Will Writer vs Solicitor UK 2025: Honest Comparison

Last updated: 9 January 2025 | 15 min read
Quick Answer: For most people with straightforward estates (under £2 million, standard family situations), a professional will writer offers excellent value at £150-250 (single) or £400-500 (couples) compared to solicitors at £300-500 (single) or £600-900 (couples). Both can produce legally-sound wills when properly trained and insured. Solicitors are better for very complex estates, significant tax planning, or unusual legal situations.

Overview: Will Writer vs Solicitor - Key Differences

When you need a will in the UK, you have two main professional options: will writers (also called estate planners) or solicitors. Here's the fundamental difference:

Quick Comparison Summary

Factor Will Writer Solicitor
Cost (single will) £150-£250 £300-£500
Cost (mirror wills - couple) £400-£500 £600-£900
Training Specialist will writing training (2-3 days) Law degree + 2 years training (5-7 years total)
Regulation Self-regulated (voluntary bodies) Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
PI Insurance Required (£6-10 million typical) Required (SRA mandatory)
Best for Straightforward to moderately complex wills Very complex estates, unusual situations
Home visits Usually standard (no extra charge) Often extra charge or not offered
Service focus Wills, LPAs, estate planning Wills + broader legal services

Qualifications and Training

Will Writer Qualifications

Will writers in the UK are not required by law to have specific qualifications because will writing is currently an unregulated profession. However, professional will writers complete specialized training:

Typical training path:

Time to qualify: 2-3 days training + 2-4 weeks business setup = ready to practice in 3-6 weeks

Cost to qualify: £995-£4,300 depending on training provider

Solicitor Qualifications

Solicitors must complete rigorous training and qualification:

Typical training path:

Time to qualify: 5-7 years minimum

Cost to qualify: £30,000-£70,000+ (tuition fees, living costs during training contract)

What This Means for You

Solicitors have broader, deeper legal training across many areas of law. Will writers have focused, specialized training specifically in wills and estate planning.

For a straightforward will, the will writer's specialized training is entirely sufficient. For complex legal matters touching on multiple areas of law, the solicitor's broader background can be valuable.

💡 Reality Check: "More training = better" is not always true. A will writer who drafts 200 wills per year has more practical experience than a solicitor who drafts 20 wills per year as a small part of their general practice. Specialization matters.

Cost Comparison: Will Writer vs Solicitor

Cost is one of the biggest differences between will writers and solicitors. Here's realistic pricing:

Service Will Writer Solicitor Saving with Will Writer
Single will £150-£250 £300-£500 £50-£250
Mirror wills (couple) £400-£500 £600-£900 £100-£400
Property & Financial LPA £200-£300 £300-£450 £50-£150
Both LPAs (single person) £300-£450 £500-£700 £150-£250
Both LPAs (couple - 4 docs) £600-£800 £800-£1,200 £200-£400
Trust wills £600-£1,200 £900-£1,800 £200-£600
Wills + LPAs (couple) £1,000-£1,300 £1,400-£2,100 £400-£800

Why the Price Difference?

Solicitors charge more because:

Will writers charge less because:

Value for Money

For straightforward wills, you're paying solicitors 40-100% more for the same legal outcome. The will written by a professional will writer is just as legally valid as one written by a solicitor.

The question is: does your situation require the solicitor's broader legal expertise and higher price? For 85-90% of UK wills, the answer is no.

Services Offered: What Each Can Do

What Will Writers Offer

Professional will writers typically provide:

What will writers typically don't offer:

What Solicitors Offer

Solicitors specializing in wills and probate can provide:

Additional services solicitors offer (beyond wills):

Service Overlap and Differences

For the core services most people need – simple wills, mirror wills, LPAs, basic IHT planning – both will writers and solicitors can deliver identical outcomes.

Solicitors have the edge when you need:

Quality and Legal Validity: Are Will Writer Wills "Good Enough"?

One common concern: "Will a will written by a will writer be legally valid? Or do I need a solicitor to be safe?"

Legal Validity

A will is legally valid in England and Wales if it meets these requirements:

  1. Made by someone 18 or over with mental capacity
  2. Made voluntarily (not under pressure or undue influence)
  3. In writing
  4. Signed by the testator (person making the will)
  5. Witnessed by two independent adults who are not beneficiaries

Neither solicitors nor will writers have any special "legal status" that makes wills more or less valid. Both produce documents that meet the same legal requirements.

