Cost and how the service works
Is this service really free?
Yes. You can create an account, answer the questionnaire, and download your completed will as a PDF without paying and without giving card details.
Printing, witnessing, Confirmation costs, and any optional solicitor help are separate and not charged by Free Scottish Wills. Those costs sit with you, a witness you choose, the court, or a firm you instruct.
The download is a generated draft. It only becomes a will if you print it and sign it correctly. We do not charge for generating or regenerating that draft. If you later want a solicitor to review the document or to write a more complex will, that is a private arrangement between you and the firm, not part of this free service.
Are you a law firm? Are you regulated?
No. Free Scottish Wills is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Law Society of Scotland.
We are a technology platform for basic will generation, not an advised will-writing practice. We do not give legal advice, legal opinions, or legal representation. Using the site does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
Because we are not a solicitor firm, you cannot take a complaint about us to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission in the way you could against a regulated practice. If you want an advised will, or a regulated professional to check your circumstances, instruct a qualified Scottish solicitor. Our solicitor referral page can introduce you to partner firms, or you can find your own through the Law Society of Scotland.
Has a solicitor reviewed the template?
Not as a completed independent compliance review. Wills generated at this stage have not been checked by a solicitor for full compliance with Scots law. That is the same limit set out in the beta notice on this site.
The templates are designed for basic Scots-law wills. An independent solicitor review is planned before we leave beta. Until that review is done, treat the PDF as a draft to print and execute, not as a document that has been signed off by a solicitor.
We do not advise whether the contents fit your circumstances. If you need that comfort, ask a qualified Scottish solicitor to review your position before you rely on the document.
How do you make money if it is free?
Will generation is free. We do not charge you to create an account, complete the questionnaire, or download a PDF.
Partner solicitor firms may pay a flat listing fee to appear on the referral panel. That fee is currently free, and we will review it as the site grows. You choose whether to contact any firm. We only send your details to the firms you pick, and you decide who, if anyone, to instruct.
Using the panel is optional. You can download a will without speaking to a solicitor, or you can find your own solicitor through the Law Society of Scotland. The free download does not depend on using a listed firm.
Do I get legal advice when I use Free Scottish Wills?
No. Free Scottish Wills is a technology platform, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or legal representation. Using the site does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
The questionnaire and the generated PDF are tools to help you produce a basic draft will. They are not a substitute for advice about your family, your assets, or how Scots law applies to you.
If you need advice on tax, trusts, businesses, overseas property, or a tricky family situation, speak to a qualified Scottish solicitor. We point complex cases to solicitors on purpose.
Do you store the signed original?
No. You keep the original signed paper will, and you should tell your executors where it is. We do not store signed originals.
An unsigned PDF in your account is not a substitute for the paper document. Without the original, your executors may struggle to obtain Confirmation and to administer your estate.
If you want a public record as well, you can lodge the will with the Registers of Scotland Register of Deeds. That is a paid, voluntary option. It is not required to make the will valid, and it is separate from this service. Some people also leave the original with a solicitor or in a fireproof safe at home.
Is this right for me?
Who is this service for?
People who live in Scotland with a straightforward estate who want a basic Scots-law will. Typical examples include leaving a home and savings to a spouse or civil partner and children, appointing executors and guardians, and making simple gifts.
We only offer basic wills. We do not draft advanced wills, tax schemes, or complex trusts. That is deliberate: simple done carefully, and a clear path to a solicitor when simple is not enough.
The tool is for people whose estate should be governed by Scots law. If you are unsure whether that describes you, read the questions below or speak to a solicitor before you start.
Can I use this if I live in England?
No. This tool is only for people who live in Scotland and whose estate should be governed by Scots law.
Living in Scotland is not always the only legal test. If you have recently moved, you own property outside Scotland, or you are unsure about your domicile, do not use this service. Speak to a solicitor. The laws on wills and succession in England and Wales are different, and a Scots-law draft may not do what you expect if another system applies.
If part of your estate is abroad, or you have ties to more than one country, you need advice. That is outside the scope of a basic DIY will.
Do I need a solicitor?
Under Scots law, you do not need a solicitor to write a valid will. If your affairs are straightforward (for example, leaving your house and savings to your spouse and children), our service can be enough for a basic will.
If you have a complex situation, such as owning a business, having property abroad, wanting to set up a trust, or having a very large estate that might attract Inheritance Tax, you should speak to a solicitor. See our solicitor referral page if you want an introduction to partner firms, or find your own via the Law Society of Scotland.
Is an online Scottish will the same as a high-street DIY will kit?
No. A stationery DIY kit is mostly blank forms and general notes. Free Scottish Wills is a guided questionnaire that builds a Scots-law will from your answers, with Scottish clauses, signature lines on every page, and a testing clause set up for a self-proving will.
