Should you use AI to write your will?

12 June 2025

Five years ago, the term “artificial intelligence” would have sounded alien to most people. But today, AI is everywhere – providing anything from essay-writing support to cybersecurity features your bank or building society uses to protect your money.

Whether you are already using AI tools at work or at home, or you are still unfamiliar with this type of technology, you could be surprised to learn new statistics surrounding AI and how it could shape our financial lives in future.

47% of people would outsource the writing of their will to AI, according to data Today’s Wills and Probate published in May.

What’s more:

• 49% would trust AI to review a rental agreement
• 46% would use it to challenge a parking ticket
• 17% said they would trust AI to assist with divorce or redundancy issues
• 11% would rely on it with criminal defence work.

Whichever side of the argument you fall on, the development of AI is not slowing down. So, the question remains: does AI have a place in estate planning, and if so, what does this mean for you?

Keep reading as we break down this question and give our view on the role of AI in estate planning.

Generative AI can be a helpful tool, but relying on it exclusively is often unwise

“Generative AI” is a term used to describe AI programmes that produce something “new” based on data that you input, and that it gathers from the wider online world. The most common example you might have heard of is ChatGPT, a piece of software that can write anything from a quick email to – you’ve guessed it – a last will and testament.

Tools like ChatGPT are undeniably impressive. As an example, we asked ChatGPT to produce a will based on the following input:

• The will is being written on behalf of Joe Bloggs.
• The executor is his wife, Wendy Bloggs.
• Joe’s two children, David and Sarah, are the beneficiaries of the estate. David will inherit the house, while Sarah inherits Joe’s pensions, cash, and investments. David also inherits Joe’s vintage Ferrari.
• Any unwanted belongings from the home should be donated to St Luke’s Hospice, Winsford.

ChatGPT produced something that looks, overall, like a valid will. It assimilated the information correctly, and even provided guidelines about having your will witnessed by two adults and reviewed by a solicitor. It also offered to export the will into a PDF or Word document, so that the user can print it when they need to.

From this, it’s clear that AI has some capabilities when it comes to helping you form an estate plan.

However, what was missing from ChatGPT’s example “will” was:

• Any nuance regarding Joe Bloggs’ beneficiary choices
• Legal peace of mind – while it looks correct, a solicitor might be able to point out key flaws
• Independent advice about the decisions Bloggs has made, such as naming his wife as his executor, or leaving an heirloom to his son while leaving his daughter out.

Without human input, this crucial document could be littered with errors (legal or human), be incomplete, and at worst, be declared invalid when you pass away.

So, it is always preferable to have your will drawn up by a professional rather than taking a DIY approach. As this document contains your legacy, there is no good reason to leave it in the hands of ever-evolving new technology.

Will disputes are on the rise, and placing yours in the hands of AI could lead to one

Wills are, for the most part, a simple document that every adult should have. But the devil’s in the details when it comes to getting your will right – and getting it wrong could be costly and stressful for your family after you are gone.

Indeed, a 2024 report from Today’s Wills and Probate reveals that will disputes are on the rise in the UK. There are now around 10,000 annual cases of will disputes being reported in the UK.

The key reasons behind the rise in disputes include:

• Will validity. In order for a will to be valid in the UK, it needs to have been witnessed by two people, and at least one should preferably be a professional such as a doctor or solicitor. A will may be declared invalid if you were not considered to have full mental capacity when making it, if it is incomplete, or if you were not aware of its contents. If the will is not valid, the estate will be distributed according to intestacy law, rather than in line with your wishes.
• The Great Wealth Transfer. With around £7 trillion set to be passed down by 2050, it is understandable that beneficiaries want their fair share. If you are handing down substantial wealth, this warrants even more caution where your will is concerned.
• An increase in complex family structures. The nuclear family is increasingly rare. If yours is a blended family (for instance, you have children from multiple marriages, are part of a same-sex partnership with adopted children, or are estranged from some family members), your estate plan will require careful thought.

There is no denying that generative AI can be a helpful tool, especially in a professional environment. But with the above points in mind, it simply isn’t worth placing such an important part of your estate plan in the hands of this technology.

Instead, it’s wise to seek the will writing services of a professional who can discuss your decisions, help you iron out any complex bequests, and give you and your beneficiaries peace of mind.

We’re here to help

If you are looking for will-writing services, we can put you in touch with trusted legal professionals.

Alongside this, our financial planners are here to review your estate plan and help you achieve a tax-efficient, fair, and smooth transfer of wealth to the next generation.

Email info@depledgeswm.com or call 0161 8080200.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate estate planning or will writing.