The British Wills and Probate Awards return for the ninth year, formally launching today (Friday 27th March). The Awards are organised by Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Wills and Probate, and will be hosted at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Thursday 8th October 2026.
An established part of the legal calendar, the British Wills and Probate Awards have long recognised the work of wills, probate, tax, trusts and estate planning professionals up and down the country and critically champions both the regulated solicitors and unregulated will writing communities. Entries for the 2026 event open today at a discounted early bird rate.
The awards are once again supported by technology and service providers from across the sector, with Arken.legal proudly returning as headline sponsor. Commenting on their longstanding support, Arken CEO Anthony Philips said:
“Arken is delighted to be supporting the British Wills and Probate Awards again this year. Having been a part of the programme every year since it launched, it is with a huge amount of pride that we have the privilege of being the headline sponsor again at what is now widely regarded as the pre-eminent awards event for firms, individuals and businesses in the wills, probate, tax, trusts and estate planning communities.
“The ethos of the event chimes with our own business values of excellence, purpose and inclusion. We look forward to being part of the celebrations recognising the important and critical work of the sector.”
Each year the organisers review the categories and criteria to ensure the awards remains as relevant in 2026 as they did when first launched in 2018. With 23 categories to choose from, individuals, firms and businesses have an array of options to showcase their success over the last 12 months. Workplace, wellbeing and support initiatives are recognised through categories like the Best Place to Work and Customer Service Champions categories, while Contentious Wills & Probate Team of the Year, Court of Protection Team of the Year, and Estate Planning Firm of the Year, amongst others, recognise technical and legal expertise across the community.
New categories for 2026 are Pioneers of the Year, Unsung Hero of the Year and Wealth Management Firm of the Year, recognising the increasingly holistic needs of clients and the opportunities for legal firms to work with other service providers to expand their capabilities.
CLICK HERE to view the categories for the British Wills and Probate Awards 2026.
Commenting on the launch of the 2026 event, David Opie, managing director of Today’s Media, said:
“We’re humbled every year by the level of support and interest in the British Wills and Probate Awards. We continue to work hard to ensure the awards are recognised as a mark of excellence by both colleagues and clients alike through our annual review of the categories and individual criteria points against which the submissions are reviewed; and a stringent and wholly independent judging process.
“The awards launch this year with more supporters than ever before, giving an indication of the regard in which the event is held by those across the sector.”
Alongside Arken.legal, the awards already have commitment from Superlawyer, The Estate Registry, Golding Young, Legl. the Society of Will Writers, Zedra, WillSuite, CILEX, Ochresoft, LEAP Estates, Finders International, Property Ladder Group, Provira, Fraser and Fraser, Ampla Finance, Move With Us and Property Solutions Group. For information about sponsorship please contact Donna Opie on 0330 1000 839 or email donna.opie@todaysmedia.co.uk.
Early bird entry
The British Wills and Probate Awards launch with an early bird rate of £129 +VAT. Entry enables the submission of up to 3x category entries per firm. A single category entry rate of £89 +VAT is also available.
The early bird rate is open now until Friday 22nd May 2026; thereafter entry will be £169 +VAT until entries close on Friday 3rd July 2026. You do not need to write your submission(s) immediately, you only need to have entered to benefit from the early bird rate.
The deadline to enter the awards is the Friday 3rd July 2026. Finalised submissions must be completed by midnight on Friday 10th July 2026, giving an additional week after entries close to perfect written submissions.
CLICK HERE to enter the British Wills and Probate Awards 2026.
Categories for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2026:
- Legal Supplier of the Year: Sponsored by CILEX
- Private Client Practitioner of the Year: Sponsored by Finders International
- Unsung Hero of the Year: Sponsored by Fraser and Fraser
- Contentious Wills & Probate Team of the Year –Large: Sponsored by Golding Young
- Private Client Firm of the Year – Large: Sponsored by LEAP Estates
- Customer Service Champions: Sponsored by Legl
- Contentious Wills & Probate Team of the Year – Boutique: Sponsored by Move With Us
- Private Client Firm of the Year – Boutique: Sponsored by Ochresoft
- Tax & Trusts Team of the Year: Sponsored by Provira
- Best Place to Work: Sponsored by Superlawyer
- Estate Planning Consultant of the Year: Sponsored by Society of Will Writers
- Best Use of Technology: Sponsored by The Estate Registry
- Probate Provider of the Year – North & Midlands: Sponsored by Property Ladder Group
- Estate Planning Firm of the Year – Large: Sponsored by WillSuite
- Estate Planning Firm of the Year – Boutique: Sponsored by Zedra
- Community & Charity Champions
- Contentious Practitioner of the Year
- Court of Protection Team of the Year
- One to Watch Practitioner of the Year
- Pioneers of the Year
- Probate Provider of the Year – South
- Probate Research Firm of the Year
- New for 2026: Wealth Management Firm of the Year
