Northern Ireland -- Wills & Estate Planning
Will Writing Solicitors in Belfast: From £120
Updated July 2026. What a will costs with a Belfast solicitor in 2026, from a simple will to mirror and complex wills, the free-will schemes that operate locally, and how to find a regulated will writer.
Most wills are fixed-fee work rather than billed by the hour, so a Belfast solicitor will quote you a set price up front. What you pay depends on how complicated your wishes are, not how long the solicitor happens to take. The figures below are typical local ranges; always get a written fixed-fee quote before instructing.
Will writing costs in Belfast
| Type of will | Typical cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Simple single will | £120-£380 | One person, straightforward wishes, no trusts |
| Mirror wills (couple) | £200-£720 | A matching pair, each leaving to the other then the same beneficiaries |
| Will with a trust | £500-£1,500 | Protective property trust, disabled or minor beneficiaries |
| Complex will | £1,000-£2,000+ | Business assets, overseas property, blended families, tax planning |
| Free-will scheme | £0 | Will Aid (November) or Free Wills Month (over-55s), simple wills only |
Simple and mirror figures are Belfast market ranges plus VAT; trust and complex figures are national typical ranges. Get a fixed-fee quote to confirm.
Belfast hosts the largest NI legal firms (Carson McDowell, A&L Goodbody NI, Tughans, Pinsent Masons NI) plus a deep high-street base across the city. NI conveyancing has its own structural quirks: solicitor involvement is heavier than in England and the Land Registry of NI fee schedule is separate from HM Land Registry.
Free and low-cost wills in Belfast
You do not always have to pay. Will Aid runs each November: participating Belfast solicitors write a basic will and waive their fee in return for a suggested donation to charity. Free Wills Month (March and October) offers free simple wills to people aged 55 and over through participating firms. Several charities also run the year-round National Free Wills Network. These schemes cover simple wills; if your estate involves trusts, a business, or possible Inheritance Tax against the £325,000 nil-rate band, paid advice is worth it.
Solicitor vs online will
An online will service (£0 to £100) is valid and fine for a simple estate. A Belfast solicitor earns the higher fee on anything that is not simple: second marriages and stepchildren, a business, property abroad, a beneficiary who cannot manage money, or an estate large enough to raise an Inheritance Tax question. The real risk with the cheapest DIY wills is not the price but errors in wording or witnessing that only come to light after death, when they can no longer be corrected. See our national will writing cost guide for the full comparison.
Use the Law Society of Northern Ireland Find a Solicitor to find regulated solicitors offering wills in Belfast. A solicitor is regulated and insured; unregulated "will writers" are not, so check credentials. Ask for a fixed fee and whether storage of the original will is included. Note that Scottish and Northern Irish succession law differs from England and Wales.
Law Society of Northern Ireland Find a Solicitor ->FAQ
How much does a will cost in Belfast?
A simple will typically costs £120 to £380 plus VAT. Mirror wills for a couple run £200 to £720, around 70 to 90 per cent more than a single will. Wills with trusts or complex estates run £500 to £2,000 or more.
Can I get a free will in Belfast?
Yes, via Will Aid (each November, a donation in place of the fee) and Free Wills Month (March and October, for those aged 55+), both run through participating local solicitors. These cover simple wills; complex estates still need paid advice.
What happens if I die without a will in Belfast?
Your estate is shared under the rules of intestacy, a fixed order that ignores your wishes. Unmarried partners inherit nothing under intestacy, and a surviving spouse does not automatically get everything if there are children. A will is the only way to choose who inherits.