the institute of professional will writers ltd
The Institute of Professional Will Writers is a not-for-profit self-regulatory
organisation, attracting members from a range of areas including private
practice and financial services, as well as solicitors, barristers and
accountants. Sole member firms through to large national companies have chosen
to join our organisation, having seen the benefits that members have to offer.
Owned by its members and run by its members, the IPW is a democratic
organisation, prioritising its members and their clients. Every member has a
voice. We have a simple set of standards and objectives: Consumer protection is
central to all that we do, and we have been at the forefront of the regulation
debate over the years. We are pro-regulation and we work directly with such
organisations as the Legal Services Board, the Competition and Markets
Authority, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Chartered Trading Standards
Institute to raise and enforce standards within our sector. All of our members
operate in the IPW self-regulatory environment, through a Code of Practice which
is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The IPW has been in
existence for more than 25 years, and it has been the natural home for those
practitioners wanting to demonstrate and increase their expertise in Wills,
Estate Planning and Probate to their clients. Our aims and Objectives To promote
the importance of making a Will to the general public. To promote the Institute
and the services of its Members. To ensure that the services provided by its
Members are delivered professionally, ethically and competently. To make
representation to Government on legislative matters which affect Members of the
Institute and their clients. You can find all our aims and objectives in our
Constitution. The Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) was founded in
1991 as a self-regulatory body to safeguard the public from unqualified
practitioners and unethical business practices and has become established as the
recognised professional body regulating and promoting the profession of
Willwriting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as being part of a
recognised network of professionals, becoming a member of the IPW can help your
business stand out against competitors, demonstrating the high standard of your
services. Membership is available to those who pass the IPW entrance
examination, or those possess an equivalent and relevant qualification in Wills
and Estates from a recognised qualifying body. For more information about how
you can become a member, please click here. In order to ensure that our members
are kept up to date with legislation and industry developments, we require them
to annually refresh their knowledge through a programme of Continuing
Professional Development. This also enables them to retain their practising
certificate. All IPW members also have Professional Indemnity Insurance cover of
a minimum of £2 million for each Will written. In order to ensure that our
standards remain high, it's mandatory to comply with the IPW Code of Practice
which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute under its
Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
