Cautionary tale: the £19.99 will that nearly cost a widow her home

At first glance, a £19.99 will might seem like a bargain. But as one grieving widow recently discovered, the true cost can be devastating.

Wendy Roberts lost her long-term partner Nigel Smith to a brain tumour in 2024. In the aftermath of her bereavement, she was hit with a demand for nearly £10,000—plus additional legal fees—after discovering a clause in a cheap online will that Nigel had made, through a service called Nine Minute Will.

What seemed like a simple document purchased for less than the cost of dinner included a hidden clause appointing the company’s parent firm, MedEx Direct, as executor of the estate.

Under the small print, this gave the company the right to charge a fee of 4% of the estate’s value, on top of legal fees and admin costs.

Nigel, a small business owner, almost certainly had no idea what he had agreed to. But that didn’t stop MedEx from threatening to sell the home he had shared with Wendy for over 20 years to recover their fees.

Sadly, this isn’t a rare case—it’s a symptom of a bigger issue in an unregulated industry. Will writing in England and Wales can be done by anyone. No legal training or qualifications, no oversight, and no legal obligation to act in the client’s best interest.

What went wrong – and how to avoid it

We have seen many people caught out by ‘DIY’ or online will services that seem low-cost but are riddled with hidden fees or have been poorly drafted. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Executor clauses with hidden fees

In this case, Wendy’s partner made a will that appointed a company as executor.  Having a professional executor can not only be useful, it can be a specific choice for some people who may not have family or friends able to do this on their behalf.

Unlike trusted family or friends who would not charge for their help, an Executor who is appointed to provide a service can charge thousands – especially when the small print is unclear or unfair.

Our advice: Don’t be persuaded into appointing the company making your will for you as an Executor if you are not 100% sure that this is what you want to do.  The choice is entirely yours.  If you do decide to appoint a professional, ask for confirmation of their fee policy to be confirmed separately and in writing.  At Jurit, we provide professional executor services and will always be clear about the associated fees.

Lack of regulation

Because will writing is unregulated, there is no mandatory training, insurance, or recourse if things go wrong. Anyone can set up shop online, and the buyer has little protection under consumer law unless they know what to look for.

Our advice: Use qualified professionals who are regulated—ideally solicitors, or members of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). These professionals are trained, insured, able to see the “bigger picture” (often addressing your Inheritance Tax position as part of their remit) and held to high ethical standards.

Small print and unclear terms

In this case, the person in question more than likely didn’t realise what he was signing up for. Many services hide crucial information about fees, powers, or liabilities in the fine print. Some contracts even give providers the right to change their terms later.

Our advice: Never sign anything you don’t fully understand. Reputable professionals will take the time to explain all terms clearly, and will not pressure you into extra services. Always obtain details of fees before you instruct them to proceed.

Why you shouldn’t cut corners with a will

It can be tempting to opt for a quick and cheap solution – especially when you’re healthy and believe your affairs are simple.

But a badly drafted or misleading will could have life-altering consequences for those left behind.

• A professionally drafted simple will which includes a thorough review of your Inheritance Tax position can cost less than £700.
• Complex estates with protection for vulnerable beneficiaries, trusts or business interests may cost more but are far less likely to be challenged or misinterpreted.
• Many solicitors offer free consultations, or discounted rates through charity partnerships and most are more than just “will writers”.

Top tips for estate planning

Our team of professional lawyers, including experts in Shari’a compliant wills, have worked on estates where the result of homemade DIY wills or those purchased online have cost thousands of pounds in legal fees to resolve.

To avoid ending up in a similar position, here are some top tips:

1. Check credentials – Work with externally regulated professionals.
2. Understand all costs – Ask for fee transparency in writing.
3. Choose executors you trust or appoint professional executors who are transparent about associated fees
4. Read everything – Never sign a document with unclear or rushed explanations.
5. Consider complexity – Even “simple” estates may need professional guidance.

At Jurit LLP, we combine legal rigour with compassion. Whether you’re preparing your will or dealing with a loved one’s estate, we can help you understand your options—and avoid any costly surprises, whilst saving Inheritance Tax for your loved ones. Not only this, when acting as professional executors, unlike some firms, we do not charge a percentage fee (or ‘ad valorem’ fee) of the estate – we only charge for the time spent on the estate.

Get in touch to speak to one of our private client lawyers about drafting a will or reviewing an existing one.