You still have to print, sign, and witness it properly. The tool does not replace care at that stage, and it does not decide whether a basic will is right for you.
How is Free Scottish Wills different from paid online will services?
Many paid online will services charge a fixed fee for a guided will. Free Scottish Wills is free for a basic Scots-law will: no card details, no download fee.
We are built for Scotland, we screen for complexity, we explain Legal Rights at a high level, and we point complex users to solicitors. Price is not the only difference. Scope and Scots-law focus matter. A paid online tool that is mainly designed for England and Wales is not the same product as a Scots-law will.
Why do some websites say online wills are dangerous?
Those articles often mix three different things: blank DIY kits, generic paid online tools, and paying a specialist for personal advice.
Free Scottish Wills is a free, Scots-specific generator for straightforward estates, with screening and clear signing instructions. Some risks they list are real for any will you sign at home (wrong facts, poor witnessing, not telling executors where the document is). Those risks are about care and execution, not about “online” by itself.
When is this not enough?
This service is not enough if your affairs are complex. Do not rely on a basic generated will, and speak to a solicitor, if any of the following apply:
- You own a business, a farm, or shares in a private company.
- You own property outside the United Kingdom, or you are unsure whether Scots law governs your estate.
- You have recently moved to or from Scotland, or you are unsure about your domicile.
- You want to set up a trust, or you already have a trust.
- Your estate is likely to be subject to Inheritance Tax.
- You have children from a previous relationship and need to balance them with a current spouse or civil partner.
- You are concerned that someone might challenge the will, or you want to leave out a spouse, civil partner, or child.
- Your house title is joint with a survivorship destination, or you do not know what the title says.
See our solicitor referral page if you want an introduction to partner firms, or find your own via the Law Society of Scotland.
Making it valid
Is the PDF a valid will?
No. A generated PDF is only a draft until you print it and sign it correctly.
Under the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995, you (the testator) must subscribe the will. Signing the end of the last page is what makes it formally valid. Signing every page, plus one witness aged 16 or over, is what makes it self-proving. A self-proving will is usually smoother for Confirmation, because the court can rely on the document without extra evidence of signing.
We do not advise whether the contents fit your circumstances. Wills produced during beta have not had an independent solicitor compliance review. That matches the beta notice on this site.
We include signature lines on every page, a testing clause, and execution instructions with every download. Follow those instructions. Do not treat a downloaded file as finished work.
Who can be a witness?
In Scotland you only need one witness (unlike England and Wales, which require two). The witness must be aged 16 or over and must see you sign or hear you acknowledge your signature.
The witness signs once, usually on the last page after the testing clause, with their full name and address. They do not need to sign every page. You should sign every page if you want the usual self-proving practice.
Best practice: choose an independent adult who is not a beneficiary under the will and is not the spouse or civil partner of any beneficiary. Scottish law does not automatically invalidate the will or the gift if a beneficiary acts as witness, but an independent witness is strongly recommended to avoid complications during Confirmation.
Can I invalidate my will by signing it wrong?
Poor execution can cause serious problems for your executors, and in some cases a document may not work as a will. Follow the PDF instructions carefully.
Signing only some pages, using an electronic signature, adding handwritten changes, or failing to complete the testing clause can all create doubt. A formally valid will that is not self-proving may still need extra evidence, which can delay Confirmation.
Read the instructions that come with the PDF before you pick up a pen. Print a fresh copy if you make a mistake. Do not try to correct a signed will with extra writing on the page.
Can I sign electronically?
No. A Scottish will generated by this service must be signed in wet ink on paper. A typed name, a mark on a screen, DocuSign, or any other e-sign method is not a valid Scottish will for this purpose.
Print the PDF. Sign with a pen, in the way the instructions describe, in front of (or with acknowledgement to) one suitable witness. Keep the signed original and tell your executors where it is.
An electronic copy can be a useful record of what you intended. It does not replace the signed paper will.
How do I update my will?
If you need to make changes, log back into your account, edit your existing will, and generate a new version. You must then print, sign, and have the new version witnessed.
Destroy the old printed will so nobody is left with two competing documents. Do not scribble informal changes on an old will. A fresh signed will is cleaner and easier for your executors to use.
Where should I keep my will?
Keep the original, signed document in a safe place, such as a fireproof safe at home, or lodged with a bank or solicitor. Tell your executors where it is. They will need the original to administer your estate. An unsigned PDF on a laptop is not enough on its own.
You can also lodge the will with the Registers of Scotland Register of Deeds. That is a paid, voluntary option. It is not required for validity, but it can help your executors find a recorded copy later.
If something goes wrong, who is responsible?
You are responsible for the accuracy of what you enter, for checking the PDF matches your wishes, and for signing and witnessing correctly. A generated PDF is not a valid will until it is properly executed.
We are not your solicitor. See our Legal Disclaimer for the full position.
