How to Become an Estate Planner in the UK: Complete Guide for 2025

Last updated: January 2025 • 12 minute read

Thinking about becoming an estate planner? You're considering a career that combines helping people with genuine earning potential — and the good news is, you don't need a law degree to get started.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about becoming an estate planner in the UK, including realistic earnings, required qualifications (or lack thereof), training options, and an honest timeline to your first clients.

What Is an Estate Planner?

An estate planner is a professional who helps individuals and families plan for what happens to their assets, property, and loved ones when they die or become incapacitated.

In the UK, estate planners typically focus on four core services:

1. Will Writing — Drafting legally valid wills that ensure a person's wishes are carried out after death
2. Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) — Setting up documents that allow someone to make decisions on another person's behalf if they lose mental capacity
3. Trust Planning — Creating trusts to protect assets from care fees, reduce inheritance tax, or provide for vulnerable beneficiaries
4. Probate Guidance — Advising executors on the estate administration process (some estate planners offer full probate services)

What Do Estate Planners Do?

The day-to-day work of an estate planner involves:

Client Consultations

Meeting with clients (typically in their homes) to understand their family situation, assets, and wishes. This involves sensitive conversations about death, incapacity, and family dynamics.

Document Drafting

Using specialized software or templates to draft wills, LPAs, and trust documents that accurately reflect the client's wishes and comply with UK law.

Execution & Witnessing

Ensuring documents are properly signed, witnessed, and executed according to legal requirements (e.g., Wills Act 1837 for wills).

Business Development

Marketing your services, building referral relationships with solicitors, financial advisors, and funeral directors, and managing your client pipeline.

Ongoing Client Support

Providing updates when laws change, helping clients amend documents as life circumstances evolve, and supporting families through the probate process.

Do You Need Qualifications to Become an Estate Planner?

Here's the short answer: No, you don't need formal qualifications or a law degree to become an estate planner in the UK.

Unlike solicitors, estate planners are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). There is no legal requirement to hold specific qualifications before offering will writing or estate planning services.

What This Means in Practice

Technically, anyone can call themselves an estate planner and start drafting wills tomorrow. However, this doesn't mean you should do so without proper training. Here's why:

• Professional Indemnity Insurance — Most insurers require proof of training before providing cover (and you absolutely need insurance)
• Client Trust — Clients want to know you've been properly trained, especially for complex estates
• Liability Risk — If you draft an invalid will or make errors, you can be sued for negligence
• Quality of Service — Proper training ensures you provide accurate, compliant advice

Recognized Qualifications (Optional But Valuable)

While not required, some estate planners pursue formal qualifications such as:

• Society of Will Writers (SWW) Diploma — Industry-recognized qualification (but requires ongoing membership fees)
• Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) Certificate — Another industry body offering training and accreditation
• Professional Diploma in Will Writing and Estate Planning (Level 4) — More comprehensive qualification for serious practitioners
• Independent Training Providers — Like our own training at Project Will, which provides comprehensive practical training without mandatory membership fees

Skills You Need to Succeed

While you don't need academic qualifications, certain skills are essential for success as an estate planner:

1. Attention to Detail

Small errors in wills or LPAs can have major consequences. You need to be meticulous when drafting documents, ensuring names, dates, addresses, and legal language are 100% accurate.

2. Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

You'll be discussing death, illness, and family conflicts with clients. The ability to handle sensitive conversations with compassion and professionalism is crucial.

3. Communication Skills

You must explain complex legal concepts in plain English that elderly or vulnerable clients can understand. You also need to ask probing questions to uncover the full picture of someone's family and assets.

4. Integrity & Ethics

Clients are trusting you with their most personal affairs. Honesty, confidentiality, and ethical conduct are non-negotiable.

5. Business Acumen

Unless you're employed by a firm (rare), you'll be running your own business. This means marketing, accounting, client management, and self-discipline.

6. Problem-Solving

Every client's situation is unique. Blended families, estranged children, vulnerable beneficiaries, business ownership — you need to think creatively to structure appropriate solutions.

