The risks of leaving AI to write your Will
The growing sophistication and easy access to AI tools, like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, mean an increasing number of people are turning to the technology to help with the drafting of wills.
According to research undertaken on behalf of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, almost three-quarters of 30 to 34-year-olds in the UK would consider using AI to update their will. Is this something you should consider?
The importance of wills
Making a will is essential to ensure that when you die, your estate is handled in accordance with your wishes. However, if a will is not legally valid, it can cause significant problems. Rather than your personal wishes being carried out, the estate will be handled following the rules of intestacy. Should your loved ones wish to contest those decisions, they face potentially lengthy and expensive legal battles to access their inheritance.
Artificial intelligence versus legal expertise
While AI is convenient, easy to use and free to access, it does not have the experience, expertise or insights into your personal circumstances that a solicitor does. It may have been trained using legal data, including in will writing, and it could create what looks like a realistic will. However, if those wills are not legally valid, and are not created in a way which best suits your needs, the outcome could be devastating for your beneficiaries.
AI tools warn users that they are prone to making errors; the legal data they are trained with may be inaccurate or incomplete; and they can make mistakes, such as creating wills following foreign laws rather than UK law.
Research from within the UK legal community on several popular AI platforms has shown that while AI-generated wills look realistic and meet basic requirements, their quality was inconsistent. They often contained inaccurate wording, had untypical structures and lacked personalisation. Interestingly, even the AI tools themselves recommended that users seek professional legal advice.
One area of significant concern is that AI tools do not have full oversight of your circumstances or your relationships to those in your will. Handling these sometimes complex and sensitive matters requires the guidance and legal prowess of a solicitor to ensure there is no confusion about your wishes. If the will isn’t expertly handled, it could lead to family disputes or unexpected tax burdens after your passing. In this sense, relying on an AI-generated will could potentially do more harm than good.
A complete will-writing service
At Wilkinson Woodward, we do much more than write wills. We get to understand your personal circumstances and provide professional advice so that your estate is handled in the best possible way. Most importantly, we make sure your will is legally valid and cannot be misinterpreted, and that your loved ones are provided for in line with your wishes.
If you are considering making a will or wish to discuss estate planning, trusts, probate or a will dispute, our experienced Wills, Probate, Trusts and Estate team is here to provide guidance and support. Please do get in touch.