---
title: "How we write will guides"
description: "The method behind SwiftWill guides: primary sources, dated figures, honesty gate, and what we will not publish."
url: "https://swiftwill.co.uk/method/guides/"
author: "Marcus Kaiser"
date_modified: "2026-08-12"
---

# How we write will guides

Each guide starts from a real question, leads with a 40–60 word verdict, cites a primary source next to every specific number, and names who should skip the advice. We do not fabricate fees, cases or experience. Skip this method page if you wanted the answer itself — use the guides hub.

> SwiftWill provides legal information and software for England & Wales under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. Figures are taken from gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk and HMCTS, checked 12 August 2026. We have not given you legal advice — this is general information.

## What is the method for a SwiftWill guide?

Find the question a person actually types. Write a verdict in the first 60 words, including
 who should skip it. Support the verdict with the statute or gov.uk page, dated. Add a
 comparison table where numbers exist. Interlink both directions. Stop if the page would
 duplicate another URL.

1. Check the slug registry so we never publish a second page for one query.
2. Pull the primary source: legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk, HMCTS, Law Commission, HMRC.
3. Write question-shaped headings with a self-contained answer under each.
4. Put competitor prices only where the provider still publishes them.
5. Run the honesty gate: if a solicitor is the right tool, say so before any CTA.

## Where do the numbers come from?

Statutory figures (intestacy legacy, probate court fee, IHT bands) come from gov.uk or
 legislation, with the date we checked. Survey ranges for will ownership are labelled as
 ranges because YouGov, IRN and Will Aid do not ask identical questions. We publish the
 underlying tables as CSV on [open data](/open-data/).

## What will SwiftWill not publish?

We will not invent a statistic, scrape a forum and rewrite it as our voice, mark up
 competitor star ratings as our Review, or date-stamp a page without changing it. We will
 not tell an unmarried couple that "common-law marriage" will save them. That
 claim is false in England and Wales.

Full policy: [editorial policy](/editorial-policy/). Citation checks:
 [how we check AI citations](/method/citations/). Author:
 [Marcus Kaiser](/author/marcus-kaiser/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you visit courts or interview families for these guides?

No. These are desk-researched explainers of published law and official guidance. We state that on every page. First-hand casework would be a different product, and we will not imply it.

### How do you handle competitor prices?

From the competitor's own published pricing page, with a capture month in the table. If a price is not published, we do not invent one. We name strengths as well as weaknesses.

Canonical HTML: https://swiftwill.co.uk/method/guides/
Markdown: https://swiftwill.co.uk/method/guides.md
Last modified: 2026-08-12
Author: Marcus Kaiser (https://swiftwill.co.uk/author/marcus-kaiser/)