London based legaltech startup adeus has launched a new service aimed at tackling one of the most overlooked problems in estate planning, what happens when a will is lost, altered, or challenged after death. The company’s new product, adeus True Wills™, combines traditional will making with blockchain backed verification to help families avoid disputes and uncertainty during probate.
Founded in 2024 by entrepreneurs Nick Adams and Mark Hedley, adeus is focused on modernising will writing and legacy planning while remaining fully compliant with current UK law. The launch of True Wills marks the company’s first major commercial product and the first outcome of an innovation programme supported by an Innovate UK Smart Grant. Additional products are expected to follow in early 2026.
A fragile system built on paper
Despite the importance of wills, most are still paper documents stored at home, with solicitors, or in filing cabinets. These documents can be misplaced, damaged, or become the subject of legal disputes, particularly when families are already under emotional strain. Even when a will is valid, questions over authenticity or timing can lead to costly court proceedings.
According to Nick Adams, CEO of adeus, this fragility often surprises people.
Making a will is one of the most important legal steps someone can take, yet paper based wills are far more vulnerable than most people realise. True Wills removes that uncertainty by permanently protecting the integrity of the document and giving families confidence when it matters most.
How adeus True Wills works
True Wills is designed to work alongside a traditionally executed paper will, signed and witnessed according to current legal requirements. When a will is created through the adeus platform, the system generates a unique digital fingerprint of the document. This fingerprint is then securely recorded using adeus True Will Technology based on blockchain infrastructure.
Importantly, the will itself is not stored on the blockchain. Only the fingerprint is recorded, ensuring privacy while providing cryptographic proof of authenticity. Any alteration to the original document would change the fingerprint, making tampering immediately detectable.
This creates a verifiable, time stamped record that can be used by executors and families during probate to demonstrate that the will presented is the true and final version.
Supporting professionals, not replacing them
adeus positions True Wills as a complementary layer to existing legal services rather than a replacement for professional advice. The company plans to make the technology available not only to individuals but also to independent will writers and solicitors.
Mark Hedley, COO of adeus, explained that the goal is to let legal professionals focus on their expertise.
Solicitors and will writers continue to do what they do best, taking instructions, drafting wills, and overseeing execution. We take care of the protection layer, ensuring their clients’ wills are secured using institutional grade technology.
True Wills is a registered adeus trademark, and the company sees professional partnerships as a key route to adoption.
Preparing for electronic wills
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for the UK legal system. Following recommendations from the Law Commission in May 2025, England and Wales are expected to introduce legislation allowing electronic wills to become legally valid from 2026.
adeus has designed its platform with this transition in mind. While wills created today still rely on wet signatures, the underlying infrastructure is intended to support fully electronic will creation and signing once the law changes. Customers using True Wills now will not need to start again when electronic wills become legally recognised.
Hedley said the company is building ahead of regulation rather than reacting to it, allowing users to benefit from added protection today while being future ready.
Looking ahead
adeus Wills are currently available across England and Wales. As legal reforms progress, the company plans to expand its product range and roll out additional services focused on digital legacy planning.
By blending legal compliance with modern technology, adeus is positioning itself at the intersection of trust, law, and digital infrastructure, aiming to make one of life’s most important documents far more resilient.
