In May 2025, the Law Commission released a long-awaited report proposing a major update to the laws around wills in England and Wales. The existing rules, which date all the way back to the Wills Act of 1837, have remained mostly unchanged for nearly two centuries. One of the biggest changes in the new proposal is the introduction of electronic wills.
Changes to the Law
Under the current law, making a valid will still requires a printed document, a handwritten signature, and two witnesses who must be physically present. This system is becoming outdated, especially in a world where people manage their finances, healthcare, and even legal matters online. Many people today, for example, create an LPA online, like at powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/.
As people live longer and accumulate more complex estates, delays, disputes, and fraud have become increasingly common.
What Are Electronic Wills?
An electronic will is a legally valid will created, signed, and stored digitally. The Law Commission proposes allowing electronic wills under strict conditions to ensure they are secure. People would be able to create wills online, sign them digitally, and have witnesses observe and sign via video link rather than being in the same room.
The digital system would also include protections like strong ID verification to prevent fraud. One of the most significant advantages is accessibility. Right now, people who are seriously ill or live far from others may struggle to get two in-person witnesses to sign their will. Electronic wills would remove this barrier, while still protecting the person against any potential manipulation.
Other Reforms in the Proposal
The Law Commission’s report doesn’t stop at electronic wills. It also recommends lowering the legal age to make a will from 18 to 16, and ending the rule that automatically cancels a will when someone gets married. Courts would also be given new powers to accept wills that don’t meet all formal requirements, such as a will without witnesses, if there is clear evidence that the person meant it to be their final wishes.