Is the course really free?

Yes, completely. No hidden fees, no credit card required. The free training covers wills, LPAs and trusts in full — the same content other UK providers charge £600–£1,000 for. We give it away because we make our money from the optional coached programme that comes after.

Do I need any qualifications?

No formal qualifications needed. Will writing is unregulated in the UK. What matters is proper training — which we provide.

How long does the course take?

Most people complete it in 2–4 weeks, studying a few hours per week. It's self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.

What's the difference between the free course and the coached programme?

The free course teaches the legal knowledge — wills, LPAs and trusts. The coached programme is the optional next step that teaches the sales and business side: how to find clients, charge properly, and build a real estate planning business stage by stage. £199/month for four months, then £99/month for WILLO ongoing.

Can I do this part-time?

Absolutely. Most of our students run it 3–4 hours a day, 3 days a week, around other commitments. You choose your own hours.

What if I just want the free training and stop there?

Brilliant. Plenty of people do — they use what they learn to look after their own family's documents in WILLO. There's no pressure to progress to the coached programme.

Can I become an estate planner without paying for training?

Yes. Employer-sponsored training programmes provide comprehensive preparation at no cost, in exchange for employment commitment. Many successful practitioners followed this route. Add professional body membership (£200-£300/year) for credentials comparable to expensive qualifications.

Are free estate planning courses legitimate?

Employer-sponsored training is legitimate and often excellent. Free "taster" courses are marketing tools—useful for exploration but won't qualify you to practise. Be wary of anything claiming to provide full qualification for free without employment commitment—quality comprehensive training has real costs someone must cover.

Which companies offer free estate planning training?

Companies like Project Will offer comprehensive training programmes tied to employment. National Will Writing and various regional firms have similar schemes. Search "estate planner trainee" on job boards to find current opportunities. Training quality varies so research each company thoroughly.

Is employer-sponsored training as good as professional qualifications?

Often better for career outcomes. Employer training provides practical skills, real client experience, and employment. Professional qualifications provide theory and credentials. Ideal combination: employer training + professional body membership. This often produces better practitioners than expensive academic courses alone.

How can I verify free training is good quality?

Ask to speak with recent graduates. Check employment rates of programme completers. Verify trainers are working practitioners. Look for ongoing support after training. Quality free training exists—it just requires the same due diligence as paid options.

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Free Training

Free Will Writing Courses UK 2026

Discover every legitimate free will writing training option in the UK. From employer-sponsored programmes to free taster courses, find no-cost pathways into estate planning.

By Alex Stansbury, Founder

•

14 min read

•Updated January 2026

Can You Really Train for Free?

Yes—if you know where to look.

Estate planning training typically costs £1,500-£6,000 through professional bodies. But legitimate free pathways exist, and some offer better outcomes than expensive courses.

Types of free training available:

1. Employer-sponsored programmes - Comprehensive training in exchange for employment

2. Free taster courses - Introduction to assess interest

3. Subsidised training schemes - Government-funded programmes

4. Company-specific training - Internal certification programmes

The trade-off to understand:

Free training usually comes with commitment—to an employer, to a particular pathway, or to specific software/methods. This isn't necessarily bad, but understand what you're agreeing to.

Expensive courses aren't always better:

Some £5,000 courses produce graduates who struggle to find work. Some free employer programmes produce practitioners earning £50,000+ within three years. Outcomes matter more than cost.

This guide covers:

•All legitimate free training options
•What "free" actually means (the trade-offs)
•How to evaluate quality regardless of cost
•Combining free and paid training effectively

Employer-Sponsored Free Training

The best value training often costs nothing.

Several companies offer comprehensive estate planning training with guaranteed employment.

