July 2026: Why you don't need a high street law firm

High street law firms and solicitor chains often charge well into the thousands for a will. Estate planning — a will, LPAs, maybe a trust — isn't inherently complex work. It's routine and standardised. Yet people regularly pay far more than the work itself requires.

Why high street firms cost more

It's rarely about the quality of the document. It's the business model behind it:

• Overheads. High street office rent, staffing, admin, and multiple partners all take a share of what you pay.
• Layered pricing. The person actually drafting your documents is often paid a fraction of what the firm bills you.
• Cross-selling. Firms have a commercial incentive to present estate planning as more complex than it usually is, so they can sell add-ons — trust administration, tax planning, future probate work.
• Client acquisition. Marketing budgets for a multi-partner firm are considerably larger than a sole practitioner's, and that cost is passed on.

None of this makes the will itself better. It just makes it more expensive.

The conflict of interest

Here's the uncomfortable part: a firm that profits from add-ons has a built-in incentive to make you feel like you need them. "You should probably set up a trust." "Have you thought about tax planning?" "We can handle your probate when it happens." Some of that advice is genuinely useful. Most people, though, don't need anywhere near the full package.

What you actually need

Most people need a simple will. Maybe LPAs. That's it. These are straightforward documents with well-established rules — they don't require a city-centre office or a large support team to get right.

• A clear conversation about what you want
• A competent person who understands the law
• Clean, legally valid documents
• Fixed pricing with no surprises

That's the job. That's what should cost money. Nothing else.

The alternative

You don't need a high street firm. You need someone who:

• Knows the law and does the work properly
• Charges fixed prices, not hourly rates
• Doesn't try to sell you things you don't need
• Handles your case personally, not through junior staff
• Respects your time and money

A sole operator with low overheads and no partners or marketing department to fund can price a great deal lower than a high street firm, without cutting any corners on the actual work.

The point: High street law firms are good at marketing themselves. That doesn't make them better at writing wills. There's no need to pay for their overheads.