UK Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2026
Published in May 2026 (PDF format, 38 pages), The UK Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2026
analyses the findings from a consumer survey of 640 adults with a will and 336 adults involved in probate. It also asks a sample of adults without a will why they haven’t written one. This report follows similar reports in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 and, where relevant, results from the latest survey are compared with the previous 3 or 4 years.
REPORT CONTENTS
Four-out-of-ten adults have a will 4
Law firms/solicitors used by largest group but their share is falling. 5
Largest percentage go back to a law firm they are familiar with. 5
Fixed fees paid by over eight-out-of-ten clients. 6
Demand for, and interest in, related services continues to grow.. 6
Awareness increases for nine out of 15 brands in latest year. 7
More interested in a charitable donation, digital assets included by over a third. 7
Large majority find probate simple but growing number experiencing delays. 7
Clear majority pay for probate support via a fixed fee. 8
Majority would support digital writing and witnessing of wills. 8
Consumer confusion over will writing regulation remains an issue. 8
Background to the wills market. 10
Four out of ten adults have made a will 10
Those not making a will – most have just not got round to it. 13
New will writing services have emerged and share of law firms is slipping. 15
Most shop around before making a choice. 18
Consumers turn to law firms/solicitors used before and recommendations. 19
Fixed fees models are ubiquitous, median fee £132. 21
Growing use of some related services. 25
Will Writing – Consumer Choices. 27
Increasing interest in services in related areas. 27
Interest in charitable donations in wills, dealing with digital legacies. 29
Cooperative Legal and Irwin Mitchell – only brands recognised by a majority. 30
will witnessing and REgulation. 33
Mixed views on online wills witnessing and still confusion over regulation. 33
Dealing with Estate Administration. 35
Fixed fees now account for a clear majority of all probate advice fees. 38
