Latest News - August 2010

Scams: “Where there is a ‘will’ there is a way!”

It seems that more people have started to use Will-writing companies to draw up their wills instead of going to a solicitor. Some will writing firms entice potential customers into believing they are obtaining a professional will for as little as £50-£75.00.

However, a recent Panorama investigation uncovered cases where the actual fees were escalating into thousands of pounds and clients were bound to pay the companies a percentage of the Estate after death for handling the estate - a liability they were never informed about.

Unlike solicitors, will writers are not regulated by a professional body and do not have professional indemnity insurance. As a result, if the will writer has been negligent with the advice given or the will has been wrongly drawn, beneficiaries run the risk of not being appropriately compensated.

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners have released alarming figures which show that two thirds of their practitioners had come across will writing companies with hidden fees and 63% had come across will writing companies going out of business.

Lorely Burt, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, says: “It is no exaggeration to say that will-writing has become a happy hunting-ground for incompetent, dishonest and fly-by-night operators.”

Making sure that your will is properly drawn is vital to ensuring that your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are protected . Call Andrea Belshaw or email andrea@belshawlaw.co.uk for more information on how we can help you.