When it comes to something as important as making a Will, it is vital you use a creditable and qualified Estate Practitioner. However, with no regulation in place for Will writing and Estate Planning, literally anyone can claim to be a Will-writer and give ‘advice’ about your estate. And in the technologically advanced world we now live in deception can be even harder to detect.
Similar to having a degree, having a website nowadays is no longer a sign of significance or worth. A quick search for Will writer in Google brings back over 89 million results. Estate planning returns nearly 73 million.
Bogus Will-writers are by no means a new threat. Ever since the 1980’s, when Will-writing was no longer restricted to qualified solicitors, they were targeting unsuspecting members of the public looking to safeguard the financial future of their family.
Simon Harris was one of first Will-writing fraudsters after founding the Quill Group Will Writing franchise following his release from prison. Harris, along with many others like him, left thousands of people out of pocket.
Nowadays, with finances tight, dubious Will-writers can try to lure clients in with low-cost, or even free, Will-writing services. However, as with many things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, the likelihood is that it is.
Whilst there is currently no regulation of Will Writing, those considering making a Will should not let this potential risk stop them from protecting their assets and the financial wellbeing of their loved ones. It is easy to confirm the credentials, or in many cases, the lack of qualifications and expertise , of a Will-writer as Linda Cummins, Head of Estate Planning at Goldsmith Williams explains:
“The best way to find a solicitor who is both regulated, qualified and experienced in Wills and Estate Planning is via The Law Society’s website. You can search for a solicitor by both name to ensure they hold a current practicing certificate and area of law to ensure they are qualified to draw up your Will.
“For Wills and Estate Planning it is also recommended that your chosen solicitor is a member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) or another relevant organisation such as SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly).”
Goldsmith Williams Solicitors is one of the leading national law firms. With over 25 years’ experience, the firm specialises in many areas of law including Wills and Estate Planning.
The dedicated Estate Planning department consists of Wills consultants and qualified solicitors and includes members who are both STEP and SFE trained so you can be confident you are in the hands of experienced and skilled professionals who have expertise in the highly specialised areas of Estate Planning.
The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) under number 40489. That way you can rest assured that the advice you receive is of the highest standard and delivered by a regulated solicitor.