A recent BBC documentary has suggested that Will-writing firms are unfairly taking thousands of pounds from their customers and families.
A Panorama investigation aired on BBC1 on Monday 9 August 2010 followed the conduct of some firms that offered Will-writing services and found that an initial quotation of £30 per will can quickly escalate to hundreds and even thousands of pounds in fees and charges leaving the families to suffer as a result.
Andrew Stevenson, a Will writing solicitor of Mansfield based firm Hopkins Solicitors and member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners, says "The general problem is the lack of regulation for those writing Wills. At present the title "Will Writer" can be achieved with little training and, more importantly with no professional indemnity insurance"
The lack of insurance and training is a worrying situation. An invalid Will is a worthless Will and the estate will be dealt with under the laws of intestacy which may well ultimately end in the family wealth being passed to the wrong person or even HMRC. The pitfalls are so troubling that James Daley of Which? Magazine advised on BBC Radio 2 that people making a Will should go straight to a solicitor, he further suggested that a recent Which? survey of the advice provided by solicitors in relation to wills left solicitors "pretty squeaky clean", unfortunately the same could not be said for Will Writers or the banks.
Andrew Stevenson added "anyone considering making a Will should contact a solicitor, a local firm preferably from a personal recommendation, to ensure that their Will is tailored for them taking into account their personal and financial position, as well as other aspects of generally planning such as powers of attorney, inheritance tax mitigation and asset preservation"
People who are concerned as to the content of their Wills made by a non-solicitor Will Writer should seek advice from a suitable qualified Solicitor, such as Andrew Stevenson of Hopkins Solicitors on 01623 468 468.
