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Mirror Wills Scotland: Both Wills Written Together for £149

Mirror wills are one of the most popular options for couples in Scotland. This plain-English guide explains what they are, how they work under Scots law, and what you get when you order yours through ScottishWill.

If you want to get started now, you can make your Scottish mirror wills online here for a fixed price of £149 for both. Otherwise, read on.

Contents

1. What are mirror wills?

Mirror wills are two separate wills written at the same time by a couple. Each will is its own legal document. They are called “mirror” wills because they typically reflect each other — leaving everything to the surviving partner first, then to the same beneficiaries if both have died.

Mirror wills are not the same as a “mutual will”. Under Scots law, mirror wills remain fully independent documents. Each person can change or revoke their will at any time without needing the other person’s agreement.

They are most commonly used by married couples and civil partners, but any two people can choose to make mirror wills together.

2. Who should consider mirror wills?

Mirror wills are well suited to:

  • Married couples and civil partners who want to leave everything to each other first, then to their children or other beneficiaries
  • Cohabiting couples — important in Scotland, where cohabitation does not automatically give inheritance rights. A will is the only reliable way to protect a partner who is not married to you
  • Couples with children who want to name the same guardians and the same substitute beneficiaries in both wills
  • Couples who want simplicity — both wills written, reviewed, and delivered together at a single fixed cost

If your situations are significantly different — for example, one partner has substantial assets from a previous relationship, or you want to leave very different proportions to different beneficiaries — separate wills may be more appropriate. For complex estates, speaking to a Scottish solicitor is worth considering.

3. How mirror wills work under Scots law

Each will is a standalone legal document, governed by the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 and the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995.

Under Scots law, a will is valid when it is:

  1. In writing
  2. Signed by the person making the will on the last page
  3. Witnessed by one adult witness who is not a beneficiary

Both wills in a mirror pair go through the same process. Both must be correctly signed and witnessed before they are legally effective. For a full walkthrough of the signing rules, see the Scottish Wills Guide.

One thing to be aware of: Scotland has Legal Rights (sometimes described as prior rights and legal rights). These are automatic entitlements that a surviving spouse, civil partner, or children may have over part of the estate, regardless of what the will says. Mirror wills do not remove these rights. For most Scottish families with a straightforward estate, this is not a practical concern, but it is worth understanding before you proceed.

4. What is included at £149

The ScottishWill mirror wills pack at £149 includes:

  • Two individually tailored wills — one for each person, based on your separate guided questionnaires
  • Human review of both documents before they are sent to you
  • A plain-English Client Summary for each will, explaining what it contains in straightforward terms
  • PDF delivery by email, usually within two business days
  • Signing and witnessing guide so you know exactly what to do when the wills arrive

The process is entirely online. Both partners complete their own guided questionnaire separately. No appointments are needed, and you do not need to speak to anyone unless you want to.

For a full breakdown of what Scottish wills cost and how the options compare, see our How Much Does a Will Cost in Scotland? (2026 Guide).

5. Mirror wills vs solicitor costs

A high street solicitor in Scotland typically charges £300–£600+ for a single will. For a couple, mirror wills from a solicitor usually cost considerably more — often £400–£900 combined, depending on the complexity of each estate.

Budget legal services also offer mirror wills. Co-op Legal Services, for example, advertises mirror wills from around £249. ScottishWill’s fixed price is £149 for both wills together.

There is no relationship between cost and legal validity. A will is valid or it is not, depending on whether it meets the requirements of Scots law — not how much it cost to produce. The most common questions about Scottish wills, including whether online wills are legally valid, are answered in detail elsewhere on this site.

Quick FAQs about mirror wills in Scotland

Are mirror wills the same as a joint will?

No. Scotland does not recognise a legally binding joint will in the same way as some other jurisdictions. Mirror wills are two separate documents, each valid in its own right.

Can we each leave things differently in our wills?

Yes. Mirror wills are called “mirror” wills because they usually reflect each other, but they do not have to be identical. Each will can be tailored individually to suit that person’s wishes.

What happens if one of us wants to change our will later?

Either person can revoke or replace their will at any time, without the other person’s agreement. Mirror wills under Scots law are fully independent documents.

Do we need to sign the wills at the same time or in the same place?

No. Each will is signed independently, at a time that suits each person. You do not need to be in the same room or sign on the same date.

Will our wills cover Legal Rights under Scots law?

Your wills set out how you want your estate to be divided, but they cannot remove the automatic Legal Rights that Scots law gives to a surviving spouse, civil partner, or children. For most couples with a straightforward estate, this is not a practical concern.

Is there a minimum age to make a will in Scotland?

Yes. Under the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991, you must be at least 12 years old to make a will in Scotland. In practice, mirror wills are made by adults.

Ready to put your mirror wills in place?

If your situation is reasonably straightforward and you want a fixed cost, a clear process, and a human-reviewed result, you can start your ScottishWill mirror wills online now. Both questionnaires take around ten minutes each, and your completed Will Pack is emailed to you within two business days.

If you have any questions at all, you can contact us — we’re here to help.