How employer-sponsored training works:

•Company provides full training programme
•You commit to working for them (usually 12-24 months minimum)
•Training covers all aspects needed for the role
•Usually includes software training
•Mentoring and support included
•You earn while learning

Example: Project Will Training Programme

What's included:

•Complete will writing and estate planning training
•WILLO software certification
•LPA training
•Trust fundamentals
•Client meeting skills
•Business development training
•Ongoing mentoring

Commitment:

•Work for Project Will
•Meet production standards
•Follow their processes
•Usually minimum commitment period

Benefits:

•No upfront cost
•Immediate income
•Real client experience from early on
•Practical rather than academic focus
•Built-in support network
•Clear career pathway

Considerations:

•You're committing to an employer
•Training focuses on their methods
•May have non-compete restrictions
•Exit before commitment period may have consequences

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Other companies offering similar programmes:

•National Will Writing
•Various regional estate planning firms
•Insurance company estate planning divisions
•Some IFA networks with estate planning arms

How to find opportunities:

•Indeed, Reed, LinkedIn (search "estate planner trainee")
•Company websites directly
•Industry forums and groups
•Professional body job boards (IPW, SWW)

What to ask:

1. What training is provided and how long?

2. What are the employment terms after training?

3. What happens if it's not the right fit?

4. What are realistic first-year earnings?

5. What ongoing support is available?

Free Taster and Introduction Courses

Testing the waters before committing:

Several providers offer free introduction courses. These help you understand the profession before investing time or money.

What free taster courses typically include:

•Overview of will writing profession
•Basic understanding of key concepts
•Day-in-the-life insight
•Career pathway information
•Next steps guidance

What they don't provide:

•Qualification to practise
•Practical skills training
•Client-ready competence
•Software training
•Comprehensive knowledge

Purpose of free tasters:

These are designed to help you make informed decisions. They're also marketing tools—providers hope you'll enrol in paid courses. This isn't bad, just be aware of the context.

Legitimate free tasters to consider:

Professional body introductions:

•IPW occasional free webinars
•SWW introductory events
•Industry conference taster sessions

Company discovery programmes:

•Many employers offer "discovery days"
•Virtual introduction sessions
•Industry open days

Online resources:

•YouTube educational content from practitioners
•Podcast interviews with estate planners
•Blog content from training providers
•Free chapters from training materials

How to use free content effectively:

1. Get broad understanding of the profession

2. Confirm genuine interest before investing

3. Understand different training options

4. Ask informed questions when evaluating paid options

5. Network with current practitioners

Warning signs with "free" courses:

•Heavy sales pressure during free session
•Claims that only their paid course leads to success
•Unrealistic income promises
•Demand for credit card details "just in case"
•Free training contingent on purchasing something

Government-Funded Training Options

Potential subsidised pathways:

Various government funding schemes may support career change training. Availability varies by region and changes regularly.

Potential funding sources:

Skills Bootcamps:

•Government-funded intensive training programmes
•Usually for employed or job-seeking individuals
•May cover professional services training
•Check National Careers Service for current offerings

Career Development Loans:

•Professional and Career Development Loans
•Lower interest rates for approved training
•Not technically "free" but makes training accessible

Local Authority Funding:

•Adult Education budgets
•Skills development programmes
•Varies significantly by council
•Contact local authority adult education team

Job Centre Plus:

•Training support for job seekers
•May fund career change programmes
•Discuss with your work coach
•Flexible Support Fund for training costs

Professional Development Schemes:

•Some employers have training budgets
•Ask current employer about career change support
•Tax relief on self-funded professional training

How to find current funding:

1. National Careers Service - nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

2. Local authority websites - adult education sections

3. Job Centre Plus - if currently claiming

4. Skills funding agencies - regional variations exist

Reality check:

Direct government funding for estate planning training is limited. Most "free" pathways are employer-sponsored rather than government-funded. However, it's worth checking—programmes change regularly and regional variations exist.

Alternative approach:

Even if training costs money, employer-sponsored routes eliminate the need for funding. Consider these as the primary "free" pathway.

DIY Learning Resources

Free resources to supplement formal training:

While you can't become a competent estate planner through free resources alone, they can supplement formal training effectively.

