UK Legaltech Adeus Launches True Wills Ahead of Electronic Will Reforms
•February 18, 2026
0
Why It Matters
True Wills reduces probate friction and positions adeus as a pioneer ahead of the 2026 electronic‑will reforms, giving it a strategic edge in a nascent digital estate‑planning market.
Key Takeaways
- •adeus True Wills creates blockchain fingerprint of wills
- •Service works with traditional wet‑signed wills now
- •Designed for upcoming 2026 electronic will legislation
- •Aims to cut probate disputes and legal costs
- •Backed by £500k Innovate UK Smart Grant
Pulse Analysis
The estate‑planning landscape is undergoing a digital overhaul as families seek more reliable ways to safeguard their final wishes. Traditional paper wills are vulnerable to loss, damage, and contested authenticity, often leading to costly probate battles. By leveraging blockchain’s immutable ledger, adeus True Wills provides a tamper‑evident digital fingerprint that can be verified without exposing the underlying document, marrying privacy with cryptographic certainty.
adeus’s solution integrates seamlessly with existing will‑creation workflows. Users draft a will on the platform, sign it with a wet signature to meet current UK legal standards, and then generate a unique hash stored on the blockchain. Any alteration to the original document changes the hash, instantly flagging potential fraud. The service is also being packaged for solicitors and independent will writers, allowing legal professionals to offer an added layer of protection while focusing on their core advisory role.
The timing of True Wills aligns with the UK’s impending electronic‑will legislation, slated for 2026 after the Law Commission’s recommendations. Early adopters like adeus gain a first‑mover advantage, establishing infrastructure and market trust before competitors can catch up. As electronic wills become legally recognised, the company’s hybrid model—supporting both paper and digital formats—will enable a smooth transition for clients, potentially reshaping how estates are managed across England and Wales.
UK legaltech adeus launches True Wills ahead of electronic will reforms
London-based adeus, a legaltech company specialising in modernising will-writing and legacy planning, has launched adeus True Wills™, a service intended to help prevent wills from being lost, altered, or disputed after death.
Founded in 2024 by entrepreneurs Nick Adams and Mark Hedley, the launch marks the first major product release from an innovation project supported by an Innovate UK Smart Grant, with additional products planned for release in the first half of 2026.
Traditional paper wills can be lost, damaged, or challenged in court, potentially leading to stress and legal costs for families. adeus True Wills addresses these risks by creating a permanent digital fingerprint of a will using blockchain technology while remaining compliant with current UK law. According to Nick Adams, CEO of adeus, making a will is a significant step, yet paper-based wills are often more vulnerable than many people realise.
True Wills removes the uncertainty. Your will is permanently protected, clearly time-stamped, and impossible to alter. This gives you peace of mind today and protects your loved ones from unnecessary conflict when it matters most,
Adams said.
The service is designed to work alongside a traditionally executed paper will signed and witnessed in accordance with current legal requirements. Once a will is created through the adeus platform, a unique digital fingerprint is generated and secured using adeus True Will Technology. The will document itself is not stored on the blockchain, only the digital fingerprint is recorded.
This approach maintains privacy while providing cryptographic verification of authenticity. Because any change to the document would alter the fingerprint, potential tampering or forgery can be detected, giving families and executors verifiable evidence during probate and helping to reduce the likelihood of disputes.
True Wills is an adeus trademark, and the company plans to offer the technology to independent will writers and solicitors in addition to its direct customers.
For people with more complex needs who require expert legal advice, solicitors and will writers continue to do what they do best - taking instructions, drafting, and overseeing the signing of wills. We take care of the rest, ensuring their clients’ wills are protected with the same institutional-grade security,
said Mark Hedley, COO of adeus.
The launch comes as England and Wales prepare for significant reforms to will-making, with electronic wills expected to become legally valid in 2026 following the Law Commission’s recommendations in May 2025. adeus True Wills has been designed to adapt to this transition.
While customers currently create digital wills that are executed using traditional wet signatures, the same platform is intended to support fully electronic will creation and signing once new legislation takes effect, without requiring users to start again.
Hedley added that the company is building infrastructure for electronic wills ahead of legislative change, allowing customers to access True Wills protection now while preparing for future legal developments.
adeus Wills are currently available in England and Wales, with the company planning to expand its product offering in 2026 as reforms around electronic wills progress.
0
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...