Be Aware of Rogue Will Writers
A will is one of the most important documents you will make in your lifetime. It’s crucial that your will is correctly drafted to ensure your wishes are carried out after your death.
There are no legal restrictions on who can prepare a will, which is why you should be aware of rogue will writers. Unregulated will writers are causing problems for many all over the country, including the old and vulnerable, by drafting inappropriate wills, not providing the correct advice and taking financial advantage of their clients.
Rogue Will Writer Costs Beneficiary £25,000
Many people are falling victim to rogue will writers, as highlighted recently in an article in the Telegraph.
An unregulated will writer drafted a will where he appointed himself as executor. When his client passed away, he failed to administer the £150,000 estate. Not only have the beneficiaries not received their inheritance it has cost them £25,000 in solicitors fees trying to locate the will writer and get him to fulfil his duties.
Unregulated Will Writing Solicitors
Anyone can be taken advantage of by unregulated will writers. Some of the risks of using an unregulated will writer are:
- Unregulated will writers are not trained in drafting documents, meaning mistakes can be made that result in a person’s wishes not being carried out.
- Rogue will writers may use standard documents without tailoring them to an individual’s situation, and without offering a more suitable option. They often just want to sell the most expensive wills package.
- There is no requirement for rogue will writers to have indemnity insurance and they are not regulated by any professional body. If anything goes wrong there is no recourse for a client and it can be costly to correct mistakes.
- Unregulated will writers don’t always understand the nature of the documents they are preparing which may have serious consequences such as clients being given incorrect advice, or incurring avoidable inheritance tax bills.
- Will writers often appoint themselves as Executors and Trustees which causes problems years later if they have disappeared. The deceased’s family then must make a court application to have the rogue will writer removed as Trustee. A recent study by the Legal Services Board, a regulator, found that wills and trusts were one of the most common areas of practice among the 208,000 unregulated legal firms currently operating in England and Wales.
Wills & Estates Solicitors Leeds & Yorkshire
It is important to realise that not all will writers are regulated or qualified. When instructing someone to prepare your will, make sure you use a regulated specialist to protect you and your family.
Morrish Solicitors is a long-established law firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Our wills and estates solicitors can help you prepare for the future. We have years of experience dealing with wills, inheritance tax planning, probate, lasting powers of attorney, care home fees and other related services. Our Head of Wills and Estates Tom Morrish is an accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly and solicitor Emma Garfitt is an associate member. You can have peace of mind you are in safe hands.
All our services can be provided at your convenience either in-person, over the phone or by email or post. So, it doesn’t matter where you live, we’ll always be here to support you. Call us today on 033 3344 9609 or email [email protected].
Source: “A rogue will writer stole £150,000 from my friend” – Telegraph.
