How to Become a Will Writer in the UK

Did you know that will writing has a lower barrier to entry compared to other legal professions?

Unlike lawyers and solicitors who need to complete a qualifying law degree or equivalent course, will writers don’t need any formal legal qualifications.

As a matter of fact, you don’t even need legal experience to become a will writer.

But before you rush off to launch your brand new will writing career, you need to know a few things.

Will writing can be a complicated process, especially when you’re dealing with complex financial matters or family dynamics.

What makes it even more complicated is you need to keep up with many regulations to ensure the best results for your client. For example, if you overlooked certain technicalities, such as exemptions and trusts, beneficiaries could pay higher inheritance taxes.

Of course, you could learn about these types of topics from a 5-minute blog post, but nothing beats receiving comprehensive, professional support from seasoned experts. That’s why we don’t advise getting into will writing without the proper training.

Fortunately, you don’t need to struggle through your will writing journey alone.

Our team at CTT Group can help if you’re looking to:

• Break free from your current profession
• Start your new career as a self-employed will writer
• Set flexible working hours to suit you
• Build a successful business on your terms

We provide comprehensive support, equipping you with the necessary knowledge, software, technical and business assistance to kickstart your new will writing career.

You can access our Estate Planning Foundation course below if you’re ready to start learning.

Our Estate Planning Foundation course provides a practical introduction to will writing, covering key topics like bloodline planning and the rules on will validity:

However, you can read on to learn more about becoming a will writer and how CTT Group can help you in your path.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is a will writer?
• The day-to-day responsibilities of a will writer
• Why you need professional support to become a successful self-employed will writer
• Our three-step process to becoming a self-employed will writer

What is a will writer?

As a will writer, your main role will be to help your clients prepare their last will and testament.

A last will and testament is a legally binding document that communicates a person’s final wishes concerning their assets.

While some will writers may be employed by legal firms, financial institutions, or specialised will-writing companies, others can work independently. In this article, we’ll focus on the latter.

Responsibilities of a self-employed will writer:

In this section, we’ll discuss the responsibilities of a will writer in more detail.

Here are some of the tasks you’d be likely to do on an average workday:

1. Drafting Wills

• Preparing legally sound and personalised wills based on the information gathered from your clients
• Ensuring that the language used in your clients’ wills is clear, unambiguous, and complies with legal requirements

2. Client consultation

• Meeting with your clients to discuss their personal and financial circumstances
• Liaising with your clients to understand their wishes regarding the distribution of assets, appointment of executors, and guardianship of minors
• Communicate legal concepts and options to your clients
• Addressing client concerns and questions regarding the will-writing process

3. Record keeping:

• Storing accurate records of client meetings and the details of the drafted wills.
• Safeguarding your client’s information and maintaining confidentiality.

4. Execution:

• Guiding clients through the process of properly executing their wills, including witnessing and signing requirements.

Wills in the UK must meet certain formalities, such as being in writing, signed by the testator (the person making the Will), and witnessed by at least two competent witnesses.

But that’s only the beginning.

You must follow many more formalities and rules to ensure the validity of your clients’ wills. For example, rules like testamentary capacity, which states that the testator must have the mental capacity to understand the nature and effect of making a will, the extent of their property, and the claims of potential beneficiaries.

Attention to detail and precision are crucial if you want to avoid disputes and potential legal challenges for your client’s will.

Learning even the basics of will writing can be tough with all the specialised knowledge required.

That’s why we formed CTT Professional Services, which acts as a knowledge hub, and can provide centralised, extensive support and training for your will writing business.

Becoming a CTT Group member allows you to tap into our various specialised departments.

Whether you need estate planning support, a completely branded website, or professional indemnity insurance services, our teams have the expertise to help your will writing business flourish.

Find out more on our Partnership Team page.

Why you need professional support to become a successful self-employed will writer

Becoming a self-employed will writer without professional support can be challenging for several reasons, including:

1. Legal complexity:

Writing wills involves navigating complex legal frameworks, which vary by jurisdiction.

Laws regarding inheritance, probate, and will execution can be intricate and subject to change.

Without professional support, staying abreast of these legal nuances can be challenging, leading to errors or omissions that may render the will invalid or contested.

2. Client needs and communication skills

Drafting a will involves more than legal expertise; you must be able to communicate effectively with your clients.

So, understanding your client’s family dynamics, financial situations, and personal preferences is crucial.

A good will writer knows how to ferret out this information through excellent communication.

Without professional support or training in client communication, it can be challenging to elicit the necessary information and provide the guidance needed to create a comprehensive and personalised will.

3. Ethical considerations:

Will writing involves handling sensitive and personal information.

Understanding and adhering to ethical standards is crucial to maintain trust and confidentiality.

Without professional guidance, there’s a risk of inadvertently breaching confidentiality or engaging in unethical practices, which can harm your reputation and legal standing.

In summary, the complexities of legal requirements, the need for ongoing education, the importance of effective communication with clients, and the potential legal and ethical pitfalls make it difficult to be a successful self-employed will writer without professional support.

Professional guidance not only enhances the quality of your service but also provides a safety net against legal and financial risks.

Our three-step process to becoming a self-employed will writer

57.6% of small to medium-sized businesses don’t make it past 5 years, according to the Government Office of National Statistics.

Starting a new business often means risking not just money but also your time and hard work.

CTT’s training and support program offers a simple three-step process to kickstart and expand your career in will writing.

This way, you can experience the perks of being your own boss while keeping the challenges and risks of running your business to a minimum.

Step 1: Knowledge

CTT’s Foundation training program equips you with the essential knowledge and skills to launch your own will writing practice, complete with training on Legacy will writing software.

How our CTT Foundation training program supports you:

• Perfect for beginners – no prior experience in will writing or legal qualifications required.
• Covers all the necessary learning and subject matter without requiring a long career break or causing concerns about lost earnings.
• Conducted remotely by estate planning experts, allowing you to participate in online training sessions at your convenience.
• Group-based sessions provide peer training support and networking opportunities.

Step 2: Tools

As part of your Foundation training, you’ll be invited to join our Legacy Software and Training Portal users, giving you access to all the tools you’ll need to provide excellent will writing services.

• Legacy, the latest will writing and estate planning business management software, offers you guidance to keep your processes on track.
• Our digital will document templates that streamlines your workflow.
• 24/7 technical support via the UK’s most advanced sector chatbot.
• Live one-to-one support through messaging or calls with our industry experts.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance to safeguard your business.
• Digital security to ensure remote client ID and document verification.
• Further training options to broaden your business offerings in the future.

Step 3: Growth

CTT’s Foundation training course is only the beginning.

Armed with CTT Group’s knowledge, software, continuous professional support and training, you can focus on developing a successful career in will writing and estate planning.

Reasons to partner with CTT:

• Freedom: Achieve the ideal work-life balance by managing your workload and client base.

CTT offers expert advice and admin support whenever you need assistance or to take a break.

• Flexibility: Tailor your work hours to suit your preferences.

Begin building your client base part-time until you’re ready for a full-time commitment, aligning your business with your lifestyle.

• A firm future: With CTT, ongoing professional support ensures the growth of your business according to your terms and ambitions.

Explore additional training courses from CTT to acquire new skills, expand your offerings, and potentially double your earnings.

Book a consultation.