Training Options in the UK

Several paths exist for getting trained as an estate planner in the UK:

1. Society of Will Writers (SWW)

Cost: £947 course fee + £325/year membership
Duration: 3-12 months
Format: Online courses or group workshops

Pros: Established organization, industry recognition
Cons: Ongoing membership fees, pass/fail exams, can take 6-12 months

2. Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

Cost: £800-1,500+
Duration: 6-12 months
Format: Online self-study modules

Pros: Flexible learning pace
Cons: Annual membership fees, pass/fail exams, limited hands-on support

3. Independent Training Providers (Like Project Will)

Cost: Typically £500-1,500 one-time fee
Duration: 2-4 weeks intensive training
Format: Live instruction, small groups

Pros: Fast-track to market, no ongoing fees, practical focus, often includes software and first-client support
Cons: May not have "industry body" badge (though clients rarely ask)

Which Training Is Best?

Honestly, there's no single "best" option. Consider:

• Budget — Can you afford ongoing annual fees or prefer one-time payment?
• Timeline — Do you want to start earning in 2-4 weeks or are you okay waiting 6-12 months?
• Learning Style — Do you prefer self-study or live instruction with Q&A?
• Ongoing Support — How much hand-holding do you need after training?

What matters most is that you receive comprehensive training covering wills, LPAs, trusts, probate, compliance, and business setup — not just the name of the organization providing it.

How Much Do Estate Planners Earn?

This is the question everyone wants answered. Let's be brutally honest about estate planner earnings in the UK.

Typical Pricing (What You Can Charge)

• Single Will: £150-250
• Mirror Wills (couple): £250-400
• Single LPA: £150-250
• Full Package (mirror wills + 4 LPAs): £600-1,000
• Complex Estate with Trusts: £1,200-2,500+

Realistic Income Scenarios

Part-Time Estate Planner (5-10 clients/month)
Average fee per client: £450
Monthly income: £2,250-4,500
Annual: £27,000-54,000

Full-Time Estate Planner (10-20 clients/month)
Average fee per client: £500
Monthly income: £5,000-10,000
Annual: £60,000-120,000

Established Practice (20+ clients/month + probate)
Average fee per client: £600
Monthly income: £12,000+
Annual: £144,000+

Costs to Factor In

Your income isn't pure profit. Typical ongoing costs:

• Professional Indemnity Insurance: £300-600/year
• Will Writing Software: £150-300/month (£1,800-3,600/year)
• Marketing & Advertising: £100-500/month
• Website & Business Tools: £50-100/month
• Professional Development: £200-500/year

Total Annual Costs: £3,000-6,000+

So if you're earning £50,000 in revenue, your profit after costs (before tax) is more like £44,000-47,000.

Realistic Timeline to First Clients

Let's walk through a realistic timeline from "I want to be an estate planner" to "I have paying clients":

Month 1: Training

Complete your estate planning training course (2-4 weeks for intensive programs, 3-12 months for self-paced).

Month 2: Business Setup

• Register your business (sole trader or limited company)
• Get professional indemnity insurance
• Set up basic website and marketing materials
• Purchase or subscribe to will writing software
• Create terms of business and client engagement letters

Month 3-6: Marketing & First Clients

This is where reality hits. Getting your first clients requires:

• Local networking (business groups, community events)
• Building referral partnerships (solicitors, IFAs, funeral directors)
• Online presence (Google Business Profile, local SEO)
• Word of mouth (friends, family, their networks)
• Persistence through rejection and quiet periods

Most new estate planners get their first 1-3 clients within 3-6 months. Some faster (if they have strong networks), some slower.

Month 6-12: Building Momentum

As you complete more clients, you gain:

• Experience and confidence
• Testimonials and case studies
• Referrals from happy clients
• Better conversion rates (you get better at sales)

By month 12, successful estate planners are typically serving 5-15 clients per month.

Year 2-3: Sustainable Income

This is when most estate planners achieve sustainable full-time income (£35,000-60,000+). You have an established client base, steady referrals, and efficient systems.

A Day in the Life of an Estate Planner

What does a typical day actually look like? Here's a realistic snapshot:

Morning (9am-12pm)

• 9:00am: Respond to client emails and inquiries
• 9:30am: Draft will for client met with yesterday (using software)
• 11:00am: Phone consultation with potential new client (fact-finding, explaining services)
• 11:30am: Follow-up email with quote and next steps

Afternoon (1pm-5pm)

• 1:00pm: Travel to client's home for will signing appointment
• 2:00pm: Execute and witness will documents with client
• 3:00pm: Travel back
• 3:30pm: Update client records, file documents
• 4:00pm: Networking coffee with local financial advisor (building referral relationship)

Evening (6pm-8pm)

• 6:00pm: Review tomorrow's appointments
• 6:30pm: Work on website content/social media
• 7:00pm: Evening client consultation (for working clients who can't meet during the day)

Key Takeaway: It's a mix of client-facing work, document drafting, business development, and admin. You have flexibility over your schedule but need self-discipline to stay productive.

