Recent research highlights the importance of using a regulated will writer

New regulations for will writing services in England and Wales are being proposed after research from the Legal Services Board (LSB) showed that 20 per cent of wills contained mistakes.

Currently will writing remains an unregulated market, leading to the concern that potentially it could be open to abuse. The Law Society warns that 'consumers risk everything if they allow an unqualified and unregulated will writer to have full control of their estate assets.'

Writing a will is an important decision, both personally and financially. With many businesses offering will writing services it can be tempting to opt for a company that appears to offer a quick, cheap deal. Unfortunately this can prove to be a risky move, leading to future complications and greater expense.

Making a will allows you to control how your assets are dealt with after your death. This is important not only for your peace of mind, but also for those left behind. Solicitors are professionally trained in will drafting and can ensure that the will created will carry out your wishes, talking you through the options that will best achieve that. There is no guarantee that those drafting wills in other companies have received any training which can have profound repercussions for the bereaved. It may not be possible to rectify mistakes and very costly to put right those which can be corrected.

Effective tax and financial planning is another consideration when making a will. Only a trained solicitor can give you the peace of mind that the service you are paying for is fit for purpose. Errors, mistakes and ineffective drafting by untrained will writers can lead to a loss of protection financially for the estate as provisions are rendered void. The Legal Ombudsman only has power to act on complaints from those who have used the services of a qualified solicitor, there is no recourse for those that have been let down by another service provider.

Solicitors are regulated and are required to have adequate insurance in place for the protection of their clients. There are no such requirements for other will writing service providers.

Hugh James Involegal LLP provides volume will writing services for clients in the financial services sectors, including major high street banks.
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Hugh James, a top 100 UK law firm, offers a range of will writing services direct to individuals.
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