single shared document, which is rarely used in England and Wales and can create legal complications.
Can one partner change a mirror will without telling the other?
Yes. Either partner can change or revoke their will at any time without informing the other. A mirror will is not a binding agreement. It is simply two wills that happen to mirror each other at the point they are made.
Do we both need to sign the same document for a mirror will?
No. Each partner signs their own separate will in front of two independent witnesses. You do not sign each other’s wills and you do not need to be in the same room when signing.