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.