Will Writing Qualifications — What Do You Really Need?

Here's the straightforward truth about will writing qualifications:

Legally required: Nothing. Will writing is unregulated in the UK.

Practically essential: Comprehensive training covering wills, LPAs, and client consultations.

Helpful but optional: Professional body membership (IPW, SWW).

Not required: Law degree, A-levels, GCSEs, or any specific academic qualifications.

This surprises many people. Unlike solicitors who need law degrees and training contracts, will writers have no legal qualification requirements. The profession is open to anyone who gets proper training.

Why this matters for you:

If you're considering becoming a will writer, the barriers are much lower than you might expect. You don't need to go back to university or spend years qualifying. With the right training (which can take just 2-4 weeks), you can be serving clients and earning income.

However, "no legal requirements" doesn't mean "no requirements." Practical realities mean training is essential — insurers need evidence of competence, clients expect professionalism, and doing the job properly requires knowledge you won't have without education.

Let's break down exactly what you need and don't need.

Understanding why will writing is unregulated helps explain your path into the profession.

The Legal Services Act 2007

This Act defines "reserved legal activities" — work that only qualified solicitors, barristers, or other authorised professionals can do. These include:

• •Court representation (advocacy)
• •Litigation conduct
• •Conveyancing (property transfers)
• •Probate (applying for grants of representation)

Will writing is NOT on this list. The Act explicitly does not reserve will writing, meaning anyone can legally write wills for clients.

Why wasn't will writing regulated?

When the Act was drafted, there was debate about including will writing. Ultimately, Parliament decided:

• •Existing consumer protection laws provide some safeguards
• •Regulating would create barriers that might reduce access to services
• •The market could address quality concerns through professional bodies

What this means practically:

• •You can legally write wills without any qualifications
• •No registration or licensing is required
• •No governing body can prevent you practising
• •You're not committing an offence by writing wills without legal qualifications

The responsibility this creates:

With no legal gatekeeping, the responsibility falls on you to ensure competence. Clients trust you with documents that determine their family's future. Getting it wrong can have serious consequences — contested wills, invalid documents, family disputes.

This is why training matters even though it's not legally mandated. The lack of regulation means you must regulate yourself by getting proper education.

While nothing is legally required, several qualifications and credentials help your career:

Will Writing Course Certificate (Essential in Practice)

Completing a recognised will writing course demonstrates competence to:

• •Insurance companies (who need evidence before covering you)
• •Clients (who want to know you're trained)
• •Referral partners (who won't send clients to untrained practitioners)

Any comprehensive course covering wills, LPAs, and client consultations provides this. Our free training course includes certification on completion.

Professional Body Membership (Helpful but Optional)

Two main bodies serve will writers:

Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

• •Annual membership: £200-400
• •Requires evidence of training
• •Provides ongoing CPD
• •Code of conduct and complaints procedure
• •Client compensation scheme

Society of Will Writers (SWW)

• •Annual membership: £200-400
• •Training requirements
• •Professional development
• •Client protection measures
• •Industry recognition

Membership provides credibility and support, but many successful will writers operate without it. It's a business decision, not a requirement.

CILEx Qualifications (Optional, Advanced)

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives offers legal qualifications. Some will writers pursue CILEx qualifications for deeper legal knowledge, but this isn't necessary for standard will writing work.

STEP Qualifications (Optional, Advanced)

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners offers advanced qualifications in trusts and estates. These suit experienced practitioners wanting to serve high-net-worth clients or develop specialist expertise.

Cost: £1,500+ and 6+ months study

Best for: Those wanting premium positioning, not entry-level practitioners

University Degrees (Not Required)

A law degree is not required for will writing. Unlike becoming a solicitor, there's no educational pathway mandating university study. Many successful will writers have no degree at all.

If you already have relevant qualifications (law, finance, business), they may help but aren't necessary.

Professional bodies serve the will writing industry but aren't regulatory authorities. Here's how they work:

Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

• •What it is: Trade association for will writers
• •Annual cost: £200-400 depending on membership level
• •Entry requirements: Evidence of training, insurance, professional standards
• •Benefits:
• •Use of IPW credentials
• •Client compensation scheme
• •Ongoing training and CPD
• •Complaints handling
• •Directory listing
• •Networking and support

Society of Will Writers (SWW)

• •What it is: Longest-established will writing trade body
• •Annual cost: £200-400
• •Entry requirements: Training evidence, insurance, code of conduct compliance
• •Benefits:
• •Professional recognition
• •Client protection scheme
• •Training and CPD
• •Complaints procedure
• •Business support
• •Industry representation

Do You Need to Join?

No. Membership is voluntary. Many successful will writers operate without professional body membership.

