Will writing occupies an unusual legal position: in England and Wales it's an unregulated activity – you don't need to be a solicitor – but the claims profile is anything but casual. A defective will surfaces at exactly the moment it can't be fixed, the "client" is often deceased, and disappointed beneficiaries sue for what they didn't inherit. Professional indemnity insurance is how will writers stay in business, and the credible professional bodies make it compulsory. This guide covers the cover, the costs, and the providers.
What insurance does a will writer need?
Professional indemnity – the profession's foundation. Claims arise from drafting errors, failed execution formalities, missed assets, botched trust provisions, and delay (the client dies before the will is completed). Beneficiary claims can equal entire estate values, so limits should reflect the estates you handle, not your fees: £1m–£2m is the sensible working range, and the professional bodies set membership minimums – the Institute of Professional Willwriters and the Society of Will Writers both require members to carry PI (check current prescribed levels; £2m is the commonly cited standard). Because wills mature slowly, retroactive cover and long run-off matter more here than in almost any profession: a claim may arrive decades after drafting, and claims-made policies only respond if cover is live when the claim lands.
Also: cyber and data cover (wills files are dense with sensitive personal and financial data), public liability for home visits (much will writing happens at clients' kitchen tables), employers' liability with staff, and – if you offer storage – cover for documents in your custody.
How much does it cost?
Solo will writers with £1m–£2m PI typically pay £200–£500/year, rating on volumes, estate values, whether you draft trusts and LPAs (which rate higher), and claims history. Estate-administration and probate work moves you into a higher band – and note accountants doing probate face their own body minimums (ICAEW: £500k per claim for accredited probate work), a hint at how underwriters see this territory.
Comparison of providers
| Provider | Type | Notable features |
|---|---|---|
| Professional-body schemes (IPW / SWW routes) | Association | Cover aligned to membership requirements – the natural first quote for members |
| Specialist PI brokers | Brokers | Right for trust-heavy practices, high estate values, or estate administration alongside |
| Hiscox | Direct insurer | Premium PI pedigree; 4.4 Trustpilot |
| Markel Direct | Direct insurer | PI + legal helpline; from ~£8/month entry pricing across professional trades |
| Simply Business | Comparison | Multi-insurer PI benchmark; 4.2 Trustpilot |
| PolicyBee | Broker | Covers the niche; thin/weak review profile noted |
Reviews and expert ratings
Hiscox 4.4/5; Simply Business 4.2; Markel 4.0 (4.7 Feefo). Which?/Fairer Finance: not rated. Quality gates: your body's minimum met on any-one-claim basis, retroactive date preserved at every renewal, and a run-off plan.
Key takeaway
Buy limits against estates, not fees; guard your retroactive date like the asset it is; and plan run-off into your retirement maths – in a profession where claims arrive posthumously, cover that stops when you do is barely cover at all. If you add trusts, LPAs or estate administration, tell your insurer; each changes the rating.
Sources
- ipw.org.uk and willwriters.com (membership insurance requirements – verify current levels)
- icaew.com (probate accreditation minimums as market context)
- hiscox.co.uk; markeluk.com; simplybusiness.co.uk