A will writer is a professional who helps individuals and couples draft legally-valid wills and related estate planning documents. Unlike solicitors, will writers specialize exclusively in wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), and estate planning – they don't practice general law.
What will writers do:
What will writers don't do:
Will writing is an attractive career for several reasons:
Many people become will writers as a second career, side business alongside other work, or as a portfolio career combining it with related services like probate or financial planning.
No. You do not need a law degree, any formal qualifications, or previous legal experience to become a will writer in the UK.
Will writing is currently an unregulated profession in the UK, which means:
While formal qualifications aren't legally required, professional training is absolutely necessary for four critical reasons:
Will writers come from all kinds of backgrounds:
The common traits of successful will writers aren't legal qualifications – they're empathy, attention to detail, good communication skills, and willingness to learn.
✅ Reality Check: "I have no legal background" is not a barrier to becoming a will writer. Professional training teaches you everything you need to know. Many of the UK's most successful will writers came from completely non-legal careers.
Most people become fully operational will writers within 6-12 weeks of deciding to pursue this career. Here's a realistic timeline:
💡 Realistic Expectation: Most ProjectWill training graduates complete their first paid will within 2-3 weeks of finishing training (weeks 5-6 overall). By week 12, you should have 3-8 clients under your belt and be actively marketing for more.
Yes, if you're focused and have time available:
The timeline above assumes you're treating this seriously but not necessarily full-time. Most people maintain current employment while setting up their will writing practice.
Complete training in just 2 days • Free software • Unlimited support • £995 all-in
View Training Details →Time required: 2-3 days
Cost: £995-£4,300 depending on provider
This is your first and most important step. Professional training teaches you everything you need to know to draft legally-sound wills and run a compliant practice.
Quality will writer training includes:
The main will writer training providers in the UK are:
1. ProjectWill (£995) – Best Value
2. Institute of Professional Willwriters (£3,500)
3. Society of Will Writers (£4,300)
For most new will writers, ProjectWill offers the best value:
See our complete training provider comparison for detailed analysis.
Time required: 1-2 hours research + setup time
Cost: £0-£50
You have two main options for your will writing business structure:
How it works: You and your business are legally the same entity. You're personally responsible for all debts and obligations.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: £0 to set up
How it works: Your business is a separate legal entity. You're a director and shareholder. The company's debts are separate from your personal finances.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: £12-£50 to register (via Companies House or formation agents)
Start as a sole trader if:
Consider a limited company if:
💡 Most Common Approach: Start as a sole trader for your first 6-12 months. Once you're earning consistently and confident in the business, switch to a limited company if the tax benefits and professional image justify the extra administration.
How to register:
Time required: 2-3 hours to compare quotes
Cost: £40-£150 per month (£480-£1,800/year)
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance is absolutely essential before you take on any paying clients. It protects you if a client claims you made a mistake that cost them money.
Will drafting errors can be expensive:
Even if you're careful and well-trained, mistakes can happen or clients can make claims. PI insurance covers:
Recommended cover levels:
Most will writers opt for £6-10 million cover.
Your insurance premium depends on:
Typical costs for new will writers:
Specialist will writer insurance providers include:
Action: Get 3-5 quotes, compare cover levels and exclusions (not just price), and choose a reputable insurer. Don't go with the cheapest if they exclude important cover or have a poor reputation for paying claims.
⚠️ Critical: Never, ever work with clients before your insurance is in place and active. One mistake on an uninsured client could financially ruin you. Wait until you have your insurance certificate before taking any paid work.
Time required: 1-3 days to learn and configure
Cost: £0 (with ProjectWill) or £300-600/year
Professional will writing software is essential for efficient, accurate will drafting. While you could technically draft wills in Microsoft Word, specialized software offers huge advantages.
1. Free with ProjectWill Training (Willo platform)
2. SmartWill (£360/year)
3. Fastdraft (£500-600/year)
4. DIY (Microsoft Word templates - Not Recommended)
Beyond will writing software, you need:
Client Management:
Document Storage:
Accounting:
Email:
💡 ProjectWill Advantage: Because ProjectWill training includes free will writing software for life, you save £300-600 every year compared to other providers. This alone makes ProjectWill training pay for itself within 3 years, even before you earn a penny from clients.
Time required: 2-4 hours
Cost: £40-£60/year for ICO, optional £295-£395/year for professional bodies
While will writing isn't regulated, you must comply with data protection law and money laundering regulations.
