Law Reform: Making a Will Could Soon Be as Easy as Sending an Email
Electronic wills could soon become a legal reality, making it easier to write and store your will securely online without physical paper or in-person witnesses.
Most people still write their wills on paper, but that could be about to change. The Law Commission has proposed making electronic wills legal in England and Wales. This reform could make will-making faster, easier and more secure for everyone.
✍️ A Will for the Digital Age
Making a will is one of the most important things a person can do to ensure their property and wishes are respected after they pass away. For many years, doing so has required paper, pen, and two witnesses physically present to sign off.
That is now changing.
The England and Wales Law Commission has proposed reforms to bring the law of wills into the digital era.
The current law on wills is nearly 200 years old. It was created in a time before emails, video calls, or digital storage. Yet these tools are now part of everyday life.
The Law Commission has said it is time for the law to reflect how people actually live. A will written on paper and stored in a drawer no longer makes sense for everyone.
Electronic wills could allow people to make their wills using computers or smartphones, and store them securely online. The aim is not to lower standards, but to update them. An electronic will should be functionally equivalent to a paper will.
The Law Commission has been clear that any digital system must still protect people from fraud, mistakes, or pressure. Security, reliability, and proof of intention are just as important online as they are on paper.
There are also wider benefits. Making wills more accessible could help younger people and those who find traditional processes difficult. It could also reduce the number of people who die without any will in place; a situation that can cause confusion and conflict in probate.
The Law Commission has suggested that electronic wills should be allowed, but only under a carefully regulated system. This would include strict technical standards and new rules for how wills are signed and witnessed digitally.
These reforms matter because wills affect everyone. Whether someone has a lot or a little, the law should make it easier to plan for the future, not harder.
💡 What Is an Electronic Will?
An electronic will is a will that is created and stored in digital form rather than on paper. It is a type of will that could be written, signed, and witnessed using electronic means, such as on a computer or tablet, and stored as a digital file.