Will Writing Services Ltd - Good VFM or a Con?

Errata

shockingly as many from solicitors as from independant will writers

Given the large number of solicitors and the small number of 'will writers' that's comparing apples with oranges.

CarterW

Errata wrote: »

Given the large number of solicitors and the small number of 'will writers' that's comparing apples with oranges.

Not really, as i said before there are many types of solicitors, from conveyancing solicitors to accident claim solicitors to employment law solicitors, the list goes on because no one can be an expert in all fields of one profession, just like doctors. A solicitor who specialises in Will Writing and Estate Planning will be a member of STEP and these are the ones to choose if you want to use a solicitor rather than a will writer

Crabapple

CarterW wrote: »

It's not very nice hearing all these stories about people getting ripped off, but i hear them all the time. I have personally been writing Wills for 8 years and come across so many cases of people receiving bad advice or their wills not being written correctly in the past, and shockingly as many from solicitors as from independant will writers, but thats probably because a lot of solicitors don't specialise in Will writing. Too many fields in the industry just like the medical industry, where you get referred to a specialist because your GP is not an expert even though they are a doctor.

This is quite an old fashioned view of solicitors. It used to be the case that most solicitors dabbled in Wills. It would very rarely be the case now as lawyers do specialise. Unless you went to a very small one-man-band solicitors you would be dealt with by someone who has the relevant skills and experience.

I wish the industry was officially regulated as i don't like it that there are so many cowboys out there. I have professional qualifications in Will Writing & Estate Planning and I am a member of the society of will writers as there is no official regulatory body as the moment, however the code of practice from either the SOWW or Institute of professional will writers is very good and members are required to have Insurance to protect the Will they write just as solicitors do under the Law society.

Totally agree about the regulation. Various professional bodies have been campaigning for this but the government seems to feel that it is not needed, despite of course all the experts in the field advising to the contrary and trying to ensure that anyone who makes a Will is both protected and dealt with by someone who knows what they are doing.

The Law Society is a regulatory body which also has a code of conduct and requires indemnity insurance. Your comment seems to downplay the regulatory body aspect.

Just a bit of advice for anyone looking at doing a Will, beware of free wills through banks, trade unions, solicitors or will writers that require you to use named probate services ( this is often why they are free )

Absolutely, you should never be forced into making a firm an executor, and should never use a probate service that requires you to sign a power of attorney to hand over that executorship.

Wills are more complicated than you would think, an online or DIY will is only useful if you have no assets/children.

Make sure the person writing your will has qualifications and is insured.

Hope this helps

CarterW wrote: »

Not really, as i said before there are many types of solicitors, from conveyancing solicitors to accident claim solicitors to employment law solicitors, the list goes on because no one can be an expert in all fields of one profession, just like doctors. A solicitor who specialises in Will Writing and Estate Planning will be a member of STEP and these are the ones to choose if you want to use a solicitor rather than a will writer

The first part of this rather contradicts your earlier statement about solicitors not specialising! If they specialise in those other areas why would there not be ones who specialise in wills and probate?

I would also like to point out that plenty of very good and experienced wills and probate lawyers do not have the STEP qualification. It is a gold standard. It is also very expensive to take, time consuming, and not required in order to be a specialist.

[If it was, then of course you would also have it...]

I have no reason to doubt your skills or experience, (and I don't know what qualifications you have or what is required to get them) but it definitely needed pointing out that there are very good lawyers out there too.

CarterW

I think you guys are misunderstanding what i am trying to explain to people who don't know the industry like i do.

I am pointing out that when you get someone to write your will for you whether it be a solicitor or a will writer, you are better off going to one who specialises in that field and is suitably qualified.

An example - Lets say you own a Ford and you have a problem with it, you can go to any mechanic or even take it to a Vauxhall dealer if you wish to get it fixed, but going to a Ford specialist/someone who works mostly with Fords will almost certainly do a better job.

I know a lot of solicitors, i have written many wills for solicitors and one of my friends works for one of the largest solicitor companies in the UK and i can guarantee to you that none of them write Wills.

I agree there are very good solicitors out there just like there are very good will writers out there, but when you have seen the advice given by some that i have seen you would understand why i am suggesting going to someone with the relevant experience/qualifications.

But you saying that by going to a solicitors will mean you will be dealt with by someone who has the relevant skills and experience in a particular field is incorrect.

Crabapple

I also know a lot of solicitors. Some of them write wills and are very good at it, with years of experience and relevant qualifications. A lot of them don't write wills, and would not do so, because they specialise in a completely different area.

I have also seen bad advice given, mostly by unregulated and unqualified will writers and probate companies.

Personal experience is, there are good people out there and you should find one. You should not however restrict yourself to looking at a will writer on the basis that solicitors do not specialise. I am sorry, but that is a line touted by both reputable companies and the cowboys. Your service should be sold on your own skills, qualifications and experience, not on 'doing down' any possible competition.

An easy way to see if a firm has specialists is to look on their website, it will tell you what work they do and will show you who works there and their specialisms.

I agree with you on the general point that a person preparing wills should be a specialist and suitably qualified.

I think my advice to anyone who needs a professional service of whatever type would be that, and in addition to ask friends/family/colleagues for recommendations. If they have recieved good advice and help you are likely to as well.

CarterW

Crabapple wrote: »

I also know a lot of solicitors. Some of them write wills and are very good at it, with years of experience and relevant qualifications. A lot of them don't write wills, and would not do so, because they specialise in a completely different area.

Completely agree, exactly what I said.

I have also seen bad advice given, mostly by unregulated and unqualified will writers and probate companies.

Also agree, never use an unqualified or unregulated company in any profession.

Personal experience is, there are good people out there and you should find one. You should not however restrict yourself to looking at a will writer on the basis that solicitors do not specialise. I am sorry, but that is a line touted by both reputable companies and the cowboys. Your service should be sold on your own skills, qualifications and experience, not on 'doing down' any possible competition.

Not at any point did I suggest restricting yourself to will writers over solicitors. I happen to work with STEP qualified solicitors.

An easy way to see if a firm has specialists is to look on their website, it will tell you what work they do and will show you who works there and their specialisms.

I agree with you on the general point that a person preparing wills should be a specialist and suitably qualified.

I think my advice to anyone who needs a professional service of whatever type would be that, and in addition to ask friends/family/colleagues for recommendations. If they have recieved good advice and help you are likely to as well.

Completely Agree, I do most of my business through recommendations.

It seems we are both on the same side, in the fact that we don't like people getting ripped off or receiving bad advice from the cowboys out there. Its just a shame the government binned the regulation :mad:

presaval

Im a will writer, estate planner and adviser, and that seems a bit high to me, is that based on storage only?

Did you look into any trust work? or any other things that can come into play when designing a custom will to suit your needs?

a tailored will service and advice in planning is always better than just a simple will.

Errata

Care to define 'custom will', 'tailored will' and 'simple will'?.

Vagabond3

Dear Forum,

My sister has just signed an agreement with WSL. Does she have a 14-day cooling off period to cancel? She is not aware of this and has no documentation making this clear. The WSL website does not mention this right (if it exists).

Thanks.

Errata

Was it a home visit?