TRF Wills and the Society of Will Writers

All consultants representing TRF Wills are members of the Society of Will Writers (SWW).

The Society of Will Writers was founded in 1994 and has been protecting and serving the interests of the public for over 28 years. With close to 1,800 members, the Society of Will Writers and its members continually strive to promote to the public the importance of having a valid up to date Will. The also acts as a self-regulatory body by vetting all its representatives through stringent membership requirements, proficiency standards and ongoing training. 

Protecting the consumer 

Consumers are often led to believe that when they require a Will, Lasting Powers of Attorney or Probate Guidance services, then this means that they must use a solicitor. However, whilst many solicitors do provide such services, they are not the only option and the SWW and its members help consumers understand their wider options. 

Another part of the reason for the existence of the SWW, is that its founders implemented official courses of consumer redress from the outset. 

Complaints against SWW members are rare, but not unheard of. Relationships can break down occasionally and reaching a resolution can therefore be more difficult. If a consumer of the services of a SWW member Will Writer is ever unable to resolve a complaint with that member directly, then the consumer can take the matter to the SWW where the complaints procedure is designed to work with both parties to secure a fair outcome. From 2019, all complaints have been overseen by the SWW Professional Standards Board (PSB) to maintain absolute impartiality. 

The SWW also created a Public Indemnity Fund (PIF) which is fully sourced by every full member of the SWW when they join. For many years now, the PIF has ensured that in the unexpected event that a SWW member is unable to complete an outstanding contract requirement for their client, the SWW can appoint another member to complete what was agreed so that the client is NOT left without documents or services for which they have previously paid. 

The Need for SWW Membership 

Whilst the SWW is not a regulatory body, it has still implemented a self-regulatory framework which means that a set of standards are placed upon any individual who wishes to maintain their membership.

There are three mandatory requirements to which all members must abide: 

• Adherence to the SWW published Code of Practice; and

• Each member must hold a minimum of £2 million Professional Indemnity Insurance in case errors are made within documents; and
• Each member must meet the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements (ongoing relevant training) of at least 24 hours each year.  

Meeting these requirements permits SWW members to hold compliance certificates and official SWW identification cards, as well as display the SWW “Safe to do Business With” brand.

In Summary 

Being a member of the SWW promotes knowledge, competency, and security for the good of the public and the Will Writing profession alike. All SWW members should be an expert in their field because creating Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney, as well as providing guidance upon Probate matters is for what each member has trained, and they should continue to develop their knowledge accordingly. 

Consumers should seek the SWW logo before choosing to use the services of a professional Will Writer. If you should ever doubt someone’s true credentials, then be sure to contact the SWW immediately and they will gladly advise further.

All SWW Members must carry their photo ID card with an expiry date and present this upon request. 

For further assistance WITHOUT fear of consultation fees or obligation, please contact us now.