Legal Disclaimer

Last updated: 25 September 2026

The short version

OpenWill is not a law firm and doesn't give legal advice.

Will laws differ from country to country. Your will is only valid once it's signed and witnessed properly under the law that applies to you.

If your situation is complex, please speak to a lawyer where you live.

1. We are not a law firm

OpenWill is a technology service that helps you record your wishes and create a will. We are not a law firm. We are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a bar association, or any other legal regulator anywhere in the world, and using OpenWill does not create a lawyer-client relationship.

Nothing on OpenWill is legal, tax or financial advice.

2. General information only

The guidance, explanations, templates and wording we provide are general. They can't take account of every detail of your circumstances.

OpenWill is available worldwide, but will and inheritance laws vary a great deal between countries, and sometimes between states, provinces or regions within a country. We provide country-specific wording for England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. For other countries, our wording is general and may need to be adapted by a local lawyer. Laws also change over time.

3. Your will must be signed and witnessed properly

A will made using OpenWill is not valid until it's signed and witnessed in line with the law that applies to you. We explain the general steps, but it's your responsibility to follow the rules where you live. A will that isn't signed or witnessed correctly may be invalid, and your estate may then pass under local default inheritance rules instead of according to your wishes.

Requirements differ. For example:

many countries require you to sign in front of two independent adult witnesses, who then sign as well;
some places require or allow a notary, and some recognise handwritten wills;
in many places, including England and Wales, a beneficiary (or their spouse or partner) who witnesses your will may lose their gift; and
electronic signatures and video witnessing are not accepted for wills in many countries.

4. Local inheritance rules may apply

In some countries, the law decides who inherits part or all of an estate, whatever a will says. This includes forced heirship rules (common in many civil law countries), religious inheritance rules (such as Islamic inheritance law), and customary law. Where these rules apply, your will may not be able to change them.

5. When you should get independent legal advice

We strongly recommend speaking to a qualified lawyer where you live if, for example:

we don't provide country-specific wording for your country;
you own property or other assets in more than one country;
forced heirship, religious or customary inheritance rules may apply to you;
you own a business, farm or agricultural land;
you want to set up trusts, or leave assets to someone who can't manage their own affairs;
you have a blended family, or want to leave out a spouse, partner or child;
you expect your will to be challenged;
your estate may be subject to inheritance or estate tax; or
you have any doubt about your capacity to make a will, or feel under pressure from anyone.

OpenWill can help you arrange an independent review. Reviewers are separate from OpenWill and are responsible for their own advice.

6. AI-generated content

Some features use artificial intelligence. AI output can be incomplete or wrong. Always check it carefully before relying on it.

7. Live Will

Live Will releases documents you've stored, according to your instructions. It doesn't give anyone legal authority to deal with your estate, and it doesn't replace probate or the equivalent court or registry process in your country.

8. No guarantee

While we take care over our content, we don't guarantee that a will made with OpenWill will be valid, will achieve your aims, or won't be challenged. See our Terms of Service for the full details of our responsibilities.