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Last month, I wrote an article about What Changed on the 19th June 2026 - and What Owners of Estate Planning Businesses Need To Do . Very quickly, it became the most read post on this site - but I still haven't found a single will writing or estate planning firm website with a privacy policy that reflects the changes. That's not a criticism - it's the reality of running a business where it feels like there is always a fire to put out. Knowing you need to update a policy and f

If you're a will writer or estate planner, you're already dealing with some of the most sensitive personal data there is. Client financial details, family circumstances, health information gathered for capacity assessments - the nature of what you do means data protection is central to your practice. So when the law changes how clients can make complaints about the way their data is handled, you need to pay attention. There's a change that came into force on 19 June 2026 that

In will‑writing and estate‑planning businesses, we often talk about AML, CDD, and file management as the headline risks. But there is a quieter, more operational risk that can be just as damaging - sitting right inside your CRM. I’ve just completed a CRM audit for an estate planning business. Amongst other things, I wanted to understand how effective the system was at chasing clients and preventing instructions from falling through the cracks. The answer matters more than mos

The UK’s AML landscape is about to change significantly - and although most commentary so far has focused on accountants and lawyers, the reforms will have direct consequences for will writers, estate planners, and TCSPs. HM Treasury has confirmed that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will become the single professional services supervisor (SPSS) for AML/CTF, taking over from the professional body supervisors. This is one of the most substantial shifts in AML oversight i

Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) compliance is one of the most misunderstood - and most inconsistently applied - responsibilities in the will‑writing and estate‑planning sector. Firms think they are doing everything they are required to do, but their processes and documentation tell a different story. Below are the seven most common AML mistakes estate planners and will writers make , why they matter, and how to fix them before they become a problem. 1. Treating AML as a “tick‑bo

In an unregulated industry like will writing, compliance often sounds like something only big businesses worry about - policies, procedures, processes ... Is it for me? In reality, compliance can be one of the smartest business tools you have. It builds trust, reduces risk, and helps you stand out from the competition. What compliance really means Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about doing what you say you’ll do, documenting it clearly, and treating clients f

Anti–money laundering (AML) rules can feel like a maze - especially for will writers, estate planners and probate practitioners. Not every estate planning practice needs to register for AML supervision, but misunderstanding the requirements is risky business. Failure to register when you should can lead to penalties, reputational damage, and investigation by HMRC - who can force your business to stop trading. To help you work out where your business stands, WillComply has cre

Compliance can be seen as a background task, but for estate planners and will writers, it’s the backbone of what you do. Falling short can put client outcomes and the reputation of your business on the line. In an environment where client expectations are high and disputes can escalate - quickly - it's more important than ever to protect yourself through robust compliance and clear documentation. Here are five common compliance risks in estate planning businesses, along with

When you lead an estate planning business, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say the to-do list never ends. You've done a great job scaling your business - and now there are always urgent wills to draft, new regulations to keep up with, systems you want to improve, and those “one day when I have time” projects that never seem to happen. And that’s exactly where bringing in a consultant to support your business can make all the difference. A different viewpoint can chang