Scots law you cannot ignore
What are Legal Rights?
Legal Rights are automatic claims that a spouse, civil partner, and children can make against your moveable estate, even if your will says something else.
They apply to moveables (money, investments, vehicles, and similar assets), not to heritage (land and buildings, including the house). That is why it is not accurate to say you can never leave someone out. You can often decide who inherits heritage, but you cannot simply write Legal Rights out of moveables.
If you leave a spouse or civil partner and children, each class is entitled to one-third of the net moveable estate. If you leave only a spouse or civil partner, or only children, that class is entitled to one-half. Adult children can claim. Grandchildren can sometimes claim through a deceased parent. See the full guide if that may apply.
A person usually elects between a gift in the will and Legal Rights. They do not normally take both. Cohabitants and unadopted stepchildren have no Legal Rights. Read the full explainer on Scottish Will Law.
What happens if I die without a will?
You die intestate. The Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 then divides the estate in a fixed order: Prior Rights, then Legal Rights, then the free estate.
Prior Rights give a surviving spouse or civil partner first claims on the house (up to a value, if they lived in it), furniture, and a cash sum. Legal Rights then apply to remaining moveables. Anything left is the free estate, which goes to relatives in a strict list.
An unmarried partner has no automatic share. They may have to go to court, which is uncertain, expensive, and not guaranteed. A will is the reliable way to provide for them. Read more on Scottish Will Law.
Does living together give my partner inheritance rights?
No. Cohabitants have no Legal Rights in Scotland. Living together, even for many years, does not give your partner the same automatic claims as a spouse or civil partner.
If you die without a will, they may be able to apply to the court for an award under section 29 of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006. That claim has a short time limit, it is not guaranteed, and it is not a substitute for a will.
If you want your partner to inherit, make a valid will that says so. The full background is on Scottish Will Law.
Does getting married revoke my will in Scotland?
No. Unlike in England and Wales, marriage or a civil partnership does not cancel a Scottish will. Your old will stays valid.
Your new spouse or civil partner will have Legal Rights in your moveable estate. Those rights can collide with gifts you made before you married. An old will that leaves everything to someone else can therefore sit alongside a new Legal Rights claim.
Write a new will when you marry or enter a civil partnership, so the document matches your new family and your wishes. This is general information, not personalised advice.
Does divorce cancel my will?
No. Divorce or dissolution does not cancel a Scottish will. The will stays valid.
Under section 1 of the Succession (Scotland) Act 2016, gifts and executor appointments in favour of the former spouse or civil partner are generally treated as if that person had died first, unless the will shows a different intention.
That default may not match what you now want. Make a new will after divorce or dissolution. This is high-level information, not personalised advice about your own order or agreement.
Can I leave someone out?
You can try, especially with heritage (the house and land). A spouse, civil partner, and children can still claim Legal Rights in your moveable estate, whatever the will says.
Cohabitants and unadopted stepchildren have no Legal Rights. If you want them to inherit, you must leave them something in a valid will. If you want to reduce what a spouse, civil partner, or child takes, you need to understand the split between heritage and moveables.
Leaving someone out can also increase the risk of a dispute. If that is your aim, speak to a solicitor rather than using a basic generated will. The fractions and the moveable-only rule are explained on Scottish Will Law.
What happens to the house if the title has a survivorship destination?
If the title says the house passes to the co-owner on death, that can override your will. This is a common Scottish problem: the will looks clear, but the house never forms part of the estate.
Titles sometimes use a survivorship destination (for example, to two people and the survivor of them). In that case the survivor may take the house automatically, even if the will leaves it to someone else.
If your title is joint with survivorship, or you are not sure what it says, speak to a solicitor. Checking title and changing a destination is legal work. It is outside the scope of this DIY tool.
After you die
Who can be an executor?
Family members and friends are commonly appointed. Ask them first, and name substitutes if your first choice cannot or will not act.
An executor can also be a beneficiary. It is very common to appoint your spouse or adult children as executors and also leave the estate to them. There is no rule against an executor inheriting under the will.
Choose people you trust to deal with paperwork, banks, and Confirmation. If the estate is complex, a solicitor can act as executor, for a fee.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is the Scottish court process that authorises executors to administer an estate. It is similar to probate in England and Wales. A self-proving will usually makes Confirmation smoother, because the court can rely on the signed and witnessed document. This site does not apply for Confirmation for you.
Can I name a guardian for children under 16?
Yes. You can appoint a guardian for children under 16. Guardians look after the children. Executors administer the estate. They are different roles, though the same person can do both if you wish.
Ask the people you name, and consider substitutes. A guardian appointment in a will is an important wish, but it is not a substitute for a wider family discussion or, in some cases, advice. If you have a complex family situation, or you worry that someone may challenge the appointment, speak to a solicitor.
Still have questions?
If your situation is complicated, we recommend speaking to a professional.