Archive for the ‘Will writing’ tag
Swindon Law Firm Calls For Greater Regulation of Will-Writers
Lyn Ellins - Wills Expert
Calls are growing for greater regulation of will-writers following a Panorama programme that exposed the risks and the sharp practices used by many unregulated will-writers.
Lyn Ellins, a lawyer Swindon firm, Charles Lucas & Marshall says her firm have been trying to highlight this problem for many years – following a series of botched cases where people have had to come to them for legal advice.
“Many of these will-writers claim to be the cheap option but often there are hidden costs and families end up paying additional money because they have to come to a lawyer to sort out the mess,” she says.
Lyn Ellis says some of the mistakes they have had to sort out have been as simple as not getting a will witnessed properly.
“A family came to me because they knew their father had wanted to give money to a charity. However because the will had not been witnessed properly it was invalid so their father was officially intestate ie he had not made a will.
“We had to apply for a grant so we could administer the will, then write a deed of variation which all the beneficiaries had to agree and sign.
“Only then could we collect in the money from the father’s estate and distribute it as he had wanted. The costs were something like double what they should have been, which reduced the net estate and meant the charity and the family all got less.”
Unlike many will-writers, solicitors are qualified to write wills and are up to date with legislation. If anything should anything go wrong – their obligatory insurance cover means clients are protected against errors.
“Most law firms are happy to offer a free half hour to check a will or advise on making one,” says Lyn Ellins. “They will even visit the client at home if they cannot make it into the office. They will also give you a clear idea of cost from the start.”
Charles Lucas & Marshall has added its support to the growing Law Society campaign to introduce greater regulation of will-writers and provide consumers with more protection.
You can contact Lyn Ellins on 01793 511055 or lyn.ellins@clmlaw.co.uk
Panorama: Will Writing scandal
Were you as horrified as I was by the Panorama programme on Monday evening?
It highligted problems with unqualified ‘Will-Writing’ firms who appear to offer to draw up your will for as little as £30, then pressurises the elderly into signing up for a package which costs over £2,000.
One interviewee called the firm who did a spectacularly bad job on the estate for which she should have been a beneficiary as “cowboys”.
Solicitors often get a bad name for high costs, long-delays and impenetrable jargon but this programme showed just how vulnerable clients are who go to unregulated and uninsured companies.
Remember when reading those attractive adverts – if it looks too good to be true – it probably is.
