Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has advanced rapidly in the past few years. There are many benefits to using AI and if you embrace it, you might find that it saves time and increases your productivity.

However, it’s important to understand the limits of AI and when it’s suitable to use these new tools.

Worryingly, new research shows that many people would use AI to complete important estate planning tasks.

47% of people would trust AI to write their will

Your will is at the heart of your estate plan. This document outlines your wishes and ensures your estate is divided up as you intended. Having all the relevant paperwork in place could also prevent legal issues for your family and may even help you mitigate Inheritance Tax (IHT).

We’d recommend seeking professional advice when creating a will to ensure everything is managed correctly.

However, new research from Today’s Wills and Probate found that 47% of people would be comfortable letting an AI tool write their will.

You might consider using AI to write your will because it’s more affordable than paying a professional to create your estate plan. Additionally, you may want to avoid having difficult conversations about your plans once you pass away, so getting AI to write the will might seem simpler.

That said, you could cause significant problems for yourself and your family if you delegate important estate planning tasks to a piece of software.

Here are five reasons why letting AI write your will might not be a sensible idea.

1. You fail to engage with the emotional aspects of estate planning

Before we consider the potential legal and financial challenges you could face if AI writes your will, it’s important to recognise the emotional side of estate planning.

During the process of creating your will, you have important conversations with your loved ones about the legacy you want to leave. While these discussions can be difficult, they also give the whole family the opportunity to prepare for your eventual passing.

Yet, if you use AI to write your will, you might skip many of these conversations and fail to fully engage with the emotional aspects of estate planning.

2. The will might not be legally binding if it’s written by AI

For a will to be legally binding, it must be signed by the testator – the person making the will – and two witnesses over the age of 18. All parties must have the mental capacity to understand the will and its effects.

As such, you can’t simply ask an AI tool to write a will and leave a copy for your executor when you’re gone as it might not be legally binding. In this case, the will could be discounted, and the courts would decide how to divide up your estate.

Unfortunately, their decisions might not align with your wishes.

Having a professional help you write the will ensures that you take all the correct steps so the document is legally binding and your decisions are upheld.

3. Your wishes may not be fulfilled if AI makes a mistake

While AI tools have advanced significantly in the past few years, they are not foolproof. So, even if your AI will is correctly witnessed and considered legally binding, it might not necessarily produce the desired outcome. This could be especially likely if you have a blended family and require a more complex estate plan.

When you use AI, you’re not getting a personalised will writing service. While you can input details about your family situation and your wishes, AI tools could make significant errors, such as missing out important assets or beneficiaries.

In comparison, if you seek professional advice, you can outline precisely what you want to happen when you’re gone and be confident your estate plan will be executed as such.

4. Unclear language could increase the chances of a dispute

When writing a will, the specific language used is incredibly important. You must leave clear instructions so there is no doubt about who you want to inherit your estate.

For instance, imagine you are divorced and remarried, and have children from both marriages. It’s vital to clearly state how much you want to leave for each child, and whether children from your previous marriage are to be included.

Unfortunately, AI may use generalised language and fail to explain your wishes clearly, potentially leading to disputes.

If the meaning of a will is unclear, it’s left to the courts to decide how to administer the estate, and this might not align with your wishes. Additionally, certain family members may be more likely to challenge decisions made in the will if the language is ambiguous.

You can avoid these issues by having a professional draft the will and vouch for its legitimacy when you’re gone.

5. AI will likely overlook tax planning considerations

Finding ways to potentially reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) your family pays is an important aspect of estate planning. To achieve this, you’ll need to discuss IHT with your financial planner and the solicitor who draws up your will, to ensure your estate is structured in the most tax-efficient way.

Unfortunately, AI tools may overlook tax planning considerations altogether. Even if AI does consider tax planning, you will likely only receive general information that isn’t tailored to your specific situation.

As such, relying on AI to create your estate plan could mean your family pays more IHT in the future.

Get in touch

We can help you create a robust estate plan to mitigate tax and ensure your wishes are fulfilled.

Please contact us at hello@ardentuk.com or call or WhatsApp us on 01904 655 330. As an award-winning financial advice company with advisers included in the 2025 VouchedFor Top Rated guide, you can be sure that we’re a bona fide company providing excellent advice and high-quality service.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate estate planning, tax planning, or will writing.