Lawtech UK Case Study on adeus
February 10, 2026
In today’s world of online shopping, banking and holiday booking, it’s hard to understand how one of life’s most important milestones has yet to catch up.
Current legislation on making a will still insists on a paper copy, due to legislation dating back to 1837.
However, this year that is about to change. The Law Commission has issued a draft bill with a completely new act which allows for a will to be created, signed, witnessed and stored online. The end-to-end process can be completed digitally, even on a mobile device.
Already ahead of the curve and first in the market is adeus, a business co-founded by Nick Adams (pictured) and Mark Hedley, both of whom have experience in senior executive roles at a global HR tech unicorn.
Adams says:
“We have products on the market which can create a will online, but to comply with the current law, these still need to be printed. Once the law changes, we will be able to sign and store wills electronically, cost-effectively and securely.
“This will be so much more convenient than the current paper process, which is manual and tedious. Storing electronically also means the will can be updated as life changes.”
adeus says electronic execution and storage helps prevent fraud, as paper wills can be forged or changed, an issue that was recently highlighted in the BBC documentary The Grave Robbers, which revealed how criminals pretended to be the recipients of unclaimed wills.
adeus will introduce digital ID checks, biometrics and blockchain technology when the law changes.
The technology uses conversational questions to guide people down a path to create a will. This is checked by one of the team following stringent guidance and adeus adheres to guidelines and best practice from the Competition and Markets Authority.
adeus also provides digital vaults for assets such as stocks and shares, and even online social media identities on platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn. This is particularly useful given that a court order is required to remove the profile of a deceased person, whereas adeus, using a legacy number, can make that change almost instantly.
The business sees itself growing through partnerships with organisations and professionals whose clients are at a critical stage in their life, such as applying for a mortgage or having a baby. It’s also currently working with independent schools and charities that offer free wills in return for legacy gifts.
Adams explains:
“Half of the people in the UK do not have a valid will, with many out of date or invalid. We believe everyone should have a will, no matter what age.
“This is about lowering the barriers, driving down costs and providing guidance and support along the way. We want people to understand this is about organising life, not planning for death.”
The business has raised almost £1 million in funding, including a government-backed innovation grant from Innovate UK.
Adams and his team were supported by LawtechUK, a Ministry of Justice-backed initiative dedicated to driving digital transformation in the legal sector and fostering innovation. Lawtech provides free networking events, mentors and educational programmes.
Adams says:
“We have never worked in the legal sector, so the support of LawtechUK was invaluable. It opened up a whole new world of contacts, and not just with law firms. It enabled us to cultivate a great network where we can talk to solicitors about our platform and what it can offer.
“LawtechUK gave us access to mentors, enabled us to work with people across the UK, helped us to avoid the pitfalls and to navigate the validity of what we do.”
A version of this article was first published in 'Todays Will & Probate' on 10th February 2026.
