Electronic Wills UK: Lords Committee Chair Seeks Update

On 29 October 2026, Lord Foster of Bath, the chair of the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, wrote to Sarah Sackman MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, about the government's "inaction on the modernisation of wills". Following on from our earlier commentary and articles, here is what the letter says and what we make of it.

Quick answer

A House of Lords committee chair has asked the minister when the government will respond to the Law Commission’s Wills reform report, including electronic Wills, and why it is delayed.

What the letter says

The letter focuses on a key recommendation in the Law Commission's Modernising Wills Law report: that electronic Wills should be valid in England and Wales on an equal basis with paper Wills. The letter also questions the time the government has taken to respond. On the first, it points out that electronic documents and signatures are used to open bank accounts and buy property, yet "while they can be used to amass an estate, they cannot be used to bequeath one." On the second, it notes that the government has said "in due course" at every stage, and concludes: "It has now been over 17 months since the Law Commission published its report, and it is the view of this Committee that the course is now due."

It ends with four questions, including what steps the government is taking to legislate for electronic Wills, when the full response will be published, and why it has taken so long. The background to the delay is in our September update.

Why it matters

A committee letter is a request, not an order, but it puts the government’s position on the record. It adds a Lords committee to calls for action that have come before. In November 2025, six months after the Law Commission’s report, the Law Society’s president, Mark Evans, said there had been no movement from the government and warned that without reform people could lose access to justice and the ability to protect their final wishes. In July 2026, an industry open letter, which we signed alongside cross-party MPs, urged the government to accelerate its response. We set out our part in that campaign in A Voice in Wills Reform.

The letter's emphasis on "reliable systems" matches the Law Commission's test of authenticity, security and integrity, which we explain in our reliable system series and in our co-founder Mark Hedley's article for The National Law Review, Defining a "Reliable System". Our view is that the framework is in place and the technology exists. What is missing is a date.

What to watch for next

The letter asks for a reply within two weeks, which points to around 12 November 2026. We will be looking for:

• A date for the full response to the Law Commission's report.
• A commitment to legislate for electronic Wills, and the other proposed reforms.

We will update this page when the response is published.

A comment from adeus

"When a Lords committee chair writes to the minister, this stops being only a sector complaint. The Law Commission set out a workable framework, and the technology to meet its reliable system test has been built and tested. What the sector, and the many adults who have not made a Will, need now is a date."

Mark Hedley, Co-Founder and COO, adeus

Frequently asked questions

What did the Lords committee letter say about electronic Wills?

The committee chair said electronic Wills should be valid on an equal basis with paper Wills, and urged the government to proceed swiftly. He asked four questions on legislation, timelines and the delay.

When does the minister need to reply to the letter?

The letter, dated 29 October 2026, asks for a response within the committee's usual two weeks, which points to around 12 November 2026. A committee letter is a request, so a reply is expected rather than compelled.

Does this change how I make a Will today?

Not yet. A Will in England and Wales must still be signed in ink and witnessed by two people present together, under the Wills Act 1837, until Parliament changes the law. You can make or update your Will with adeus within that process today.

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About the author: Mark Hedley is the co-founder of adeus and writes on electronic Wills reform for The National Law Review. He is available for comment on hello@adeus.life.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you need advice about your specific circumstances, please consult a qualified solicitor. Last updated 2 November 2026.