Quality of Drafting

The quality of a will depends on:

Key point: A will writer who drafts 200 wills per year using professional software and who's properly trained will likely produce higher quality wills than a general practice solicitor who drafts 15 wills per year as a sideline to their main conveyancing practice.

Error Rates and Problems

There's no comprehensive data on error rates for will writers vs. solicitors. Both can make mistakes. Common issues include:

These errors can happen with both will writers and solicitors. What matters is:

✅ Bottom Line: For straightforward to moderately complex wills, a properly trained will writer with professional indemnity insurance will produce wills of equal legal validity and quality to a solicitor, at significantly lower cost. The "solicitor = safer" assumption is not supported by evidence for standard wills.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Both will writers and solicitors must carry professional indemnity (PI) insurance – insurance that protects you if they make a mistake.

Solicitor PI Insurance

Will Writer PI Insurance

What This Means for Protection

Both provide essentially the same protection to clients:

The main difference is mandatory vs. voluntary. However, in practice, professional will writers cannot operate without insurance (clients won't use them, and it's unethical to practice uninsured).

What to check: Whether using a will writer or solicitor, confirm they have current professional indemnity insurance. Ask to see their certificate if you're concerned.

Pros and Cons: Will Writer vs Solicitor

Will Writer

✅ Pros

  • Much more affordable: 40-50% cheaper (£200-£400 saving per couple)
  • Specialized focus: Only do wills/LPAs, so highly experienced
  • Home visits standard: Come to you at no extra charge
  • Flexible appointments: Evenings and weekends
  • Personal service: Often sole traders, very attentive
  • Fixed fees: Know exactly what you'll pay upfront
  • Efficient service: Quick turnaround, streamlined process
  • Professional software: Modern tools reduce errors

❌ Cons

  • Not regulated: Voluntary professional bodies only
  • Variable quality: Anyone can call themselves a will writer
  • Limited scope: Can't handle very complex tax or international matters
  • No broader legal services: Can't help with probate litigation, court applications
  • Newer profession: Less established than solicitors
  • Perception: Some people prefer "solicitor" credential

Solicitor

✅ Pros

  • Regulated profession: SRA oversight and standards
  • Broad expertise: Can handle very complex legal situations
  • Additional services: Probate, litigation, court representation
  • Established reputation: Long-standing profession
  • Compensation fund: SRA fund if firm fails
  • Complex tax planning: Advanced IHT strategies for large estates
  • International estates: Cross-border expertise

❌ Cons

  • Expensive: £300-£900+ for standard services
  • Less specialized: Many do wills as small part of general practice
  • Office-based: Usually must visit their office during business hours
  • Home visits costly: Often £100-£200+ extra charge
  • Hourly billing: Costs can spiral if revisions needed
  • Slower service: Busy firms can take weeks for appointments and drafts
  • Less personal: May deal with different people for different stages

When to Use a Will Writer

A professional will writer is the smart choice if you have:

✅ Perfect for Will Writers:

Real Examples Where Will Writers are Ideal:

Example 1: Married couple, 2 children

Example 2: Blended family

Example 3: Single person

Example 4: Older couple wanting LPAs

When to Use a Solicitor

Consider using a solicitor if you have:

✅ Better for Solicitors:

Real Examples Where Solicitors are Better:

Example 1: Complex business owner

Example 2: Contentious family

Example 3: Disabled child

Example 4: International family

Common Myths Debunked

Myth 1: "You must use a solicitor for a will to be legal"

FALSE. A will is legal if it meets the formal requirements (written, signed, witnessed). It doesn't matter who drafts it – solicitor, will writer, or even yourself. Professional help is wise, but solicitors don't have a monopoly on legal validity.

Myth 2: "Will writers aren't qualified"

MISLEADING. Professional will writers are qualified through specialized training in wills and estate planning. They're not qualified solicitors, but they are trained specialists. Reputable will writers have:

Myth 3: "Solicitor wills are safer"

NOT NECESSARILY. Both can make mistakes, and both have professional indemnity insurance to compensate if they do. A specialist will writer who drafts 200 wills/year is likely "safer" than a general solicitor who drafts 20 wills/year. Safety comes from specialization, experience, and systems – not job title.

Myth 4: "Will writers are cowboys/unregulated"

PARTLY TRUE, PARTLY FALSE. Will writing as a profession is unregulated (no government licensing). However, professional will writers:

There are some poorly-trained will writers, but the same is true of some solicitors. Choose based on training, insurance, and reputation – not job title alone.

