It is quite shocking to realise that currently there are no restrictions on who may draft a will for consumers for payment. This is incredible considering how important a will is and how it will directly affect your family when they are probably at their most vulnerable.
The legal consumer watchdog has recently recommended that will writing should become a reserved activity (as reported on the BBC website). This basically means that all will writers should be required to comply it a code of conduct to prove they are competent.
Solicitors are, of course, obliged to comply with the rules of their own regulatory authority. If a solicitor has been negligent in writing a will a client will be able to claim compensation from the solicitor’s indemnity insurers. The client may not have such a remedy available if he/she has used a non-regulated will writing company.
A further advantage of having a solicitor prepare your will is that the will can be stored safely by the firm until such time that it is needed and can be regularly reviewed by them, if the client so wishes, to ensure that it still reflect the wishes should circumstances change.
Our firm has been writing wills for over 20 years and one of our partners is a member of STEPS (the Society of Trust and Estate Practioners) which specialises in these matters. Click here for further information our our Wills and Probate service.
Please contact Andrew Wright (andrewwright@wrightandwright.com) for further information.
