Will writing and other unregulated legal services
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has refreshed its guidance for businesses and completed its compliance review following complaints about providers offering will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services.
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 30 January 2026 | Compliance guidance refreshed to reflect Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 |
| 9 October 2024 | Final compliance guidance published |
| 30 April 2024 | Consultation launched |
| 24 July 2023 | Case opened |
Compliance guidance for businesses refreshed and compliance review completed
30 January 2026: The CMA has updated its compliance guidance for unregulated businesses offering will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services in the UK.
The updated guidance reflects changes to consumer protection law from the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which came into effect on 6 April 2025. This guidance aims to support fair-dealing businesses and promote compliance in the sector.
The CMA has also concluded its compliance review in the unregulated will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate sector. While some issues remain, the CMA notes improvements in this sector, including in some cases, amendments to terms and conditions in line with consumer law requirements.
The CMA reminds businesses of their obligation to comply with consumer protection law. Any business that doesn’t comply with consumer protection law runs the risk of action from their customers, CMA or other enforcers.
Final compliance guidance for businesses and guides for consumers
9 October 2024: The CMA published its final compliance guidance for unregulated businesses that provide will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services in the UK. The purpose of the guidance is to help these businesses understand and comply with their existing obligations under consumer law. We also wrote an open letter to them.
We also published short guides to help consumers understand:
- what to consider when buying will writing services
- what to look out for when buying divorce services
Press release: CMA cautions will writing and legal service providers as new guidance launched (9.10.24)
Consultation on draft compliance guidance
9 October 2024: The CMA published a document that summarises the main comments made in response to its consultation. The document also sets out our response to these comments and, where relevant, the changes we have made to our guidance.
- Response to consultation document (9.10.24)
30 April 2024: The CMA consulted on draft consumer protection law compliance guidance for unregulated businesses providing will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services in the UK. The consultation closed on 13 June 2024.
Case opening and call for information
17 January 2024: The CMA received a wide range of information from consumers, legal services providers and other interested stakeholders.
24 July 2023: The CMA launched a new investigation looking at potential consumer law breaches in will writing, online divorce provision, and pre-paid probate plans. We invited people to tell us about their experiences of buying these services and products, particularly from unregulated providers.
- Press release: CMA investigates will writing and other legal services (24.7.23)
Our initial research identified potential areas of concern including misleading advertising, unfair contract terms, pressure selling, lack of transparency on costs, and the suitability of products being sold. The project considered:
- consumer and industry concerns
- information from legal service providers about their practices
- the extent to which legal service providers are complying with consumer law
Contact
Send any media enquiries to our press office: press@cma.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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Compliance guidance for businesses refreshed, and compliance review completed.
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Consumer protection law guidance for businesses, consumer guidance on what to consider when buying will writing services and divorce services, open letter to sector, and consultation response added to page.
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Consultation launched
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First published.