For Introducers
Welcome
Redwood Estate Planning is a private members' association providing estate planning education, guidance, and document preparation to its members across England and Wales. This is a brief overview of who we are, how we work, and what anyone you introduce to us can expect.
What we do — and how we think about it
Most people reach adulthood without ever being taught how to manage their own affairs. Not because they aren't capable — but because nobody showed them how. The education system doesn't cover it. Most professionals make it more complicated than it needs to be. And by the time something goes wrong — a death, a loss of capacity, a family dispute — it's usually too late to do much about it.
Redwood exists to change that. We help first. Education before documents. Understanding before action. We believe that people who genuinely understand their position — what they own, how they own it, what would happen tomorrow if they couldn't speak for themselves — are in a fundamentally better place than those who have simply signed a document they don't fully understand. The document matters. But the understanding comes first.
Service to others, before service to self. That is the principle we work from. It is also, we think, a principle worth reflecting on more broadly — if more of the world operated this way, it would be a far better place. We think globally and act locally — starting with the people in front of us, the families we help, the communities we're part of. If someone comes to us with questions and leaves with answers — and nothing else — that is a good outcome. The knowledge belongs to them. There is no pressure, no agenda, and no cost for the education itself. If they decide they want help putting something in place, the cost of that is discussed clearly and transparently at that point.
"Having your affairs in order is one aspect of navigating life well. It helps to think of it like a game — once you understand the rules, you can play it far better."
The journey — from introduction to membership
Introduction
People come to us through someone who knows them — an introducer, a trusted contact, or someone already in the Redwood community. The relationship begins with trust already in place. Membership is private and by invitation — it is not publicly advertised or openly sold.
Initial conversation
The first conversation is informal and without obligation. Questions are asked and answered on both sides. We learn about the people we're speaking with — their family, their circumstances, what they're thinking about and why. They learn about Redwood — what it is, how it works, and whether it feels like the right fit. There is no pressure to proceed. If it doesn't feel right for either party, that is said plainly.
The meeting
A meeting is booked — in person across Hertfordshire, Essex, London and the South East, or by video call anywhere in England and Wales. It typically lasts between one and two hours. We listen first. Aims, wishes, concerns, questions — everything is heard before any decision is made or any recommendation offered. Options are explained clearly and in plain English. There is no obligation to proceed, and costs are only discussed if the people we're meeting decide they want to.
Meeting summary
After the meeting, a bespoke written summary is produced — personal to the member's circumstances, covering what was discussed, what was observed, and what options were explored. It references specific pages and resources in the Knowledge Base that are directly relevant to their situation — so they can read further, in their own time, at their own pace, without needing to ask.
Access to the Knowledge Base
Alongside the meeting summary, members receive access to Redwood's private Knowledge Base — a growing library of educational resources shared with members only. It covers estate planning in depth, the legal world more broadly, and the foundational principles that sit beneath both. Members can dip in and out at their leisure, returning to it as life changes and new questions arise.
Ongoing relationship
Membership is for life — not for a transaction. Members return as circumstances change. They come back when they have questions, when something needs reviewing, or simply when they want to understand something better. The Knowledge Base is always there. We are always available. The relationship is long-term, personal, and built on trust.
The Knowledge Base — what makes it different
The Knowledge Base is not a library of legal documents. It is not a checklist or a product catalogue. It is something we have been subconsciously building for over fifteen years — a collection of insights, observations, guides, and stories that have accumulated through first-hand experience, a genuine fascination with the legal world, and a firm belief that this kind of knowledge should be part of real life education. We now have a place specifically organised for members to explore and learn — at their own pace, in their own time, returning to it whenever something becomes relevant to their lives. Not something people only encounter when something goes wrong. Something they carry with them.
Most estate planning resources explain what documents are available. The Knowledge Base starts somewhere more fundamental — with what law actually is, with what ownership really means, with the difference between what is legal and what is lawful, with how consent works and why it matters. Members who begin there arrive at estate planning documents with a completely different level of understanding than those who are simply handed a form and told to sign.
Access is free. The information belongs to whoever reads it. There is no paywall, no subscription, no pressure to purchase anything. If a member reads through the Knowledge Base and decides they want help putting something in place, that conversation happens separately — transparently, and without any of the preceding access being contingent on it.
Guides
In-depth resources covering the main areas of estate planning — Asset ownership, Death planning, Lifetime planning, trusts, powers of attorney, inheritance tax, later life care, estate administration, and more. Each guide links to relevant help sheets as it goes, so members can explore as deeply as they want to.
Help sheets
Focused reference documents on specific planning tools and legal documents — from Basic Wills and LPAs through to lifetime trusts, declarations of trust, deeds of variation, and more. Clear, plain-English, and easy to return to.
Role guides
Plain-English guides for people who have been appointed as executors, trustees, attorneys, guardians, or beneficiaries — explaining what the role involves, what is expected, and where to get help.
Templates & Questionnaires
Practical documents to help members prepare, record, and organise their affairs — and structured questions to help them think through their situation before a meeting or review.
Case studies
Anonymised real-life planning scenarios showing how different tools work in practice — the decisions, the reasoning, and the outcomes. Useful for anyone who learns better through story than through theory.
Going deeper
For those who want to understand not just the documents but the world those documents exist within — there is a dedicated series exploring language, law, and what it all actually means. For the curious. Not required reading — but there for those who want it.
"We think this kind of knowledge should be part of how people understand the world — not something they stumble across only when something has already gone wrong. The Knowledge Base is our attempt to make that possible."
What we do — and what we refer
We operate within a clearly defined scope. Some activities are handled in-house. Others require specialist qualifications or regulatory oversight that sits outside our scope — and for those, we refer to trusted professionals whose work we know and whose standards we respect.
In-house
Will writing — all types, from Basic Wills through to Trust Wills, Vulnerable Persons Trusts, and Business Relief Trust Wills. Lasting Powers of Attorney — both types. General Powers of Attorney. Initial estate planning education and guidance.
Referred to associates
Land Registry matters — conveyancers and property solicitors. HMRC and tax matters — accountants and tax advisers. Reserved legal activities and lifetime trust planning — suitably qualified solicitors and legal professionals. Portfolio restructuring — qualified tax advisers and specialists.
Where we refer, we introduce personally — with context where appropriate and with the member's knowledge and consent. Referrals are made because the professional is trusted and the member's best interests are served by the introduction. Nothing more.
What people you introduce can expect
Anyone referred to us will be treated with the same care, the same honesty, and the same commitment to their genuine best interests that every member receives. The first conversation is free and without obligation. The meeting is free and without obligation. The Knowledge Base is free and without obligation. If people decide they want help putting something in place — costs are discussed clearly, transparently, and before any work begins.
There is no hard sell. There is no pressure. There is no script designed to move someone toward a predetermined outcome. There is a conversation, a meeting, a bespoke summary, and a resource they can return to whenever they need it — for as long as they are a member.
If they do nothing with it — they have still learned something genuinely useful. That is fine. That is, in many ways, the point.
To discuss an introduction, or to find out more about how we work — please get in touch directly.
Thank you.