How do I go about making a Will?

The options, generally, are:

Do it yourself

There are a number of 'packs' available from stationers, or you can write out your Will on a piece of paper. Unfortunately, experience has shown that a large proportion of DIY Wills are, for various reasons, invalid.  Also you won’t have any advice on content so you may not end up with a Will that best suits your circumstances.  However if you have straightforward wishes and can express this in a coherent and legal fashion you may be able to write your Will yourself, but make sure the Will is correctly signed and witnessed.

On line provider 

A website will take your instructions (i.e your personal information and wishes) from which a Will is then drafted. The quality and effectiveness of the Will that you get will depend on the information that the website chooses to collect from you.  Again, you won’t have any advice on content so you may not end up with a Will that best suits your circumstances.

Bank

A bank employee will usually take your instructions and will then forward the details on to a processing centre. You may not receive any bespoke advice on how best to structure your Will unless whoever is collecting your information is trained and qualified in Wills, so again you may not end up with a Will that best suits your circumstances.

Solicitor 

They will take your instructions, give you any advice that you need and then draft your bespoke document based upon your circumstances, wishes, hopes and concerns. Make sure that the person you deal with at the firm is trained and qualified in Wills - not all solicitors are - and not everyone who works at a firm of solicitors is a solicitor. Ask to see their qualifications. 

Professional Will Writer 

They will take your instructions, give you any advice that you need and then draft your bespoke document based upon your circumstances, wishes, hopes and concerns. Most Will Writers will make home visits and visit outside normal working hours. Make sure that whoever you deal with at the firm is trained and qualified in Wills - not everyone who works at a firm of Will Writers is a qualified Will writer. Ask to see their qualifications. Make sure that the Will writer has professional indemnity insurance, is a member of a professional body and subscribes to a Code of Practice including a complaints procedure which is independent from the Will Writer and independent from the professional body.