North West -- Wills & Estate Planning
Will Writing Solicitors in Manchester: From £150
Updated July 2026. What a will costs with a Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Manchester
| Type of will | Typical cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Simple single will | £150-£450 | One person, straightforward wishes, no trusts |
| Mirror wills (couple) | £260-£860 | 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 Manchester market ranges plus VAT; trust and complex figures are national typical ranges. Get a fixed-fee quote to confirm.
Manchester has a substantial commercial-law presence (Eversheds Sutherland, Pinsent Masons, Addleshaw Goddard all have major Manchester offices) where private-market rates can exceed the National 2 GHR. For consumer-facing work (conveyancing, family, wills, personal injury), high-street and online firms compete aggressively and the GHR is a reasonable working benchmark.
Free and low-cost wills in Manchester
You do not always have to pay. Will Aid runs each November: participating Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Find a Solicitor to find regulated solicitors offering wills in Manchester. 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.
Law Society Find a Solicitor ->FAQ
How much does a will cost in Manchester?
A simple will typically costs £150 to £450 plus VAT. Mirror wills for a couple run £260 to £860, 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 Manchester?
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 Manchester?
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.