Velati

Mirror wills

Two wills, written together, for one family.

Mirror wills are the most common shape of will for couples — each of you leaves your estate to the other first, and then on to your children (or chosen beneficiaries) when the second of you dies. They're not legally binding on each other — either of you can change yours later — but they're the cleanest way to start.

Start your will — £95See pricing

Built for

Two wills. Mostly the same. Both made together.

Velati's questionnaire branches around your situation. The questions you'll answer — and skip — were designed specifically for mirror wills.

The reality

How mirror wills actually work

Each partner makes their own will. The two documents 'mirror' each other but remain independent. If the first of you dies, everything passes to the survivor. When the survivor dies, the estate passes to the agreed beneficiaries — typically your children. The wills are signed, witnessed and stored separately. Either of you can revoke yours at any time, with or without telling the other. For most couples this is fine; for blended families it's often the wrong shape — and we'll route you to the life-interest trust instead.

What Velati does for you

Three things, deliberately, well.

  • 01

    One questionnaire. Two coordinated wills.

    You both fill in your own questionnaires, but Velati keeps the two in step where it matters — beneficiaries, executors, guardians for your children. Where you genuinely disagree, we surface it instead of hiding it.

  • 02

    A signing pack designed for two

    You can sign on the same day, with the same two witnesses, in the same room. The signing pack tells you the right order and what to do with each original afterwards.

  • 03

    Discounted as a pair

    £150 for the pair, instead of £190. The discount is automatic when the second will is started from the same household.

A worked example

What your will actually says, in plain English.

Before you pay anything, Velati shows you this screen — your will, written so you can read it. This is a non-personalised example for mirror wills. Your real review will use your real names and decisions.

velati / drafts / your-review.pdf

Plain-English review

Your will, in plain English

This is what your will actually does — written so you can read it without a lawyer.

For the will of

Maria Catherine O'Brien

  • Clause 01"If I die first, everything goes to Priya."

    Your spouse Priya Iyer inherits the entire estate. The same clause appears in Priya's will, in your favour.

  • Clause 02"When the second of us dies, everything is split equally between our children."

    Your two children Arjun Iyer and Lila Iyer take equal shares of the residuary estate. If one of them dies before then leaving children of their own, those children take their parent's share between them.

  • Clause 03"We've named the same two executors."

    Both wills appoint your sister Maya Iyer and your friend James Whitcombe as executors. They've both confirmed they're willing to act.

You'll see this screen before you pay. Nothing is final until you've read it.

Common questions

Things people ask before they start.

  • Are mirror wills legally binding on each other?

    No. Each will is independent, and either of you can change yours later — even after the other has died. If you want a binding mutual agreement, you need a 'mutual will' (not a mirror will), which is a more complex document and usually a §10 bail-out for solicitor advice.

  • Do we have to sign them at the same time?

    No, but it's easier and cheaper. The signing pack is designed for both wills to be executed in one sitting with the same two witnesses.

  • What if we don't agree on who gets what?

    Then mirror wills are the wrong shape and the questionnaire will say so. You can each make a single will instead — same flow, same price as one will each.

Not quite your situation?

Read the page that fits you better.

Two wills. One household. Done in one sitting.

Twenty minutes. £95. Done before bedtime.

Start your willRead the Velati guide first