If you are considering a career in will writing or estate planning, one of your first questions is likely to be about earnings. How much do will writers actually earn in the UK? The answer depends on whether you are employed or self-employed, how many clients you see each month, and which services you offer beyond basic will drafting.
In this guide, we break down realistic income figures for will writers at every level, from those just starting out to experienced estate planners earning six figures. We also explain exactly how to maximise your earnings using smart pricing, upselling, and the right technology.
Employed Will Writer Salaries in the UK
If you work as an employed will writer for a law firm, estate planning company, or national will writing provider, your salary will typically fall within a predictable range. Employed roles offer stability and a regular income, but they cap your earning potential because the company takes a significant share of the revenue your work generates.
Typical Employed Salary Ranges
- Entry-level will writer (0-2 years experience): £22,000 - £28,000 per year
- Mid-level will writer (2-5 years experience): £28,000 - £35,000 per year
- Senior will writer or team leader: £35,000 - £40,000 per year
- Regional manager or senior consultant: £38,000 - £45,000 per year
Some employers also offer commission on top of a base salary, particularly if you are selling additional services such as Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) or trusts. Commission structures vary, but a typical arrangement might add £3,000 - £8,000 per year on top of your base salary if you consistently upsell.
It is worth noting that employed will writers rarely need any formal accreditation to get started. Many companies provide their own in-house training. If you are interested in the training side of things, our guide on how to become a will writer covers the full picture.
Self-Employed Will Writer Income
This is where the earnings picture becomes far more interesting. Self-employed will writers and estate planners have no income ceiling. Your earnings are directly tied to how many clients you serve, which services you offer, and how efficiently you run your practice.
Income Ranges for Self-Employed Will Writers
- Part-time or just starting out: £15,000 - £25,000 per year
- Full-time, established practice: £30,000 - £60,000 per year
- Experienced with full estate planning services: £60,000 - £80,000 per year
- Top performers with efficient systems: £100,000+ per year
The majority of full-time, self-employed will writers settle into the £30,000 - £60,000 range. Those who break through to higher earnings almost always do so by expanding beyond simple wills into comprehensive estate planning, including trusts, LPAs, property protection, and inheritance tax advice.
What Can You Charge? Typical Service Fees
Understanding the fee structure is essential for calculating your potential income. Here is what will writers and estate planners typically charge across the UK in 2025-2026.
| Service | Typical Fee Range | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £150 - £350 | £250 |
| Mirror wills (couple) | £250 - £500 | £375 |
| Lasting Power of Attorney (per LPA) | £150 - £300 | £200 |
| Trust (standalone) | £300 - £800 | £500 |
| Severance of joint tenancy | £100 - £200 | £150 |
| Full estate planning package | £800 - £2,500+ | £1,500 |
The single most important factor in your income is not the price of an individual will. It is how many services you provide to each client. A couple who come to you for mirror wills might also need two LPAs each (four in total), a property protection trust, and a severance of tenancy. That single appointment could be worth £1,500 - £2,000 rather than £375.
The will writers earning the most are not necessarily seeing the most clients. They are offering comprehensive estate planning services to every client they meet. A single couple can represent £1,500+ in revenue when you provide the full range of services they need.
Real Monthly Income Examples
Let us look at three realistic scenarios for self-employed will writers at different stages and with different approaches.
Scenario 1: Part-Time Will Writer
Sarah sees 8 clients per month in the evenings and weekends alongside her day job. She primarily writes single and mirror wills and is building her confidence with LPAs.
- 4 single wills at £250 = £1,000
- 2 mirror wills at £375 = £750
- 4 individual LPAs at £200 = £800
- Monthly revenue: £2,550
- Less Willo subscription: -£150
- Less leads (10 at £5): -£50
- Less other costs (travel, insurance): -£200
- Monthly profit: £2,150 (£25,800 per year)
Scenario 2: Full-Time Established Will Writer
James works full-time and sees 16 clients per month. He offers wills, LPAs, and basic trusts. He has been practising for two years and has a steady referral network.
- 4 single wills at £275 = £1,100
- 6 mirror wills at £400 = £2,400
- 12 individual LPAs at £200 = £2,400
- 3 trusts at £450 = £1,350
- 2 severances at £150 = £300
- Monthly revenue: £7,550
- Less Willo subscription: -£150
- Less leads (20 at £5): -£100
- Less other costs: -£400
- Monthly profit: £6,900 (£82,800 per year before tax)
Scenario 3: Full Estate Planning Practice
Rachel has been an estate planner for five years. She offers the complete range of services and focuses on comprehensive estate planning packages. She sees 20 clients per month.
- 2 single wills at £300 = £600
- 4 mirror wills at £450 = £1,800
- 6 full estate planning packages at £1,500 = £9,000
- 8 additional LPAs at £225 = £1,800
- 4 standalone trusts at £550 = £2,200
- Monthly revenue: £15,400
- Less Willo subscription: -£150
- Less leads (15 at £5): -£75
- Less other costs: -£600
- Monthly profit: £14,575 (£174,900 per year before tax)
Rachel's figures might look ambitious, but they are achievable for experienced estate planners who have built their reputation and referral networks. The key difference is that she rarely writes a will without also providing LPAs and trusts.
