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According to the Fellowship the qualification will give consumers more choice and control when appointing an executor to assist alongside a family member or friend. It will offer a professional alternative to solicitors as anyone completing the course will be qualified to provide the same service as a solicitor.

The qualification aims to turn will writing and probate practice into a trusted profession. The FPWPP said it hopes these aspects of the financial services industry will become regulated during the next year.

Rita Leat, president of the FPWPP, said: "It is nonsense that anyone can set themselves up as will writer, advertise their services to the general public and not have any formal qualifications or training. On top of this, as an unregulated industry, consumers who may fall foul of a rogue will writer and may not have any real easily accessible redress if things go wrong.

"We have all seen too many stories of vulnerable people being ripped off by will writers, or worse, having wills that are either invalid or do not allow for their wishes to be carried out as they would like.

"We want the general public to join with us to lobby for will writing to become a regulated industry. In the meantime, I and my colleagues at the Fellowship can offer professional training and regulation for our members to ensure choice and protection for consumers."

Isabel Sutcliffe, director of qualifications and accreditation of Edexcel, said: "It is vital that you can trust and believe in the person handling the writing of your will or probate. These new qualifications will offer evidence of the skills, knowledge and professionalism necessary to do the job well."

Peter Nellist, partner of solicitor firm Clarke Willmott, said: "It is an extraordinarily complex area and I learn something new most days, even now after 35 years.

"I think there are a lot of hidden agendas in the industry. I have come across malfeasance in all walks of life and it is something you have to be on the look out for. Consumer protection if something goes wrong is very important.

"Providing the qualification is good enough that should engender more competition, which is generally a good thing for the public. It is the quality of the qualification that is important."