Arguments for joining:

• •Client confidence (some clients look for IPW/SWW membership)
• •Referral partner credibility
• •Complaints handling removes burden from you
• •Ongoing CPD keeps you current
• •Networking opportunities

Arguments against:

• •Annual cost (£200-400/year)
• •Requirements may restrict how you operate
• •Not necessary for insurance or legal practice
• •Many clients don't know or care about membership

Our view:

Professional body membership is a business decision, not a qualification requirement. If the credibility and support justify the cost for your situation, join. If not, you can practice perfectly legally without membership.

Some will writers join initially for credibility, then discontinue once established. Others never join and do fine. There's no single right answer.

Setting aside legal requirements (none) and optional credentials (professional bodies), what training do you actually need to serve clients competently?

The Wills Act 1837

Understanding the legal framework that governs wills:

• •Who can make a valid will
• •Testamentary capacity requirements
• •Execution formalities (signing, witnessing)
• •What can invalidate a will
• •Revocation rules

Types of Wills

Knowing when different will structures are appropriate:

• •Simple wills (straightforward distributions)
• •Mirror wills (matching documents for couples)
• •Trust wills (protecting assets for beneficiaries)
• •Life interest wills (balancing spouse and children)
• •Business wills (succession planning)

Common Will Clauses

The building blocks of will drafting:

• •Residuary clauses
• •Specific gifts
• •Guardianship appointments
• •Funeral wishes
• •Administrative provisions

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Essential additional service most clients need:

• •Health & Welfare LPAs
• •Property & Financial LPAs
• •Registration process
• •Attorney selection guidance
• •When to recommend LPAs

Client Consultation Skills

Perhaps the most important skill:

• •Building rapport quickly
• •Asking effective questions
• •Explaining complex concepts simply
• •Handling sensitive topics
• •Taking accurate instructions

Using Will Writing Software

Professional efficiency requires software skills:

• •Document drafting
• •Client management
• •Compliance requirements
• •Using systems like WILLO

Business Fundamentals

Unless joining an established firm:

• •Professional indemnity insurance
• •Pricing services
• •Finding clients
• •Basic marketing
• •Business setup

Our free course covers all of this — the practical training you need without unnecessary academic content. Complete in 2-4 weeks, get certified, and start serving clients. Start free training →

Beyond training and optional credentials, what do you actually need to succeed as a will writer?

Proper Training (We Provide Free)

Comprehensive education covering wills, LPAs, consultations, and business basics. This is non-negotiable for competence. Our free course delivers this in 2-4 weeks.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Before taking any clients, you need insurance that protects you and them if something goes wrong. Most insurers require evidence of training.

• •Cost: £200-500 per year for new practitioners
• •Requirement: Essential before seeing clients
• •Providers: Several specialist insurers cover will writers

Good Software

Professional will writing software makes you efficient and accurate. Manual document creation is slow and error-prone.

• •WILLO: £150/month
• •Alternatives: £30-100/month subscription

Communication Skills

You'll discuss sensitive topics — death, family tensions, money. Clear, empathetic communication is essential. Many clients find these conversations difficult; your job is making them comfortable.

Good news: this skill is developed, not innate. Training and practice improve it.

Attention to Detail

Wills are legal documents where small errors matter. Names must be spelled correctly, clauses drafted precisely, execution witnessed properly. Carelessness creates problems.

Reliability and Professionalism

Clients trust you with important decisions. Being reliable, responsive, and professional builds reputation and referrals.

What You DON'T Need:

• •Law degree or legal background
• •A-levels, GCSEs, or academic qualifications
• •Previous legal experience
• •Professional body membership
• •An office (work from home)
• •Large startup capital

The barriers are lower than most people assume. The skills that matter are largely transferable from other professions or developable through training.

We offer a complete, no-cost path to qualified will writer status:

Comprehensive Training

8 modules covering everything you need:

• •Wills (types, clauses, execution)
• •LPAs (both types, registration)
• •Trusts (basics, when to recommend)
• •Client consultations (skills, techniques)
• •Business setup (insurance, pricing, finding clients)
• •WILLO software (hands-on training)

Certificate of Completion

Demonstrate your training to:

• •Insurance companies (evidence of competence)
• •Clients (professional credibility)
• •Referral partners (confidence in your abilities)

WILLO Software (£150/month)

Professional will writing software — £150/month to run your entire business.

Why It's Free

We don't believe the legal foundations of estate planning should be locked behind £1,000-2,000 training fees. Free training lets anyone serious about this career learn the law without taking financial risk first.

We make money when graduates upgrade to our paid coached programme to build their business — but there's no obligation. Complete the free training, subscribe to WILLO, and run your own independent practice without ever paying us another penny.

No Exams, No Memberships Required

You don't need to pass examinations or join professional bodies. Complete the training, get certified, get insured, start earning.

Timeline

• •Training: 2-4 weeks (self-paced, part-time study)
• •Insurance: 1-2 weeks to arrange
• •First client: Within 1 month of completing training

From complete beginner to qualified, practising will writer in around 6 weeks. Compare this to 6+ years for solicitor qualification.

Start Free Training →

Common questions about will writing qualifications.