Over half of UK adults surveyed by the charity Will Aid believe they should be legally permitted to sign and store their wills electronically. The results highlight a disconnect between consumer expectations and the law, the charity says.
The survey of 2,000 people across the UK suggests there is growing appetite for reform, with 54% of respondents saying they should be able to witness wills electronically and sign and store wills digitally.
Just under half of those surveyed, (46%) said witnessing wills via video, which was permitted during the pandemic on platforms such as Zoom or FaceTime, should be reinstated.
Some respondents are still opposed to digitalisation, with 16% saying they oppose electronic signing and 23% against remote witnessing, citing potential security concerns.
Although video witnessing was temporarily permitted during the pandemic, anecdotal evidence at the time suggested take up was low. Temporary amendments to legislation to enable the practice were not extended beyond the 31st January 2024 deadline, with the parliamentary under secretary of state for justice Mike Freer saying at the time the practice should be regarded as a “last resort due to increased risks of formalities not being properly followed or risk of undue influence”.
The Law Commission’s landmark Modernising Wills Law report, published in May 2025, recommended sweeping changes to the legislation, which has been in place since 1837. The recommendations, which include the formal recognition of electronic wills and the permanent introduction of remote witnessing, still await government implementation.
Commenting on the Will Aid survey, Lauren Smith, partner and head of wills, trusts and probate at Taylor Bracewell, said: “Unfortunately, the law never seems to move as fast as technology, and often people tend to forget this. Whilst so much of everyday life is now dealt with online it is important to realise that wills must still meet certain criteria which was set out nearly 200 years ago.
“There are discussions of reforms, but lots of factors have to be considered to ensure that the Will maker is protected – and to ensure that a Will cannot be unlawfully made on behalf of someone else.”
Will Aid’s campaign director Peter de Vena Franks added: “The public is clearly ready for the law to modernise in this respect. While the Law Commission has provided a roadmap for modernising these Victorian-era rules, we would welcome the changes come in sooner rather than later.”
The annual Will Aid campaign will take place in November, with participating solicitors across the UK volunteering their time to write basic wills in exchange for a voluntary donation. Suggested donations are £120 for a single will and £200 for a pair of mirror wills.
Donations support the work of Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Crisis, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Shelter and Trócaire (Northern Ireland).