You must register with the ICO because you'll be processing personal data (client names, addresses, family details, etc.).
Failure to register can result in fines, so don't skip this step.
As a will writer, you're subject to Money Laundering Regulations. This means:
You don't need to register anywhere specifically for this – just ensure you follow the regulations. Your training provider will teach you the requirements.
You can optionally join professional bodies like:
Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)
Society of Will Writers (SWW)
Membership is not mandatory, but can add credibility and provide ongoing support. Many will writers operate successfully without membership, especially if their training (like ProjectWill) includes unlimited support anyway.
Time required: 3-7 days
Cost: £100-£500 (or less if DIY)
You need basic marketing materials to present yourself professionally and attract clients.
1. Website (Highly Recommended)
A simple, professional website is your 24/7 marketing tool. It doesn't need to be fancy.
Essential pages:
Options:
2. Business Cards
3. Brochures/Flyers
4. Email Signature
5. Social Media Profiles (Optional but Helpful)
Focus on benefits, not just features:
Client testimonials are your most powerful marketing tool. After every will, ask satisfied clients:
💡 Marketing on a Budget: You don't need to spend thousands on marketing. A simple website (£10/month Wix), business cards (£30), and Google My Business (free) will get you started. ProjectWill provides marketing templates to save you time and money.
Time required: Ongoing, expect first clients within 2-6 weeks
Cost: Variable (£0-£500/month depending on strategy)
This is where the rubber meets the road. Here's how to get your first will writing clients.
Your quickest wins will come from people who already know you.
Many new will writers get their first 3-10 clients entirely through personal connections.
Business networking groups are the #1 most effective marketing strategy for will writers.
BNI (Business Network International)
Chamber of Commerce
Other networking groups: Local business breakfast clubs, industry-specific groups, Rotary, Lions Club
Offering free "wills and estate planning" talks is highly effective.
One seminar to 20 people can generate 3-6 clients.
Build relationships with professionals who serve the same clients:
Approach: Introduce yourself, explain your services, offer to refer clients back to them. Reciprocal relationships work best.
✅ Reality Check: Most ProjectWill graduates get their first paid client within 2-3 weeks of completing training. By actively working multiple strategies (personal network + networking groups + free talks), you can realistically expect 5-15 clients in your first 2 months.
Here's what you'll really spend to become a will writer, from training to your first clients:
| Expense | Budget Option | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | £995 (ProjectWill) | £3,500 (IPW) | £4,300 (SWW) |
| Business registration | £0 (sole trader) | £12 (limited) | £50 (agent) |
| Insurance (year 1) | £480 | £720 | £900 |
| Software (year 1) | £0 (free w/ ProjectWill) | £360 | £495 |
| ICO registration | £40 | £40 | £60 |
| Website | £120 (Wix, 1 year) | £300 | £800 (professional) |
| Marketing materials | £100 | £200 | £400 |
| Networking (BNI etc.) | £0 (free groups) | £600 | £900 |
| Misc (phone, accounting) | £200 | £300 | £500 |
| YEAR 1 TOTAL | £1,935 | £6,032 | £8,405 |
How many clients do you need to break even on your investment?
Assuming £400 average fee per client (mirror wills) and 70% profit margin after minor per-client costs:
This demonstrates why the budget approach (ProjectWill training + essentials) is so attractive – you're profitable faster and risk less capital.
After year 1, ongoing costs are much lower:
With ProjectWill (no software fees, no membership required), your ongoing costs are at the lower end of this range.
Start your will writing career with ProjectWill training • Just £995 • Includes free software for life
Begin Your Training →Will writing income varies based on hours worked, marketing effectiveness, and local market – but here are realistic expectations:
Most will writers charge around £400-450 for mirror wills, which is the most common service.
What affects will writer earnings:
✅ Realistic Expectation: Most will writers earn £25,000-£55,000 part-time once established (year 2-3). Full-time practitioners earning £60,000-£100,000+ are common. The business scales well – your 20th client takes no more time than your 2nd, but you're more efficient and confident.
You don't need a law degree, but you do need certain skills and personal qualities:
💡 Good News: Most of these skills can be developed through training and practice. Professional will writer training (like ProjectWill) teaches you the technical and business skills. The personal qualities – empathy, trustworthiness, communication – are things you likely already have if this career appeals to you.
