How to Book a Free Wills Month Appointment (Step-by-Step) - My Local Will Writer

There’s no central booking system for Free Wills Month. No online form. No confirmation email. No app. You find a participating solicitor, call them, and mention the scheme. That’s it.

It’s simple once you know the steps, but the process isn’t well explained anywhere. Most people assume there’s a sign-up page or a waitlist. There isn’t. Here’s exactly how to book your appointment for March 2026, what you’ll need, and what to do if you hit a wall.

Step-by-Step: How to Book Your Free Wills Month Appointment

1. Check you’re eligible. You need to be 55 or over. For couples, only one of you needs to qualify. Your will also needs to be “simple” by the scheme’s definition, meaning no trusts, business assets, overseas property, or complex family arrangements. If you’re not sure whether yours counts as simple, the solicitor will tell you at the appointment.
2. Visit freewillsmonth.org.uk. The postcode search goes live when the campaign opens. For March 2026, that’s 2 March. Enter your postcode to see participating solicitors in your area. The site shows their name, address and contact details.
3. Choose a solicitor. Pick one that’s convenient for you. If your nearest firm is already full, try widening the search radius. You’re not restricted to your exact postcode, and some nearby areas are listed as separate participating regions with their own firms.
4. Call them directly. Phone the solicitor and say you’d like to book a Free Wills Month appointment. There’s no online booking form, no central system. You deal with the firm directly. It’s a phone call, not a registration process.
5. Prepare for the appointment. Have your details ready: full names and addresses of your beneficiaries, who you want as executor, and any guardianship wishes if you have children under 18. The more prepared you are, the faster and smoother the appointment will be.

That’s the whole process. Five steps, one phone call, and your will gets written by a qualified solicitor at no cost.

What to Expect at the Appointment

If you’ve never made a will before, the appointment itself is straightforward. No need to be nervous about it.

• Most appointments are face-to-face at the solicitor’s office. Some firms offer phone or video. Worth asking when you book.
• A simple will typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.
• The solicitor will ask about your assets, who you want to leave things to, who you’d like as executor, and any guardianship wishes for children.
• They’ll draft the will and send it to you for review and signing. You’ll need two independent witnesses when you sign.
• If the solicitor decides your will is too complex for the free scheme, they’ll tell you at this stage. You’re not committed to anything, and they’ll usually explain your options for proceeding privately.

What If You Can’t Get an Appointment?

This is where things can fall apart for a lot of people. You follow the steps, call the solicitor, and find out all the slots are taken. It happens every campaign, often within the first week.

Three scenarios, three solutions.

All local slots are taken. This is the most common problem. Appointments are first-come, first-served with no waitlist. If your area is full, you can try neighbouring postcodes on freewillsmonth.org.uk, or you can skip the campaign entirely and do it online. My Local Will Writer lets you start your will online in about 15 to 20 minutes. No waiting, no campaign window, solicitor-checked.

You’re under 55. Free Wills Month has a strict age requirement. There’s no workaround. If you don’t qualify on age, My Local Will Writer has no age limit. You can make a will at any age, and there’s no need to wait for the next campaign.

Your estate is too complex. Trusts, business interests, overseas assets, blended families. The scheme won’t cover it. If your situation is more involved than the free service allows, you’ll need a paid service, but you’ll also get a will that properly addresses the complexity. My Local Will Writer handles complex wills with transparent pricing.

Whatever the reason, if Free Wills Month doesn’t work out, you can start your will online here.

Three Things That’ll Help You Get a Slot

If you’re eligible and determined to use the scheme, these will improve your chances:

• Search on opening day. The March 2026 campaign opens on 2 March. The first week is when most slots are taken. Don’t plan to “get round to it” later in the month.
• Call in the morning. Solicitors’ phone lines tend to be quieter before lunch. You’re more likely to get through and book without waiting.
• Try neighbouring postcodes. If your nearest firm is full, enter postcodes for nearby towns or boroughs. Some areas are listed separately on the Free Wills Month site and may have their own availability.

Whether you book through the scheme or go online, the important thing is getting the will done. The process of booking a Free Wills Month appointment is simple. The hard part is acting quickly enough. If you can, use it. If you can’t, don’t let that be the reason it slips down the list again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a Free Wills Month appointment?

Visit freewillsmonth.org.uk when the campaign opens (2 March for March 2026), enter your postcode to find a participating solicitor, and call them directly to book. There’s no online booking form.

Is there an online booking form for Free Wills Month?

No. There’s no central booking system. You find a participating solicitor through the Free Wills Month website and contact them directly by phone to arrange your appointment.

What do I need to bring to my Free Wills Month appointment?

Have the full names and addresses of your beneficiaries, your preferred executor, and any guardianship wishes for children under 18. The more prepared you are, the smoother the appointment.

What happens if Free Wills Month appointments are full?

Try neighbouring postcodes on freewillsmonth.org.uk. If nothing is available, you can make your will online with My Local Will Writer in about 15 to 20 minutes, with no age limit or campaign window.

Can I book Free Wills Month if I’m under 55?

No. The scheme requires you to be 55 or over. If you’re younger, you can make a will online with My Local Will Writer at any age, or try the Octopus Legacy scheme which has no age restriction.

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