Professional Will Writers UK: How to Tell a Qualified Professional from a Risk
Will writing is not a regulated profession in England and Wales — anyone can call themselves a will writer. Here is how to check whether the person you are using is genuinely qualified and insured, and what the alternatives are.
Who Can Write Your Will: A Comparison
| Provider | Regulated by | PI insurance required? | Typical price (single will) | Legal Ombudsman? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solicitor (SRA-regulated) | Solicitors Regulation Authority | Yes — mandatory | £150–£400 | Yes |
| CILEX practitioner | CILEX Regulation | Yes — mandatory | £120–£350 | Yes |
| SWW member (will writer) | Voluntary — Society of Will Writers | Yes — membership condition | £80–£250 | SWW complaints process only |
| IPW member (will writer) | Voluntary — Institute of Professional Will Writers | Yes — membership condition | £80–£250 | IPW complaints process only |
| Unaccredited will writer | None | Not required — may or may not hold it | £50–£200 | No |
| DIY will kit (reputable) | N/A — user drafts and executes | N/A | £20–£50 | N/A |
What to Check Before Using a Will Writer
Are they a member of SWW, IPW, or STEP?
Check their membership certificate or look them up on the relevant body's register. Members must hold PI insurance and follow a Code of Practice.
Do they hold professional indemnity insurance?
Ask directly. Request a copy of the insurance certificate or the insurer's name and policy number. Uninsured will writers are a serious risk — if they make an error, there is no practical remedy.
Are they a solicitor or CILEX practitioner?
Solicitors can be checked at find-a-solicitor.sra.org.uk. CILEX practitioners can be checked at cilex.org.uk. These are the highest standard of protection.
Are they recommending themselves as executor?
Be wary of will writers who push to be named as executor or trustee in the will. This is a conflict of interest — they will charge substantial fees on your estate. A will writer can be a professional executor but it should be your choice, explained transparently with full fee disclosure.
What complaints process exists?
SRA-regulated solicitors are subject to the Legal Ombudsman. SWW/IPW members have internal complaints processes. Unaccredited will writers — only the courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is will writing regulated in England and Wales?
No — will writing is not a regulated legal activity in England and Wales. The Legal Services Act 2007 regulates reserved legal activities (litigation, advocacy, conveyancing, probate, notarial activities, administering oaths). Will drafting is NOT a reserved activity. This means any person can call themselves a will writer, will planner, or estate planning consultant and charge fees for drafting wills — without any qualification, insurance, or professional oversight. The Law Commission recommended regulation of will writing as a reserved activity in its 2017 report, but no legislation has yet followed. The result: the will writing market is a mixed landscape of highly qualified professionals and completely unqualified individuals operating without any formal oversight.
What is the difference between a solicitor and a professional will writer?
A solicitor is a qualified lawyer regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). To practise as a solicitor you must: complete a qualifying law degree or conversion; pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE); complete 2 years' qualifying work experience; be admitted to the Roll. Solicitors must hold professional indemnity insurance, comply with the SRA's Code of Conduct, and are subject to the Legal Ombudsman's jurisdiction. A professional will writer may hold voluntary accreditation from a professional body (see below) or may have no formal qualification at all. They are not regulated by any statutory body. There is no mandatory insurance requirement (though accredited will writers must hold PI insurance as a membership condition). The solicitor route typically costs more but comes with statutory regulatory protection.
What professional bodies exist for will writers?
The main voluntary professional bodies for will writers in England and Wales are: (1) Society of Will Writers (SWW) — the largest specialist body; requires members to hold professional indemnity insurance, complete CPD, and follow a Code of Practice. SWW members can be identified at willwriters.com. (2) Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) — similar membership and insurance requirements; provides a client complaints process. (3) STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) — a respected global body for practitioners working with trusts and estates; many solicitors and will writers hold STEP qualifications (TEP designation). (4) CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) — CILEX practitioners are legally qualified and regulated, though not solicitors. A CILEX will writer is regulated to a high standard. (5) Will Aid and Free Wills Month participating firms — scheme participants are practising solicitors. When choosing a will writer, check membership of SWW, IPW, or STEP as a minimum indicator of standards.
What are the risks of using an unqualified or poorly qualified will writer?
The risks of using an unqualified will writer include: (1) Invalid will — if the will is not properly executed (signed and witnessed under s9 Wills Act 1837), it is void. The estate falls into intestacy. An unqualified writer may not check execution; (2) Negligent drafting — poorly drafted wills can fail to achieve the testator's intentions: lapsed gifts, failed trusts, RNRB planning errors, inadequate residuary clauses; (3) No insurance — if the will writer made an error and has no PI insurance, any claim against them is unsecured. The negligence remedy is practically worthless against an uninsured individual; (4) No regulatory redress — without SRA or statutory regulation, the Legal Ombudsman's jurisdiction does not apply to unregulated will writers. Complaints must be pursued in the courts; (5) Will-farmer schemes — some will writers are known to recommend appointing themselves as executor and trustee in the will and then charge excessive fees for estate administration. The OFT and Trading Standards have taken action against this practice. Always check the standard of service before appointing a will writer as executor.
How do prices compare between solicitors, will writers, and DIY will kits?
Typical prices for a simple single will in England and Wales (2026): Solicitor (high street): £150–£400 for a simple will; £350–£1,200 for a will with trusts. Solicitor (will writing specialist): £200–£600+. Professional will writer (SWW/IPW member): £80–£250 for a simple will. DIY will kit (reputable): £20–£50. Online solicitor will service: £50–£200. The cheapest option is not always the best — an invalid or poorly drafted will costs far more to sort out after death. Key considerations: for a simple straightforward will (married, children, uncomplicated estate) a DIY kit or basic will service is appropriate if the instructions are followed carefully and the will is correctly signed and witnessed. For estates with trusts, business assets, overseas property, blended families, or complex IHT planning, qualified legal advice is essential.
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