Will writing is ideal if you:
Will writing might not suit you if you:
No, you don't need a law degree to become a will writer in the UK. Will writing is currently an unregulated profession, meaning there are no formal qualification requirements. However, professional training is essential for three reasons: (1) professional indemnity insurers require it, (2) clients expect credible training, and (3) it prevents costly mistakes. Accredited will writer training takes just 2-3 days and costs £995-£4,300.
You can become a qualified will writer in 6-12 weeks. Training itself takes 2-3 days, then you need 1-2 weeks to set up your business (insurance, legal structure, systems), followed by 4-8 weeks of marketing to secure your first clients. Most new will writers complete their first paid will within 2-3 months of starting training. If you're very focused, you can complete your first client work within 4-6 weeks.
It costs £1,500-£6,000 to become a will writer in the UK, depending on your choices. Budget option: £1,935 (ProjectWill training £995 + insurance £480 + setup costs £460). Mid-range: £6,032. Premium: £8,405 (Society of Will Writers training £4,300 + expenses). Most people choose the budget or mid-range approach. The investment typically pays for itself within 5-10 clients (2-4 months of work).
Yes, you can absolutely become a will writer with no legal experience or background. Professional will writer training teaches you everything from scratch – UK inheritance law, practical drafting, tax planning, compliance, and business setup. Many successful will writers come from completely unrelated careers like teaching, sales, nursing, or corporate jobs. The key is quality training and willingness to learn, not previous legal experience.
Yes, becoming a will writer can be very worthwhile for the right person. Part-time will writers earn £15,000-£35,000+ in year one, growing to £25,000-£55,000+ once established. Full-time practitioners often earn £60,000-£100,000+. The career offers flexibility (work from home, set your hours), low overhead costs, and meaningful work helping families. Initial investment (£1,500-£2,000 budget option) pays back within 2-4 months. However, it requires self-motivation, networking, and comfort discussing death – not for everyone.
Legally, you don't need any qualifications to be a will writer in the UK as it's an unregulated profession. However, in practice you need: (1) Professional will writer training from a recognized provider (ProjectWill, IPW, SWW) to satisfy insurance requirements and client expectations; (2) Professional indemnity insurance (insurers require proof of training); (3) ICO registration for data protection. Most will writers also complete money laundering compliance training (included in will writer courses).
UK will writers typically charge £150-250 for a single will, £400-500 for mirror wills (couple), £600-900 for a pair of Lasting Powers of Attorney, and £600-1,200+ for trust wills. The most common service is mirror wills at around £400-450. Pricing varies by location (London/South East higher, North/rural lower), complexity, and whether you're positioning as budget, mid-range, or premium. Most will writers offer package deals (e.g., wills + LPAs for £800-1,000).
Yes, will writing works brilliantly as a part-time business. Many will writers maintain other employment while building their practice, working evenings and weekends on client meetings. Part-time (10-15 hours/week) can generate £1,200-£3,200/month (£14,400-£38,400/year). The flexible nature – you choose which clients to take and when to meet them – makes it ideal for parents, semi-retirees, or anyone seeking a side income. You can always scale up to full-time later.
No, joining a professional body like IPW or Society of Will Writers is optional, not mandatory. Membership offers benefits (credibility, networking, legal updates, credentials) but costs £295-£395/year. Many successful will writers operate without membership, especially if their training provider (like ProjectWill) includes unlimited ongoing support. Decide based on whether the benefits justify the annual cost for your situation. You can always join later if you want.
No, will writing is not regulated in the UK. There's no government licensing, no mandatory qualifications, and no official registration requirement. However, you must comply with: (1) Data protection law (ICO registration, £40-60/year); (2) Money laundering regulations (client ID checks, record keeping); (3) Professional indemnity insurance requirements (insurers require proof of training). Self-regulatory bodies like IPW and SWW maintain professional standards for members, but membership is voluntary.
ProjectWill offers the best value will writer training at £995, including free will writing software for life (worth £300/year), professional templates, unlimited ongoing support, and 2-day comprehensive online training. Over 3 years, you save £3,505-£5,580 compared to alternatives. For those wanting established brand recognition and willing to pay more, the Institute of Professional Willwriters (£3,500) and Society of Will Writers (£4,300) are well-respected. See our complete training comparison guide.
Ready to start your will writing career? Here's your action plan:
For most aspiring will writers, ProjectWill offers the fastest, most affordable route to a successful practice:
You can be a qualified, practicing will writer within 6-8 weeks of starting ProjectWill training.
Join ProjectWill's next training cohort • £995 all-in • No hidden costs • Free software for life
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