About Fellowship
Becoming a Fellow of The Society of Will Writers represents the pinnacle of professional achievement within our organisation.
As the highest grade of membership you can apply for, Fellowship is a distinction reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional quality, competence, and commitment to the field of estate planning. It signifies to colleagues, the wider profession, and the public that you are a distinguished expert dedicated to upholding the highest standards of practice.
Attaining Fellowship brings significant professional standing, as well as exclusive benefits designed to recognise your expertise and elevate your practice.
Professional Distinction and Credibility
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Fellows are entitled to use the prestigious FSWW designatory letters, providing an immediate and visible mark of distinction on stationery, website, and marketing materials.
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You will be prominently identified on the Society’s website as holding our highest tier of membership, instantly enhancing your credibility with prospective clients and professional partners.
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You will gain access to dedicated Fellow-only branding, including a unique logo to showcase your status, and a physical lapel pin to wear with pride.
Exclusive Events and Networking
- New Fellows are officially announced and celebrated each year at the annual SWW Conference, where you will be presented with your Fellowship certificate during a special presentation.
- To mark your standing, Fellows enjoy priority booking and seating at the conference, along with a matching bespoke ID badge.
- You will be invited to exclusive roundtable meetings held periodically throughout the year, providing an invaluable forum to discuss industry trends, share high-level insights, and network with fellow leaders in the field.
- Access to a private, Fellows-only digital community space is currently being developed, allowing for secure peer-to-peer discussion and collaboration.
Influence and Sector Contribution
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Your achievement will be celebrated across the wider membership with an announcement in the Society’s newsletter.
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As a Fellow, your expertise is highly valued in shaping the future of the profession. You will be given a priority voice in major policy consultations, project contributions, and feedback on Society proposals.
Become a Fellow Member
Application Process
How do I qualify?
- You will have 5 years of continuous full membership (MSWW) of the Society.
- You will have significantly contributed to the Society’s development at a regional or national level over at least a 3-year period. This could be a regional group officer, a member of the PSB, a lecturer at The College of Will Writing and presentations to regional groups other than your own local group.
- You must be able to show that during each year of membership you have been actively involved in will writing and associated activities from your annual audit and PII.
- Application is by a Question and Answer format.
- You must show that you have attended advanced learning during your membership of the Society with any organisation that provides advanced learning for the will writing profession for each year of the last 3 years.
- Candidates must be able to show verifiable evidence of annual audit and PII for the last five years.
How do I apply?
Complete and submit the SWW Fellow Grade application form (about you and your business) at the bottom of this page.
What is the process?
- Be sure you are familiar with the process and rules of the Fellowship Grade application and the SWW Code of Practice.
- If your initial application for Fellowship is accepted, you will be able to complete the Fellow Grade submission form. This will be sent to you by the SWW Membership Team for completion ahead of the interview stage. The submission form is an online fillable form, however, if you wish to submit an offline written submission that is acceptable.
- Write your papers using all relevant guidance information.
- Submit your papers including your actual CPD record for the last 3 years to SWW by the closing date on the timetable of events.
Timetable of Events and Deadlines
There will be two interview panels each year.
| April Panel | 2026 | October Panel | 2026 |
| Application deadline | 16th February 2026 | Application deadline | 27th July 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | 13th April 2026 | Submission Deadline | 28th September 2026 |
| Panel date | 30th April 2026 | Panel Date | 26th October 2026 |
| Application results | 22nd May 2026 | Application results | 16th November 2025 |
How Much Will It Cost?
A fee of £150 will be charged to cover the expense of the application.
What is the format of the interview panel?
- The panel will be made up of 3 members or if the Director General of the SWW attends there will be four members.
- Each member of the panel is allowed to ask a maximum of three substantial questions of the applicant.
- The panel will scrutinise the details of your application to confirm your written answers with regard to your terms of business, your PII, your annual audit including CPD submissions and your ongoing technical development.
- The panel will want to understand how you will develop your business, your contribution to the SWW and the will writing profession over the next 3 years and how you will gain the knowledge and experience to move into any niche markets you are looking at.
- The panel will want to discuss in detail any judgements during the last year that you feel have influenced how you have changed your approach to your clients and which cases in your opinion have influenced the thinking within the industry.
About The Society of Will Writers
The Society of Will Writers is a non-profit making self-regulatory organisation whose primary objectives are the advancement, education and ethical standards within the will writing profession.
Contact Us
The Society of Will Writers
Chancery House
Whisby Way
Lincoln
LN6 3LQ
what3words: ///ever.embellish.hissing
Tel: 01522 687888
E-mail: [email protected]
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Copyright by The Society of Will Writers. All rights reserved.
Registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 02918900.
