Unregulated will writers failing clients, says Chancery Lane
Thursday 22 October 2009 by James Dean
Unregulated will writers are providing the public with unenforceable wills while charging for legal services they are not trained or regulated to provide, the Law Society claimed this week.
Solicitors specialising in will writing told the Society they have been handed invalid wills drafted by unregulated will writers, who on some occasions also offered powers of attorney, probate, conveyancing and tax advice.
In some instances, family members were being left out of wills against the wishes of the client. Solicitors also reported that will writers are hiding charges, and that will documents have disappeared after will-writing companies were wound up.
Law Society president Robert Heslett said this was a ‘widespread trend.’
Comments
'Unregulated' Will Writers hit back against the 'Professionals'
As a Will Writer self regulated via the Society of Will Writers Code of Conduct and carrying full PI insurance I speak on behalf on myself and many other colleagues I'm sure in disputing the points made by the writer. Sure there are bad practitioners in all walks of life and all industries but do not tar us all with the same brush. I for one deal with Will and LPA clients daily, not once in a blue moon, and guess what - have seen some quite appallingly badly written Wills done by solicitors. And guess what - many of them have appointed themselves as Executor - and guess what again - the client seems blissfully unaware of the fact. Will Writers give clients a choice and convenience. Caveat emptor exists - in the same way a client would want to assure themselves that a local solcitor is worth their salt by trying to get a personal opinion from friends etc. Most of my clients - by far the majority - come to me via personal referral from existing clients. So please target your defamatory comments at those who truly deserve them - that does not mean all Will Writers - just the poor ones amongst both the independent and the solicitor practices' ones.
A disgruntled East Yorkshire Will Writer to whom many satisfied clients entrust their affairs.