Myth 5: "Cheap wills are bad quality"

FALSE. Price doesn't equal quality. Will writers charge less because they have lower overheads and specialize in efficient, high-volume will drafting. A £450 will from a professional will writer can be identical in quality to a £750 will from a solicitor – you're paying less for the same outcome.

Myth 6: "Solicitors know more about wills"

DEPENDS. A wills and probate specialist solicitor knows a great deal. A general practice solicitor who occasionally drafts wills may know less than a specialist will writer. Knowledge comes from specialization and experience, not qualification type alone.

Myth 7: "Will writers can't handle complex wills"

MOSTLY FALSE. Professional will writers handle moderately complex situations routinely: blended families, trusts, IHT planning for estates up to £2-3 million, disabled beneficiaries, business assets. What they typically can't handle: very complex tax schemes, international estates, contentious probate. For 90%+ of situations, will writers are fully capable.

Regulation and Oversight

Solicitor Regulation

Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which:

This provides strong consumer protection and redress if things go wrong.

Will Writer "Regulation"

Will writers are currently unregulated – there's no government body overseeing them. However:

Self-regulation through professional bodies:

Legal requirements:

Practical regulation:

Is Regulation Coming?

There have been calls to regulate will writers for years, but no government action yet. The Legal Services Board has considered it but hasn't implemented mandatory regulation.

In practice, the combination of professional body membership, insurance requirements, and market forces provides reasonable consumer protection – though not as robust as SRA regulation of solicitors.

How to Protect Yourself

Whether using a will writer or solicitor, check:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to use a will writer or solicitor?

For most people with straightforward estates (under £2 million, no complex tax planning, standard family situations), a professional will writer offers excellent value at £150-250 for a single will or £400-500 for couples – 40-50% cheaper than solicitors (£300-500 single, £600-900 couples). Both can produce legally-sound wills when properly trained and insured. Use solicitors for very complex estates, international assets, significant tax planning needs, or contentious family situations.

Are will writers as good as solicitors?

Professional will writers are equally capable of drafting legally-valid wills for straightforward to moderately complex situations. Both must carry professional indemnity insurance and will writers receive specialized training in wills and estate planning. Solicitors have broader legal training and handle very complex tax planning or unusual legal situations better. For 85-90% of UK wills (straightforward estates, standard families), a professional will writer provides the same outcome as a solicitor at significantly lower cost.

Are will writers qualified?

Yes, professional will writers are qualified through specialized training, though differently than solicitors. Will writers complete accredited training (2-3 days) from recognized providers (ProjectWill, IPW, SWW) covering UK inheritance law, will drafting, tax planning, and compliance. They must have professional indemnity insurance (£6-10 million cover), which insurers only provide with proof of proper training. Unlike solicitors (law degree + 2 years training), will writers don't need a law degree, but reputable practitioners are properly trained and insured specialists.

How much cheaper are will writers than solicitors?

Will writers are typically 40-50% cheaper than solicitors. Will writers charge £150-250 for single wills and £400-500 for mirror wills (couples), while solicitors charge £300-500 single and £600-900 couples. For a couple getting wills plus LPAs, you save £400-800 using a will writer (£1,000-1,300 vs. £1,400-2,100 with solicitor). The wills are equally legally valid – you're simply paying less due to will writers' lower overheads and specialized efficiency.

When should you use a solicitor instead of a will writer?

Use a solicitor instead of a will writer if you have: (1) Estates over £2-3 million requiring complex inheritance tax planning, (2) Foreign assets or property in multiple countries, (3) Complicated business structures or partnerships, (4) Disabled beneficiaries requiring specialized trusts, (5) Contentious family situations where legal challenge is likely, (6) Very unusual or non-standard requirements. For straightforward estates under £2 million with standard family situations, a professional will writer is equally effective and more affordable.

Can will writers handle complex wills?

Yes, professional will writers routinely handle moderately complex situations including blended families, life interest trusts, property protection trusts, IHT planning for estates up to £2-3 million, specific gifts, guardianship clauses, and business assets. What will writers typically can't handle (and should refer to solicitors): very large estates (£3m+) needing advanced tax schemes, multi-jurisdictional international estates, complex business partnerships, contentious probate litigation. For 90% of wills, will writers are fully capable.

Are will writer wills legally valid?