Books (library access = free):

•"Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax For Dummies"
•"A Practitioner's Guide to Wills"
•STEP course textbooks (libraries may have)
•Law textbooks on succession

Online resources:

Government guidance:

•gov.uk wills and probate section
•HMRC inheritance tax guidance
•Office of the Public Guardian LPA information
•Court of Protection guidance

Professional body resources:

•IPW resources for non-members
•SWW public information
•STEP insights articles
•Law Society guidance

Legal information sites:

•Citizens Advice (basic will information)
•Which? wills guidance
•Money Advice Service
•Age UK estate planning resources

YouTube and podcasts:

•Practitioner channels (some excellent)
•Industry podcasts
•Conference recordings
•Webinar replays

What free resources can teach:

•Basic concepts and terminology
•Industry overview
•Legal framework fundamentals
•Client scenarios
•Career pathway information

What they can't teach:

•Practical skills (need supervision)
•Complex drafting techniques
•Software competence
•Client management
•Business development

How to use free resources effectively:

Before training:

•Build foundational understanding
•Confirm genuine interest
•Learn industry terminology
•Understand career options

During training:

•Supplement formal learning
•Reinforce difficult concepts
•Explore areas of interest
•Stay current with changes

After training:

•Continuous professional development
•Specialist knowledge areas
•Industry trends
•Networking opportunities

Combining Free and Paid Training

The smart approach: strategic combination.

Most successful estate planners combine free and paid elements strategically rather than relying on just one approach.

Optimal pathway for most career changers:

Step 1: Free exploration

•Free taster courses
•Research online
•Talk to practitioners
•Confirm genuine interest
•Understand options

Step 2: Employer-sponsored training (free)

•Apply for trainee positions
•Complete comprehensive training
•Gain practical experience
•Build client skills
•Learn software

Step 3: Professional body membership (£200-£300/year)

•Join IPW or SWW
•Access CPD resources
•Professional credibility
•Insurance access
•Networking

Step 4: Optional paid specialisation

•Trust training if needed
•Tax planning if pursuing
•Business development courses
•Specialist certifications

Total cost: £200-£500 for credentials comparable to £3,000+ courses

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Alternative pathway if no employer training available:

Step 1: Low-cost practical training

•Reputable independent provider (£1,000-£2,000)
•Focus on practical skills
•Software training available
•Look for job placement support

Step 2: Entry-level employment

•Use training to secure position
•Practical experience in role
•Mentoring from experienced practitioners

Step 3: Professional body membership

•Credibility and CPD
•£200-£300/year

Step 4: Career development

•Experience + membership = credibility
•Optional further qualifications
•Specialisation if desired

The expensive qualification myth:

Many people believe:

•Expensive qualification → Good job → Success

Reality:

•Practical skills → Job → Experience → Success
•Qualifications are one component, not the whole picture

A practitioner with employer training, 2 years' experience, and professional body membership often has better prospects than someone with expensive qualifications but no experience.

Action Steps: Your Free Training Path

Practical steps to get started with minimal cost:

This week:

1. Read GOV.UK basic wills guidance (free, 1 hour)

2. Watch 3-5 YouTube videos from estate planning practitioners

3. Browse Indeed/LinkedIn for "estate planner trainee" positions

4. Note companies offering training

This month:

1. Apply for 3-5 trainee positions with training

2. Sign up for any free webinars from IPW/SWW

3. Research companies you'd want to work for

4. Prepare CV highlighting transferable skills

Three months:

1. If employed trainee: Begin training, focus on learning

2. If still searching: Consider low-cost practical course while continuing applications

3. Plan professional body membership timing

4. Build network in industry

Twelve months goal:

•Working as estate planner
•Practical competence established
•Professional body membership
•Clear development pathway
•Total investment: £200-£500 (or less)

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If you're concerned about quality of free training:

How to verify quality regardless of cost:

1. Speak to actual graduates

2. Ask about employment rates

3. Check trainer credentials

4. Look for ongoing support

5. Understand exactly what's included

Quality indicators:

•High graduate employment rate
•Positive practitioner reviews
•Trainers are working professionals
•Ongoing support available
•Clear about what's included and what's extra
•Reasonable expectations communicated

Red flags:

•Can't provide graduate references
•Trainers with no practical experience
•Unrealistic promises
•Pressure to decide quickly
•Hidden fees or upsells

Resources for further research:

Key Takeaways

Employer-sponsored training is the most valuable free option—comprehensive training with guaranteed employment
Professional body membership (£200-£300/year) provides credentials without expensive courses
Free taster courses help confirm interest before committing
Free resources can supplement but not replace formal training
Smart combination of free and low-cost elements beats expensive courses for most
Quality of outcomes matters more than cost of training