Pros and Cons of Being an Estate Planner

Pros ✅

• No Law Degree Required — Accessible career path without years of university
• Genuine Earning Potential — £35,000-60,000+ once established, potentially much more
• Flexibility & Independence — Work from home, set your own hours, be your own boss
• Meaningful Work — You're genuinely helping people protect their families
• Growing Demand — Aging UK population means increasing need for services
• Repeat Business — Clients return when circumstances change, refer friends and family
• Low Overhead — Can run from home with minimal equipment
• Recession-Resistant — People always need wills regardless of economic conditions

Cons ❌

• Slow Start — Takes 3-6 months to first clients, 12-18 months to sustainable income
• Sales Required — You must market yourself and close clients (not for everyone)
• Emotionally Heavy — Constant conversations about death, illness, and family conflict
• Liability Risk — Errors can lead to lawsuits (insurance is essential)
• Irregular Income — Some months busy, some quiet (feast or famine)
• Solo Work — Can be isolating if you work from home alone
• Competitive Market — Solicitors, online services, and other will writers compete for clients
• Ongoing Compliance — Need to stay updated on legal changes

Step-by-Step: How to Get Started

If you're ready to pursue this career, here's your action plan:

Step 1: Research & Validate

• Read guides like this one
• Talk to practicing estate planners (LinkedIn, Facebook groups)
• Assess your local market (competition, demographics)
• Be honest: Do you have the skills and temperament for this?

Step 2: Choose Your Training

• Compare SWW, IPW, and independent providers
• Consider budget, timeline, and learning style
• Check what's included (software, templates, ongoing support)
• Book a consultation with training providers to ask questions

Step 3: Complete Training

• Commit fully to the training program
• Practice drafting wills and LPAs
• Ask questions when uncertain
• Network with fellow trainees

Step 4: Set Up Your Business

• Register with HMRC (sole trader or limited company)
• Get professional indemnity insurance (shop around for quotes)
• Purchase will writing software
• Create basic website (or hire someone)
• Set up Google Business Profile
• Print business cards and marketing materials

Step 5: Get Your First Clients

• Tell everyone you know what you're doing
• Offer free initial consultations
• Join local business networking groups
• Connect with solicitors, IFAs, funeral directors for referrals
• Run targeted Facebook ads to local elderly demographics
• Attend community events, give talks at retirement communities

Step 6: Deliver Excellent Service & Scale

• Over-deliver for early clients (they become your best advocates)
• Ask for Google reviews and testimonials
• Refine your processes to become more efficient
• Reinvest profits into marketing and professional development
• Build systems so you can handle more clients

Frequently Asked Questions

Is estate planning a good career in 2025?

Yes, for the right person. The UK's aging population creates growing demand for estate planning services. If you're comfortable with sales, self-employment, and sensitive client conversations, it's a viable career with good earning potential. However, it's not a get-rich-quick scheme — expect 12-18 months to build sustainable income.

Can I do this part-time?

Absolutely. Many estate planners start part-time while keeping their day job, then transition to full-time once client flow is steady. The flexible nature of the work makes this very feasible.

Do I need to be good at sales?

Yes, at least somewhat. Unless you're employed by a firm (rare), you'll need to market yourself and convert prospects into paying clients. However, it's consultative selling (helping people, not pushy tactics), which many find more comfortable.

What age do most estate planners start?

Estate planning attracts career changers, often in their 30s-50s. The empathy and life experience that comes with age can actually be an advantage when discussing sensitive topics with elderly clients.

Is the market saturated?

Some areas are more competitive than others, but the UK market is far from saturated. Many regions are underserved. Success comes down to differentiation, local marketing, and providing excellent service.

Can I work from home?

Yes. Most estate planners work from home offices, traveling to clients' homes for consultations and signings. Very low overhead.

How do I get my first client?

Networking, word of mouth, and local marketing are key. Your first client will likely come from your personal network (friends, family, neighbors) or from joining local business groups and making connections. Some training providers (like Project Will) actively help you land your first client.

Next Steps: Start Your Estate Planning Career

If you've read this far, you're serious about becoming an estate planner. Here's what to do next:

Whether you train with us or elsewhere, make sure you receive comprehensive instruction in wills, LPAs, trusts, probate, and business development. The quality of your training will directly impact your success.

Good luck on your journey to becoming an estate planner!