The rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made it possible to draft documents faster and cheaper than ever before. For something as crucial as a Will—the legal document that secures your legacy and protects your loved ones—the temptation to use a free or low-cost AI tool can be strong.
At KhanMather, we believe in embracing technology, but we must also issue a serious warning: AI cannot replace the expertise of a qualified solicitor when drafting a legally sound, complex Will in the UK.
While an AI can certainly generate a document that looks like a Will, the consequences of relying on technology for this vital legal step are often devastating, expensive, and irreversible.
The Fatal Flaws: Where AI Fails the Test
For a Will to be legally valid in England and Wales, it must meet stringent requirements laid out in the Wills Act 1837. AI fails to provide a safeguard against critical errors in three main areas:
- The Execution and Formalities Trap
A Will is not valid simply because it is written down. It must be executed correctly:
- It must be signed by the Testator (the person making the Will).
- The signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time.
- Each witness must then sign the Will in the Testator’s presence.
- Crucially, a witness (or their spouse/civil partner) cannot be a beneficiary of the Will.
AI has no way to monitor or enforce these physical, procedural requirements. An incorrectly witnessed Will—even one drafted with perfect legal language—is invalid. An error here can lead to the entire estate being distributed under the intestacy rules, completely overriding the Testator’s wishes.
- Lack of Personalised Advice and Context
AI is excellent at pattern recognition but terrible at human nuance. A solicitor’s role is not just to type a document; it is to provide advice based on your unique circumstances:
- Complex Families: Blended families, estranged children, or dependents with special needs require bespoke clauses, protective trusts, or letters of wishes that a template-driven AI is likely to miss.
- Tax Planning: AI cannot offer tailored, up-to-date advice on Inheritance Tax (IHT) mitigation, the use of transferable nil-rate bands, or other sophisticated tax planning strategies that can save your beneficiaries tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
- Overseas Assets and Business Interests: If you own property abroad or hold complex business assets, the Will requires specialist, jurisdictional advice that a generic AI cannot provide.
You don’t know what you don’t know. A solicitor will ask the critical, probing questions that you might never have considered.
- Ambiguity and “Hallucinations”
AI-generated text is prone to “hallucinations”—confidently asserting information that is incorrect—or simply using ambiguous language. In a Will, even minor ambiguity can lead to:
- Costly Disputes: Unclear wording often forces beneficiaries to seek court interpretation, leading to protracted, expensive legal battles that drain the estate and cause family conflict.
- Unintended Consequences: Vague terms can inadvertently create a different legal outcome than intended, potentially causing certain assets to be distributed in a non-tax-efficient way or to unintended recipients.
The True Cost of a DIY or AI Will
While the upfront cost of an AI tool may seem appealingly low, the eventual financial and emotional cost of an invalid or flawed Will is almost always exponentially higher:
| Initial Cost | Potential Future Cost |
| Low or Zero | Litigation to resolve disputes: Tens of Thousands of Pounds |
| Zero Accountability | Unplanned Inheritance Tax Liability: 40% of the estate above the threshold |
| No Personal Advice | Estate distributed under Intestacy Rules, ignoring your partner or wishes |
| No Professional Recourse | No professional indemnity insurance or SRA regulation to protect you from an error |
Protect Your Legacy with Professional Expertise
Making a Will is one of the most important legal acts you will ever undertake. It is an investment in your family’s future security and peace of mind.
At KhanMather, our solicitors combine deep legal expertise with a compassionate understanding of your personal situation. We ensure your Will is not only legally watertight but also perfectly tailored to your family structure and financial goals, protecting your assets from unnecessary tax and potential challenges.
Don’t let a fast, cheap AI gamble with your legacy. Contact Georgina Hardman at at KhanMather on 0161 850 9911 today for advice you can truly trust.