Yes, absolutely. A will's legal validity depends on meeting UK law requirements (made by someone 18+ with capacity, in writing, signed, witnessed by two independent adults), not who drafted it. Wills written by professional will writers are just as legally valid as those written by solicitors or even DIY wills. What matters is proper drafting, correct execution, and clear wording – which professional will writers are trained to ensure.

Do will writers have insurance?

Yes, professional will writers have professional indemnity insurance, typically £6-10 million cover (often higher than solicitors' minimum requirements). While not legally mandatory for will writers, insurance is essential – insurers require proof of proper training before providing cover. If a will writer makes a mistake that costs the estate money, their insurance compensates. Always ask to see a will writer's insurance certificate if you're concerned.

Are will writers regulated?

Will writers are currently unregulated by government (no licensing body like solicitors have with SRA), but professional will writers are subject to: (1) Data protection law (must register with ICO), (2) Money laundering regulations (client ID checks, record keeping), (3) Self-regulation through professional bodies like IPW and Society of Will Writers (codes of conduct, standards, complaints procedures), (4) Professional indemnity insurance requirements, (5) Consumer protection law. The lack of statutory regulation means choosing a reputable, trained, insured will writer is important.

Why are will writers cheaper than solicitors?

Will writers charge 40-50% less because: (1) Lower overheads (home-based, no expensive offices), (2) Specialized focus (efficient systems for high-volume will drafting), (3) Fixed-fee model (no hourly billing), (4) Lower training costs to recover (£995-£4,300 vs. £30K-70K for solicitors), (5) Client-focused service model (home visits included, not charged extra). Despite lower prices, the legal outcome is identical for straightforward wills – you're paying for efficiency and lower business costs, not inferior quality.

Can I trust a will writer?

You can trust a professional will writer who has: (1) Recognized training (ProjectWill, IPW, SWW certification), (2) Professional indemnity insurance (£6-10 million cover), (3) Membership of professional body (IPW or Society of Will Writers), (4) Positive client reviews, (5) Transparent fees and clear processes. Ask to see certificates, check online reviews, and verify insurance. Most will writers are honest, competent professionals – but as with any profession, do your due diligence.

Final Recommendation: Which Should You Choose?

Here's our honest assessment of when to use each:

✅ Choose a Professional Will Writer If:

  • Your estate is under £1-2 million
  • You have straightforward assets (house, savings, pensions, possessions)
  • Your family situation is standard (married/civil partnership, children) or moderately complex (blended family)
  • You want basic inheritance tax planning (using nil-rate bands)
  • You want professional service at affordable cost (save £200-£800)
  • You value convenience (home visits, flexible appointments)
  • You want specialist expertise (will writers only do wills/LPAs, so highly experienced)

Best choice for 85-90% of people. You'll get professional, legally-valid wills at much lower cost than solicitors, with better service (home visits, flexible times).

How to find a good will writer:

  • Check they have recognized training (ProjectWill, IPW, SWW)
  • Verify professional indemnity insurance (ask to see certificate)
  • Read reviews and testimonials
  • Confirm membership of professional body (IPW or Society of Will Writers)
  • Ask about experience (how many wills drafted?)

⚖️ Choose a Solicitor If:

  • Your estate exceeds £2-3 million and needs complex tax planning
  • You have foreign property or assets in multiple countries
  • You own complex business structures or partnerships
  • You need disabled person's trusts with ongoing benefit considerations
  • Your family situation is contentious (likely challenges to your will)
  • You need agricultural property relief or business property relief planning
  • You want a solicitor for peace of mind, even if it costs more
  • You need broader legal services (probate litigation, court applications)

Best choice for complex or high-value estates. Worth the extra cost when you genuinely need specialist tax planning or legal expertise beyond standard will drafting.

How to find a good solicitor:

  • Find a wills and probate specialist (not general practice)
  • Check they're SRA registered and regulated
  • Ask about experience with estates similar to yours
  • Get fixed-fee quote (avoid hourly billing if possible)
  • Read reviews and check firm reputation

The Bottom Line

For most people, a professional will writer is the smart choice:

The "solicitor = better" assumption is outdated. For straightforward to moderately complex wills, professional will writers deliver equal quality at much better value.

Only choose solicitors when you genuinely need their broader legal expertise for complex estates, international assets, or contentious situations.

✅ Our Recommendation: For 85-90% of people reading this, use a professional will writer. You'll save £200-£800, get specialist expertise, and enjoy better service. Save solicitor fees for when you truly need complex legal work beyond standard will drafting.

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