Estate Planner vs Solicitor: Key Differences

If you're considering becoming an estate planner, see our complete guide on How to Become an Estate Planner UK.

Solicitors:

• •Law degree (3 years)
• •Legal Practice Course (1 year)
• •Training contract (2 years)
• •Total: 6+ years of training
• •Regulated by Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Estate Planners/Will Writers:

• •No law degree required
• •Comprehensive training (weeks, not years)
• •Professional body membership recommended but not mandatory
• •Not directly regulated (voluntary regulation through professional bodies)

What this means:

Solicitors have broader legal training and can handle reserved legal activities (like advocacy and some property work). Estate planners focus specifically on wills, LPAs, and related areas.

For will writing specifically, the legal principles are the same - what matters is the quality of training and ongoing professional development, not the route taken.

Typical solicitor fees:

• •Simple will: £300-500
• •Mirror wills: £400-700
• •LPA (each): £250-400
• •Complex estates: £800-2,000+

Typical estate planner fees:

• •Simple will: £150-300
• •Mirror wills: £250-400
• •LPA (each): £150-250
• •Complex estates: £500-1,000

Why the difference?

Solicitors have higher overheads (offices, support staff, regulatory costs) and often charge hourly rates. Estate planners typically work leaner and charge fixed fees.

Important note: Cheaper doesn't mean worse. For straightforward wills (the majority), estate planners provide equivalent quality at lower cost. For complex situations involving litigation risk, business assets, or international elements, solicitor involvement may be worthwhile.

Typical solicitor experience:

• •Office-based appointments during business hours
• •Formal, professional environment
• •May deal with different people (paralegals, assistants)
• •Legal jargon more common
• •Longer turnaround times (often)

Typical estate planner experience:

• •Home visits common (evenings/weekends)
• •More personal, relationship-focused
• •Usually deal with same person throughout
• •Plain English explanations
• •Often faster turnaround

What clients often prefer:

Many clients, especially elderly clients, appreciate:

• •Home visits (no travel, familiar environment)
• •Evening/weekend availability
• •Same person handling their case
• •Clear, jargon-free explanations
• •Personal, unhurried service

This is where estate planners often excel compared to busy solicitor practices.

Estate planner is ideal for:

• •Straightforward wills (most situations)
• •LPAs for most people
• •Simple trust arrangements
• •Clients wanting personal service
• •Evening/weekend appointments
• •Home visits

Solicitor may be better for:

• •Complex business ownership situations
• •International assets or beneficiaries
• •Contentious family situations with litigation risk
• •Matters requiring court involvement
• •Complex tax planning needing specialist advice
• •Linked to property transactions

The reality:

For 85-90% of the population, an estate planner provides everything needed at better value. Good estate planners recognise when to refer complex cases to solicitors - this is part of proper training.

Working together:

Many estate planners have referral relationships with solicitors:

• •Solicitors refer overflow work to estate planners
• •Estate planners refer complex matters to solicitors
• •Clients get the right service for their needs