The Importance of Audits

It is of vital importance to us at The Society of Will Writers (SWW) that our standards remain the highest in the estate planning profession. Central to this commitment is our annual audit process. Although it might seem like just another administrative task, it is the mechanism that protects our members, their clients, and the reputation of the profession as a whole.

The Purpose of the Audit

The annual audit isn’t just a “tick-box” exercise; it is a vital compliance tool designed to:

• Validate Professional Indemnity Insurance: Ensuring every member is fully covered.
• Verify CPD Compliance: Confirming that our members are staying on top of the latest developments and furthering their knowledge.
• Protect the Public: Issue you with your updated ID Card and Certificate of Compliance to enable consumers to verify member credentials.

The Resignation Process: A Last Resort

Recently, we have seen an increase in memberships being terminated simply because audits have not been returned. We want to be clear: resignation is the very last thing we want to do. Our membership team makes every reasonable attempt to contact members to ensure the audit is completed. However, if we receive no communication, we are duty-bound by the SWW Code of Practice to resign that member to maintain the integrity of the Society.

We sometimes only hear from members after a resignation notice is issued. Reinstating a membership is far more stressful and time-consuming for everyone involved compared to renewing a membership. Therefore, it is always better to return the audit on time.

How You Can Help

To avoid any disruption to your membership status, we kindly ask that you:

• Monitor your inbox: Keep an eye out for audit notifications. As of 2025, we have moved to a new auditing system; these emails will be sent to you by XPG-CRM ([email protected]). This is not spam and should not be ignored. If you have not received an email to complete your audit, please contact us and a form will be sent to you for completion.
• Check your details: Review the pre-filled details on the audit to ensure they are current. Please also notify us throughout the year if your contact details change so we can maintain communication.
• Contact us early: If you are struggling to meet a deadline due to personal circumstances, please reach out as soon as possible. We would much rather support you through the process than be forced to process a resignation.

Final Word

Returning your audit on time ensures you remain compliant, insured, and able to continue your membership without interruption. It is a mandatory condition of membership; failure to return it will ultimately result in resignation.

Note on professionalism: SWW staff are here to help, but we will not tolerate any form of abuse resulting from a member failing to remain compliant with these requirements.