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How to Maximise Your Will Writing Income
Whether you are just getting started or looking to grow an existing practice, these strategies will help you earn more from every client interaction.
1. Always Discuss LPAs with Every Client
Lasting Powers of Attorney are one of the most natural upsells in estate planning. Every client who needs a will also needs to consider what happens if they lose mental capacity. Most clients need two LPAs (health and welfare, and property and financial affairs), and couples need four in total. That is an additional £600 - £1,200 per couple on top of the will fees.
Many will writers report that once they start routinely discussing LPAs, at least 60-70% of their clients add them to their instruction. It is not a hard sell; it is responsible advice.
2. Learn About Trusts
Trusts are where the real revenue growth lies. Property protection trusts, life interest trusts, and discretionary trusts all serve important purposes for your clients, and they command higher fees because of the complexity involved. Our detailed guide on trusts explained for estate planners covers everything you need to know about when and how to recommend trusts.
3. Use Efficient Software
Your income is ultimately limited by how many clients you can serve. If you are spending hours manually drafting documents, formatting, and doing administrative work, you are leaving money on the table. Willo is purpose-built will writing software that lets you draft wills, LPAs, and trusts efficiently, so you can see more clients in less time.
At just £150 per month with no contract, Willo pays for itself after a single client. Compare that to some competitors who charge £80-£100 per month and then add per-document fees on top. With Willo, there are no hidden costs and no limits on how many documents you create.
4. Use the Lead Marketplace
One of the biggest challenges for self-employed will writers is finding clients. Willo includes access to a lead marketplace where you can purchase qualified will writing and estate planning leads for just £5 each. These are people who have actively requested help with their wills or estate plans.
At £5 per lead, even a modest conversion rate makes this incredibly cost-effective. If you convert one in five leads into a mirror will client at £375, your cost per acquisition is just £25. For a full estate planning package worth £1,500, a £25 acquisition cost represents extraordinary value. Read our complete guide to will writing leads for strategies on maximising your conversion rates.
5. Build Referral Networks
The highest-earning will writers and estate planners generate a significant portion of their business through referrals from financial advisers, accountants, solicitors, funeral directors, and past clients. Referral business costs nothing to acquire and tends to convert at much higher rates because the client already trusts the person who referred them.
6. Offer Ongoing Services
Will storage, document review services, and executor support all provide recurring revenue streams. Some estate planners offer an annual review service for a small fee, which keeps them connected to clients and generates additional work when circumstances change.
Do You Need Qualifications to Earn as a Will Writer?
Will writing in the UK is not a reserved legal activity, which means you do not need to be a solicitor or hold any specific accreditation to write wills professionally. While organisations such as the Society of Will Writers and the Institute of Professional Will Writers offer membership and qualifications, these are not legally required.
What matters most is having proper training, good software, and professional indemnity insurance. Project Will has been supporting estate planners since 2009 and offers resources to help you get started, including training through Become an Estate Planner. You can also read our full guide on how to become an estate planner the Project Will way.
With Willo, there is no accreditation requirement. You can sign up, start using the software, and begin seeing clients straight away. The platform itself guides you through the will drafting process, making it accessible even for those who are newer to the profession.
Comparing Will Writing to Other Legal Careers
When you compare the earning potential of self-employed will writing to other legal and financial services careers, it holds up remarkably well, especially when you factor in the low barriers to entry and minimal startup costs.
| Career | Typical Earnings | Startup/Training Cost | Time to Full Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-employed will writer | £30,000 - £100,000+ | Low (£150/mo software + insurance) | 3-12 months |
| Solicitor (employed) | £35,000 - £70,000 | Very high (degree + LPC/SQE) | 5-7 years |
| Financial adviser (employed) | £30,000 - £55,000 | Medium (Level 4 diploma) | 1-2 years |
| Mortgage broker (self-employed) | £30,000 - £80,000 | Medium (CeMAP qualification) | 6-18 months |
The advantage of will writing and estate planning is clear: low startup costs, no mandatory multi-year training programme, and genuine six-figure earning potential for those who build efficient practices.
The Bottom Line: What Will You Earn?
How much you earn as a will writer depends almost entirely on the choices you make. If you work as an employee, expect £25,000 - £40,000 per year. If you go self-employed and focus solely on basic wills, you will likely earn £25,000 - £40,000. But if you treat it as a full estate planning business, offer the complete range of services, use efficient software like Willo, and actively generate leads, earnings of £60,000 - £100,000+ are realistic.
The estate planning industry is growing. With over 60% of UK adults still without a will, there is enormous demand waiting to be served. The right tools, training, and mindset can turn will writing into an exceptionally rewarding career, both personally and financially.
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