The Hidden Risks of DIY Wills: Why Cutting Corners Could Cost Your Loved Ones

The Hidden Risks of DIY Wills: Why Cutting Corners Could Cost Your Loved Ones

We’ve all done it - Googled symptoms, looked up tutorials, maybe even tried fixing the boiler with a YouTube video. But when it comes to writing your Will, taking the DIY route can have far-reaching consequences that no search engine can fix.

It might seem like a simple way to save a bit of money. Download a template, fill in some blanks, and job done right?

Unfortunately, it’s rarely that straightforward.

At Secure Inheritance, we’ve seen first-hand what can go wrong. And while DIY Wills are often well-intentioned, they’re also one of the most common causes of costly and painful mistakes that families only discover when it’s too late.

Here’s why it matters - and how to get it right from the start.

Who Witnesses Your Will Really Does Matter

It might sound like a small detail, but choosing the wrong witnesses can completely invalidate your will. We’ve seen cases where loved ones were left out—simply because a beneficiary signed as a witness.

It’s not about being careless. It’s about not knowing the rules and the rules around witnesses are strict.

With the right guidance, this is an easy thing to get right. Without it, your wishes might not count.

Inheritance Tax Is Easy to Miss and Expensive to Ignore

As house prices have gone up, more and more families are finding themselves caught by inheritance tax without realising. DIY Wills often skip over this part entirely, meaning families can be left with a bill they weren’t expecting and one that could have been avoided with a bit of planning.

Nobody wants their loved ones to lose out because of an oversight.

Life Changes; So Should Your Will

Marriage. Divorce. Step-children. Grandchildren. These things change our families and they change how a will should be written. DIY Wills don’t always take this into account, and that can lead to people you care about being left out.

We often hear people say, “We trust each other - it’ll be fine.” But trust isn’t legally binding. The law doesn’t read between the lines.

One Word Out of Place Can Cause Chaos

It might be a missing name, an unclear instruction, or just the wrong wording but small mistakes in a Will can cause big problems. We’ve seen families go through long, stressful probate processes, all because of a simple error that could have been avoided with a bit of help.

No one wants to leave that kind of burden behind.

Legal Requirements Are Not Optional

 A Will is a legal document, and it needs to meet certain standards to hold up in court. Many DIY wills don’t. And if that happens, your estate might be handled as if you never wrote a Will at all, leaving everything to the laws of intestacy, not your wishes.

That’s not just frustrating. It’s heart-breaking for the families left to pick up the pieces.

What It All Comes Down To

Writing your Will isn’t something you do for yourself; it’s something you do for the people you care about most. And while a DIY kit might look like a quick fix, it often ends up being an expensive and emotional problem waiting to happen.

We’re not here to scare you. We’re here to help.

At Secure Inheritance, we don’t just “write Wills.” We help you think through the details that matter, so you can be confident your wishes will be followed and your loved ones protected.

You don’t need legal jargon or pressure. You just need someone to talk to; someone who listens, explains things clearly, and helps you make the right decisions.

Let’s Get It Right Together

 Whether you’ve got a Will that needs updating, or you’re starting from scratch, we’re here to walk you through it step by step, no rush, no push.

Because your Will should be more than words on a page. It should be a gift of clarity and care, left for the people you love the most.