Will writer
A will writer is a professional who drafts wills and related estate planning documents for clients. In England and Wales will writing is not a reserved legal activity, so a will writer need not be a solicitor and is not subject to statutory regulation.
A will writer is a professional who drafts wills and related estate planning documents for clients. In England and Wales, will writing is not a reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007, which means a will writer does not have to be a solicitor and is not subject to statutory regulation.
What that actually means#
There is no compulsory qualification. No regulator. No register anyone is obliged to join. A person can decide on a Monday that they write wills and take instructions on a Tuesday.
Most practitioners are careful and competent. The problem is structural rather than moral: a client has no reliable way of telling which ones are. And a badly drafted will does not reveal itself until the one person who could have corrected it has died.
This is why voluntary standards carry weight in this profession in a way they do not in regulated ones.
Will writer or solicitor?#
| Will writer | Solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated for will writing | No | Yes, by the SRA |
| Compulsory qualification | No | Yes |
| Compulsory PI insurance | No — though reputable practitioners carry it | Yes |
| Ombudsman route for complaints | Only if a member of a voluntary scheme | Legal Ombudsman |
| Typical cost to client | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Home visits and evening appointments | Common | Less common |
Voluntary bodies and accreditation#
The Society of Will Writers and the Institute of Professional Willwriters are the two long-standing membership bodies in England and Wales. Project Will accredits practitioners against a published standard, maintains a public register, and charges nothing for it.
None of these is a regulator, and none should be described as one.
Becoming one#
No qualification is required, which is a reason to train rather than a reason not to. See how to become a will writer, do you need qualifications and free training.
Related#
Related terms
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Intestacy rules
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Deed of variation
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Discretionary trust
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