Writing a Will - Solicitor Problems

cadenza82

Not sure if this is the right forum...feel free to move mods...

We've recently been working with a solicitor to update our Wills. The discussions have been quite complex but in the end, we had no choice but to go, for various reasons, with a very basic Will. We've now received the draft Wills from the solicitor and we're not at all happy. Much of what we discussed has not been included; it's riddled with spelling mistakes and errors; and much of what the solicitor said we needed to include has been left out. The Will runs to just half a page of A4, and the total cost for this is to be £220+VAT. I should point out that this is a 'real' solicitors firm, not any sort of online DIY thing.

We're not at all happy with this, and we feel that with all the errors and things we can no longer trust this solicitor to do what we want to do. We're now questioning the advice we've been given, and this is never a good position to be in.

So far, we haven't signed anything to engage them, and we haven't been provided with any sorts of Terms & Conditions. Does anyone know whether if we walked away now, we would be liable for any fees? Could the solicitor say that although there's nothing in writing, we have an unwritten obligation to pay?

Thanks,

David

CannySaver_2

Hi

A few comments, informed only by common sense (I hope!) I;m no legal eagle:

1. Half a sheet of A4 seems exceedingly short for even the most basic of wills, mine is pretty simple but even that goes to 3 pages

2. You clearly are going to take advice from another Solicitor with regard to your Will, why not ask them what they make of the draft you have already recieved?

3. I'd be inclined to see what happens if you simply ignore the Solicitor, you've signed no engagement letter, he or she has produced a seemingly sub standard piece of work, I'd move on and call their bluff if they chase you

Let me know what happens.

The Canny Saver

tangerine2

cadenza82 wrote: »

Not sure if this is the right forum...feel free to move mods...

We've recently been working with a solicitor to update our Wills. The discussions have been quite complex but in the end, we had no choice but to go, for various reasons, with a very basic Will. We've now received the draft Wills from the solicitor and we're not at all happy. Much of what we discussed has not been included; it's riddled with spelling mistakes and errors; and much of what the solicitor said we needed to include has been left out. The Will runs to just half a page of A4, and the total cost for this is to be £220+VAT. I should point out that this is a 'real' solicitors firm, not any sort of online DIY thing.

We're not at all happy with this, and we feel that with all the errors and things we can no longer trust this solicitor to do what we want to do. We're now questioning the advice we've been given, and this is never a good position to be in.

So far, we haven't signed anything to engage them, and we haven't been provided with any sorts of Terms & Conditions. Does anyone know whether if we walked away now, we would be liable for any fees? Could the solicitor say that although there's nothing in writing, we have an unwritten obligation to pay?

Thanks,

David

Hi, having worked for a Solictor (albeit quite a few years ago) I would say if you said you no longer wish to proceed with the Wills he would definitely charge for "advice and preparation of draft Wills".

I suggest you correct the drafts as you want them to be, filling in want you want to say and request another draft Will. If it is a basic Will i.e. leaving your Estate to each other if one of you dies, then if you have children it should go to them if you both die at the same time, the Will would be quite short, unless you want any specific bequests or request if you wish to be cremated or buried, I can't think there would be anything else to say on it.