Can AI be trusted to write your will?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming embedded in everyday life, including how people plan for the future.

A survey by Censuswide, commissioned by the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, revealed earlier this year that 72% of people in their thirties have considered using AI to write their wills.

That same survey found that only half (52%) of wills in the UK have been drafted by a legal professional, which has raised concerns among industry professionals.

Using AI to write your will might seem like a time and cost-saving shortcut, but it could leave your loved ones tangled in legal knots. In its current state, AI cannot replace qualified expert advice when it comes to one of life’s most important documents.

UK wills must follow strict rules to be valid, and if you get even one of them wrong – for instance, it must be in writing and signed properly in front of two independent witnesses - your final wishes might be thrown out entirely, so don’t rely on AI to replace expert advice.

So, what's the big deal, you ask?

To see just how reliable AI might be when it comes to something as important as writing a will, the team at MoneySuperMarket put an AI tool to the test.

The basic document it produced includes a disclaimer, warning users that the template is no substitute for proper legal advice:

“Here is a basic UK will template suitable for a straightforward estate. This is not a substitute for legal advice, especially if your estate is complex or if you have children, property abroad, or tax issues. You should consider having it reviewed by a solicitor.” ¹

This alone was a clear warning to us that AI should not be solely used when writing a will.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

There are important details that AI overlooks

AI doesn’t know if you’ve got a complicated family situation, a former spouse in the picture, or whether parts of your estate might be contested. It may include vague wording that could lead to messy disputes.

For instance, saying things like “I leave everything to my family” might sound fine, but can be problematic if your relatives interpret it differently.

One key detail that often gets missed in DIY or AI-generated wills is a revocation clause - the simple line that cancels any previous wills you’ve made.

It might not sound like a big deal, but without it, a previous will could still be considered valid, leading to confusion, disputes, or parts of your estate going to the wrong people.

Writing a will is worth doing right

Writing a will is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make, so it’s worth doing it right. AI can be a useful starting point, but don’t rely on it to do the whole job.

While you don’t legally need a solicitor to write a will and AI can serve as a basic starting point, consulting a legal or will writing expert will ensure it is legally sound and avoids potential disputes. 

At MoneySuperMarket, we understand the importance of having a will in place, which is my we've teamed up with Farewill - an online will writing service. By using the code 'moneysupermarket', you can take advantage of a 33% discount on Farewill's services.

<sup>Sources
1. Methodology: ChatGPT, OpenAI. Response to “draft me a will, UK.” [11 July 2025]</sup>