Most people don’t jump at the chance to write a will. But if you’re in Birmingham and wondering what you’ll actually pay for one, that’s a sensible place to start.
The cost of wills vary. Your neighbour paid £200, your colleague paid £800 – both might be right for what they needed. What you pay depends on how complicated your situation is, who does the work, and what level of protection makes sense for your family. Getting it done cheaply but incorrectly creates far bigger problems down the line than spending a bit more upfront.
What Affects the Cost?
Depending on how complex your situation is, will make the biggest difference to what you’ll pay. Someone with straightforward assets pays less than someone juggling multiple properties or running a business.
One house, married, kids who’ll inherit everything equally – that’s simple. But what if you’ve got children from different relationships? Or you run a business? Property abroad? Want to set up a trust so your grandchildren are looked after? Each of these adds more work, and further costs.
Trusts are there to protect assets for people who can’t handle them yet – children, for instance. Business interests need careful handling, and multiple properties mean more to consider. And if your estate’s valuable enough that inheritance tax applies, you’ll need tax planning, which requires expertise.
What People Actually Pay in Birmingham
There’s no shortage of people offering will-writing services in Birmingham. Solicitors, specialist firms, online platforms – they’re all there, with prices ranging from under £100 to a couple of thousand.
A basic single will cost £150 to £300 in most cases. For couples, mirror wills (where you both leave everything to each other first, then to your children or chosen beneficiaries) usually run £250 to £500.
Things get pricier when trusts are involved, or tax planning, or business assets. Then you’re looking at £500 to £2,000, sometimes more depending on what’s needed.
What Should the Fee Cover?
Paying a solicitor should get you more than a typed document.
You should get a meeting first to talk through your situation and what you want to happen. Then advice on how best to structure things. If tax planning’s relevant, seek help with that too. The actual drafting comes next, followed by another meeting to make sure what’s written matches what you intended. Finally, the signing and witnessing to make it legally valid.
The cost of safe storage of your will varies between firms. Some include it, others charge a small annual fee to keep your will safe. It is worth asking about before you commit.
Watch for Extra Charges
Some providers quote low prices then add charges for home visits, making changes later, storing your will, or registering it.
Make sure you know what’s included in the price you’re quoted. If it seems surprisingly cheap, ask what extras might apply.
Mirror Wills for Couples
Married or in a civil partnership? Mirror wills usually make sense. Both of you leave everything to each other. If both pass away, everything is given to those you’ve chosen in your will.
Most solicitors charge less for mirror wills than they would for two separate ones, since they’re doing similar work twice. You’re looking at £250 to £600 for the pair, which works out as reasonable value.
Keeping Your Will Updated
Life changes, so your will should change with it. Marriage, divorce, children being born, buying property, someone named in your will dying – all reasons to review what you’ve got.
Simple changes (called codicils) cost £100 to £300. Bigger changes might mean writing a fresh will makes more sense.
What you get from a solicitor is expertise tailored to your actual circumstances, a document that’s legally sound, and protection against your family ending up in arguments over what you meant.
Getting It Done
Cost shouldn’t be what stops you sorting out your will. Most Birmingham firms will tell you upfront what it’ll cost after a brief conversation about your circumstances.
Quite a few offer free initial consultations. You talk through what you need, they tell you what it costs, and you can decide whether to go ahead. No commitment required at that stage.
If uncertainty about fees has been putting you off, have that conversation. It’s usually more straightforward than people expect.
Need to make a will? Get in touch with our Birmingham team. We’ll discuss your situation, give you clear pricing, and help you get it done properly. Call us today to arrange a consultation.