Free Wills Month Is Over: Here’s How to Get Your Will Done Now - My Local Will Writer
If you’ve searched for Free Wills Month and found that the campaign has closed, you’re not alone. It happens twice a year. The March campaign ends, thousands of people who meant to act discover they’ve left it too late, and the next one isn’t until October.
You haven’t missed your chance to make a will though. You’ve just missed one route. And it’s not even the only free one.
Why did Free Wills Month close early?
Free Wills Month runs in March and October, but the name is a bit misleading. The campaign offers a limited number of solicitor appointments, handed out first-come, first-served. Once those slots are gone, they’re gone. There’s no waitlist. In some areas, firms were fully booked within the first week or two.
That isn’t a failing of the scheme. It’s a popular campaign with a fixed budget, and demand simply outstrips supply. It happens every time, particularly in bigger cities.
If you missed it, that’s frustrating. But it doesn’t need to stop you.
Your options right now
You’ve got four ways to get your will done, listed here in order of how quickly you can move.
1. Do it online today
For most people, this is the quickest and simplest option. With My Local Will Writer, you can start your will online in about 15 to 20 minutes. There’s no age restriction, no appointment to book, and no campaign window to hit. Every will is solicitor-checked.
It’s not free. But it’s a fraction of what a high-street solicitor would charge. And the biggest risk after missing Free Wills Month isn’t the cost. It’s delay. A lot of people mean to come back to it later, six months disappear, and the will still hasn’t been done.
2. Use a year-round charity scheme
This is the bit most people don’t know about. Free will writing for charity isn’t limited to Free Wills Month. Several charities offer it all year round:
- Macmillan Cancer Support offers free wills for anyone aged 18 or over, anywhere in the UK. Online, by phone, or face-to-face with a solicitor. Available all year.
- National Free Wills Network partners with 150+ charities to provide solicitor-written wills. Typically available to over-55s or charity supporters. Year-round.
- RNLI offers free wills for anyone over 18, online or through their solicitor partner network. Year-round.
These schemes hope you’ll consider leaving a gift to the charity in your will, but there’s no obligation. They’re proper, solicitor-backed services.
3. Wait for the next Free Wills Month
The campaign usually comes back in October. Free Wills Month October 2026 hasn’t been formally announced yet, but based on every previous year it’s expected to open early in the month. If your situation isn’t urgent and you’re comfortable waiting, you can register for email reminders at freewillsmonth.org.uk so you’re ready on opening day.
A few things to keep in mind though. The October campaign covers different areas to March, so your postcode may or may not be included. Slots fill just as quickly. And you need to be 55 or over to qualify.
It’s also worth being honest with yourself about whether waiting is really the right call. If you’ve got children, a partner, property, or clear wishes about what should happen, those things don’t pause because a campaign isn’t running.
4. Go to a solicitor directly
If your estate is complex, or you want face-to-face advice, a high-street solicitor is always an option. A simple will typically costs £150 to £300. Mirror wills for couples run £250 to £500. There’s no waiting, no age restriction, and no limit on what they can handle.
Don’t want to wait? Start your will online here.
When is the next Free Wills Month?
Free Wills Month runs twice a year. March and October. The March 2026 campaign opened on 2 March and has now closed. The next one is expected in October 2026, though the exact opening date varies year to year.
If you want to use the October campaign, register for reminders on the Free Wills Month website and search on opening day. The first week is when most slots are taken.
But here’s the honest question: is waiting six months really the best plan? Major life events don’t arrange themselves around charity campaign dates. If you’ve already tried once and missed it, there’s no guarantee October will go any differently unless you’re ready early and move fast.
What to look for if you’re paying for a will
If you decide not to wait, here’s what to look for in any paid service. There’s no single best free will writing service in the UK, and paid options vary widely too, so it’s worth knowing what separates a good service from a poor one.
First, look for some level of solicitor involvement. A will is too important to leave to a bare-bones form builder that spits out a template and sends you on your way. You want confidence that what you’re putting in place actually works for your circumstances.
Second, watch for hidden upsells. Some services draw people in with a low headline price, then start adding charges the moment anything looks slightly less than basic. If pricing isn’t clear upfront, that’s usually a warning sign.
Third, make sure the process leads to a will that can be properly signed and witnessed. A will isn’t valid just because you filled in a form online. The service should make clear what happens next and what you need to do to make it legally binding.
And if it isn’t free, be realistic rather than fixated on the headline. Paying a transparent fee for a properly prepared will is often better than spending months waiting for a free appointment that never comes.
Can you register for next time?
Yes. You can register for email reminders through the official Free Wills Month website. That gives you notice when the next campaign opens, so you can act on day one rather than finding out a week late.
It doesn’t reserve you a place. It just means you’ll know when to start searching. If you’ve got your heart set on using Free Wills Month, that’s worth doing.
But if you’d rather not go through the same scramble again, there’s a simpler route: get it done now and move on.
But the important thing isn’t whether you got one of the free slots. It’s whether you end up with a will in place. If you still want to sort it today, you can start your will online and get it moving now.
Frequently asked questions
Has Free Wills Month 2026 ended?
Yes. The March 2026 campaign has ended. Free Wills Month offers a limited number of appointments each campaign, and once they’re taken the campaign closes. The next one is expected in October 2026.
When is the next Free Wills Month?
Free Wills Month runs in March and October each year. The next campaign is expected in October 2026. You can register for reminders at freewillsmonth.org.uk.
Can I still get a free will outside of Free Wills Month?
Yes. Several charities offer free will writing all year round, including Macmillan Cancer Support (over 18, UK-wide), the National Free Wills Network, and the RNLI. There’s no obligation to leave a charitable gift.
How much does a will cost if I don’t use a free scheme?
Online will services typically cost £30 to £90. A solicitor usually charges £150 to £300 for a simple will. Mirror wills for couples run £250 to £500.
Is it worth waiting for the next Free Wills Month?
If your situation isn’t urgent, you can wait. But slots fill quickly, your area may not be covered in October, and you need to be 55 or over. If you have children, property, or dependents, getting a will done now is usually better than waiting.
What’s the difference between Free Wills Month and Octopus Legacy?
Free Wills Month is tied to specific campaign windows and local solicitors, with an age requirement of 55+. Octopus Legacy runs its own free will scheme at different times of year, is open to all ages, and includes online options.