Artificial intelligence (AI) can now produce letters, plans and draft documents in seconds. It is therefore understandable that people are asking whether a tool such as ChatGPT could also write their Will.

According to a Teddington will writer from Richmond Wills & Probate, for someone in Teddington who wants to get their affairs in order, AI can be useful for organising thoughts and identifying questions to consider.

"But a Will is not simply a piece of well-written text," they said.

Its legal validity depends on how it is made and signed, and the wording needs to reflect the person's actual family, assets and intentions."

What makes a Will legally valid?

In England and Wales, a Will must meet specific legal requirements. GOV.UK says that, among other things, the person making it must be 18 or over, act voluntarily and be of sound mind.

The Will must be in writing, signed in the presence of two adult witnesses, and those witnesses must sign it in the person's presence.

The Teddington will writer said: "That means an AI-generated draft is not automatically a valid Will simply because it looks formal or includes the right-sounding clauses."

Where can AI help?

According to the Teddington will writer, if used carefully, AI can help someone prepare for a conversation about their Will.

They said: "For example, it may prompt useful questions about beneficiaries, executors, guardians for children, charitable gifts or what should happen if a beneficiary dies first.

"It may also help someone turn a list of priorities into a more organised set of notes. That can make a later meeting with a professional more focused."

Where can problems arise?

Richmond Wills and Probate's will writer said: "The difficulty is that family and financial circumstances are rarely identical.

"A straightforward-looking situation can become more complicated where there is a second marriage, children from different relationships, an unmarried partner, overseas property, a business, a dependant who needs ongoing support, or concerns about a future challenge to the Will."

GOV.UK specifically recommends getting professional advice where a Will is not straightforward, including several of those situations.

Speaking previously to Nub News, Svetlana Golikova from Richmond Wills & Probate, said: "ChatGPT doesn't have the expertise to assess every legal risk or the full context of an individual's situation."

What should Teddington families do?

Golikova said: "The sensible approach is not to treat AI as either completely useless or a substitute for professional judgement. It can be a preparation tool. The important part is making sure the final Will reflects the person's real objectives and is executed correctly.

"A professional conversation can also uncover issues that may not occur to someone writing their first prompt, such as what happens after remarriage, whether a particular gift could fail, how assets are owned, or whether the Will works alongside wider estate-planning arrangements."

Local support

Richmond Wills & Probate is based in Teddington and works with individuals and families across Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond and the wider South West London area on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate and estate administration.

For a no-obligation conversation, call 07487 851555 or 020 3930 3457 or visit its website here.

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