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Mirror Wills

Two matching wills for couples whose wishes are aligned — fixed fee from £160 the pair, both wills written together.

What are mirror wills?

Mirror wills are two separate wills — one for each partner — written so that the wishes “mirror” each other. Typically that means “everything to my partner if they survive me, then everything to our children equally if they don’t”. Each person still has their own legally distinct will (you can’t legally have a single joint will in England and Wales) but the structure and outcome is the same.

Because we’re writing two very similar documents at the same consultation, mirror wills are by far the most cost-effective way for couples to put their affairs in order. Married couples, civil partners, and unmarried couples who own a home together all benefit from having mirror wills in place.

Why couples need them

Many people assume their husband, wife or partner will automatically inherit everything. That’s only partly true for married couples and civil partners, and for unmarried couples it isn’t true at all. Without a will, intestacy rules can leave a surviving partner with significantly less than the deceased intended — and unmarried partners with absolutely nothing, even after decades together.

Mirror Wills

Mirror wills from £160 the pair

Both wills, both consultations, both signings — fixed fee, no extras.

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What mirror wills typically cover

A pair of mirror wills generally sets out:

  • Everything to the surviving partner on first death.
  • Everything to the children (or named beneficiaries) equally on second death.
  • Substitute beneficiaries if a child predeceases either of you, often grandchildren or named alternatives.
  • The same executors for both wills — usually each other in the first instance, plus an adult child or trusted family member.
  • Guardians for any minor children.
  • Specific gifts, charitable legacies, and funeral wishes — these can differ between the two wills if you’d like.

Are mirror wills legally binding on the survivor?

This is one of the most misunderstood points in will writing. Mirror wills are not mutual wills. Each partner is free to change their own will at any time after the first death, even if the new will completely overrides what was originally agreed. If that worries you — for example you have stepchildren or a blended family and want to guarantee that everyone benefits in the end — we’ll walk you through the alternatives. A property protection trust is the most common solution and we cover it in detail at the consultation.

Mirror Wills advice

What do mirror wills cost?

Mirror wills are £160 the pair, all-in. That includes the free consultation for both of you, drafting both wills, two home visits (one consultation, one signing), proper witnessing, and free secure storage of both originals. Compared to two single wills it’s a significant saving, reflecting the fact that we’re writing both at the same appointment.

Add a pair of Property & Finance LPAs at the same time and the package price is reduced further. Most couples take the opportunity to sort wills, LPAs and storage in a single visit — everything done, then forgotten about until something changes.

Estate planning

What happens after we sign?

Once both wills are signed and witnessed correctly, they’re immediately legally binding. We’ll either store them safely for you free of charge or hand them back if you’d rather keep them at home, and we’ll register them on the National Will Register through Certainty so future executors can locate them with a single search.

Couples can ask us to keep them on file for periodic reviews. Marriage, divorce, the birth of grandchildren, the death of a beneficiary or a major change in assets are all reasons to revisit your wills. We don’t pester — but we’ll send a friendly reminder every five years inviting you to check whether everything still reads the way you want.

Common scenarios for mirror wills

Couples in their 30s and 40s with young children often need mirror wills to formally appoint guardians and ring-fence assets for their children’s future. Couples in their 50s and 60s commonly use them when they’ve paid off the mortgage and want everything to go cleanly to children on second death. Couples in retirement often combine mirror wills with a property protection trust to help safeguard the family home from being entirely consumed by long-term care costs.

Common questions

Frequently asked

Are mirror wills the same as joint wills?

No. Joint wills are very rare in England and Wales and almost never recommended. Mirror wills are two separate documents that happen to say the same thing. Each person remains free to change their own will at any time.

What if we’re not married?

Mirror wills are arguably even more important for unmarried couples, because intestacy rules give an unmarried partner no automatic inheritance whatsoever. Without a will, your home and savings could end up with parents, siblings or even distant relatives instead of your partner.

Can our mirror wills include trusts?

Yes. We can build trusts into mirror wills — commonly a property protection trust or a discretionary trust for children — to give you more control over how and when your estate is distributed. We’ll explain the options at no extra cost during the consultation.

What if we change our minds later?

Each of you can update your own will at any time. We charge a discounted rate for codicils and a small fee for full re-writes for existing clients. Many couples make minor updates every five to ten years.

Related services

Property Protection Trust

Help shield your share of the home.

Learn more →

Protect what matters most

Free, no-obligation consultation in your home or by video. Fixed-fee wills from £95.

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