Mirror wills explained
Last reviewed 4 October 2026 · 5 min read · England & Wales
Mirror wills are the most common way for couples to make their wills. You each sign your own will, and the two documents are almost identical: each of you leaves everything to the other, and then to the same people once you have both died.
This guide is general information about the law in England and Wales. It isn't legal advice, and everyone's situation is different. If your circumstances are complicated, speak to a solicitor.
How mirror wills work
A typical pair of mirror wills says something like this in each will:
- I leave everything to my partner, as long as they survive me by 28 days.
- If they don't, I leave everything to our children in equal shares.
- I appoint my partner and my sister as executors.
- If our children are under 18, I appoint my brother and his wife as their guardians.
The names are swapped over in the second will, so whoever dies first, the result is the same: the survivor inherits, and the children (or whoever you've chosen) inherit after you've both gone.
Because they are two separate wills, each must be signed and witnessed properly in its own right. Our signing and witnessing guide explains how.
Who mirror wills suit
- Married couples and civil partners who want to leave everything to each other.
- Unmarried couples, who otherwise have no automatic right to inherit from each other.
- Couples whose children are all from their current relationship.
- Couples who agree on guardians, executors and who should inherit in the end.
The limitation every couple should understand
A mirror will is not a binding promise. After the first person dies, the survivor owns everything outright and is free to make a new will leaving it to anyone they choose.
For most couples that flexibility is a good thing: the survivor might need to sell the house, pay for care, or adapt to how the family has changed. But it does mean there is no guarantee that what you both agreed will still happen.
Remarriage cancels a will
If the survivor later marries or forms a civil partnership, their existing will is normally revoked automatically. If they don't make a new one, the intestacy rules apply, and much of the estate could pass to their new spouse rather than to the children you both intended to benefit.
Mirror wills vs mutual wills
Mutual wills are a different thing. They include a legally binding agreement that neither of you will change your will after the first death. They sound reassuring, but they are inflexible, can cause expensive disputes, and are seldom recommended. If you're worried about protecting your share for your children, a solicitor may suggest a trust instead, such as one that lets the survivor live in the home for the rest of their life while your share is kept for your children.
When to get advice instead
Mirror wills may not be the right choice if:
- either of you has children from a previous relationship, and you want to be sure they inherit a share;
- you have very different wishes about who should inherit;
- you are worried about the cost of long-term care reducing what is passed on;
- your combined estate is large enough that inheritance tax planning matters.
In those situations a solicitor can draft wills that protect each person's share. If you are parents, our guide to making a will as a parent covers guardians and money for children in more detail.
Common questions
Are mirror wills the same as a joint will?+
No. A joint will is a single document signed by two people, and they are rare and rarely recommended. Mirror wills are two separate wills, one for each person, which simply contain matching wishes.
Do we have to be married to make mirror wills?+
No. Any two people with similar wishes can make mirror wills, including unmarried partners. For unmarried couples they are especially useful, because without a will a partner inherits nothing under the intestacy rules.
Can one of us change our mirror will later?+
Yes. Each will belongs to the person who signed it, and either of you can change or replace yours at any time, including after the other has died. You don't need the other person's agreement.
What happens if we die at the same time?+
Mirror wills normally say that each person must survive the other by a set period, often 28 days, to inherit. If neither does, both estates pass straight to the people you've chosen next, such as your children, rather than passing through two estates.
Do mirror wills cost twice as much?+
Usually not. Most providers charge less for a pair of mirror wills than for two separate single wills, because most of the content is shared. At FamilyWill a pair of mirror wills costs £35.99.