For the first time since IRN Legal Reports began tracking will-making trends, over four in ten UK adults now have a will, marking a significant milestone in consumer engagement with end-of-life planning.
According to the UK Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2025, 41% of UK adults have made a will – up from 38% in 2024. This equates to around 22 million people. Yet despite the rise, many people – especially those under 55 – still haven’t “got round to it,” with inertia cited by 54% of non-will holders as the main reason.
While law firms and solicitors remain the most used source for will writing, their market share is shrinking. In 2025, only 49% of consumers used a solicitor, down from 56% in 2020. Alternatives such as specialist will writers, DIY templates, and hybrid services are becoming more popular, particularly among younger adults.
“Unbundling” services – where clients start their will themselves but rely on professionals for complex parts – have also grown from 4% in 2023 to 10% in 2025.
What’s more, in 2025, 85% of clients paid a fixed price, with a median cost of £130. The traditional hourly rate is nearly obsolete, representing just 5% of all fees. The competitive market has also led to increased availability of free will services, offered through promotions or charity partnerships – though these fell slightly to 16% in 2025.
While margins remain slim for will writing, consumer interest in related services is growing. These include:
- Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) advice, used by 22% (up from 15% in 2023)
- Funeral planning, now at 15%
- Prepaid probate plans, up from 4% to 9%
Interest in digital assets is growing, with 39% of adults including or intending to include digital legacies in their will, up from 36% last year. Conversely, charitable donations in wills fell slightly to 24%, suggesting a shift in priorities or reduced campaign engagement.
Despite increased engagement, many adults remain confused about regulation. A significant 40% incorrectly believe all will writing services are regulated, though many non-solicitor providers operate unregulated.
Probate is still considered simple by most who’ve gone through the process, especially when the will is clearly written and the estate is straightforward. However, 45% now say it took longer than expected, up from 40% in 2024.
Meanwhile, 59% used the Ministry of Justice’s online probate portal, a sign of increasing digitisation.
The UK Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2025 analyses the findings from a consumer survey of 680 adults with a will and 270 adults involved in probate. It also asks a sample of adults without a will why they haven’t written one. Where possible, results are compared with previous annual surveys.
Reader Offer: Today’s Wills and Probate readers can order their copy of the latest UK Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2025 at the discounted rate of £530 (RRP: £650).
You can order your report via the IRN Legal Website: https://www.irnlegalreports.com/store/IRN-Client-Discount-Code-1-p639576912
IRN Legal Reports is a standalone market intelligence company which was spun out of IRN Research in 2022. In 2022, IRN Research decided to split its operations, with IRN Legal Reports taking on the responsibility of producing the annual legal market and consumer research reports.
One Response
As the tech and innovation drives estate planning services and improves the client journey for clients to be empowered to make informed decisions then the opportunities are significant.