Wills - solicitors taking 12 months - please help

fifilafluff

Hello,

I hope I am posting this in the correct place. Apologies if not (feel free to point to the right place).

Last year, in November when the the last Will Aid offer came up, my husband and I used the offer and paid the £150 to go to a solicitor to get a joint Will drawn up (we had recently had our first child).

We met with the solicitor for an hour and about a month later were emailed a draft of the Wills. We had a few small amendments that I swiftly emailed back. Since then, we have had absolutely no contact from the solicitor or the associate who is drawing up the Wills. I emailed regularly then turned to phoning, followed by more emails, but no one has ever gotten back to me and I have never gotten past the secretary when I have phoned. She has always said she will pass my messages on but no one ever phones me back. It's frustrating as I made 4 small track changes that would take 5 minutes to accept and get this finished. It's been almost a year since the initial meeting and and it's really bothering me that it's not sorted. I am now due to have our second child in a month and really want our Wills properly in place.

Can anyone advise what to do? I have a draft of the Wills that they emailed me (before I made the few small changes). Could I just use this to do a DIY will? Should I keep on the them, or would I be fighting a losing battle? I don't think the solicitors firm will ever get back to me. I got the impression we were small-fry when we went for our meeting with them.

Thank you very much for your help.

Yorkshireman99

fifilafluff wrote: »

Hello,

I hope I am posting this in the correct place. Apologies if not (feel free to point to the right place).

Last year, in November when the the last Will Aid offer came up, my husband and I used the offer and paid the £150 to go to a solicitor to get a joint Will drawn up (we had recently had our first child).

We met with the solicitor for an hour and about a month later were emailed a draft of the Wills. We had a few small amendments that I swiftly emailed back. Since then, we have had absolutely no contact from the solicitor or the associate who is drawing up the Wills. I emailed regularly then turned to phoning, followed by more emails, but no one has ever gotten back to me and I have never gotten past the secretary when I have phoned. She has always said she will pass my messages on but no one ever phones me back. It's frustrating as I made 4 small track changes that would take 5 minutes to accept and get this finished. It's been almost a year since the initial meeting and and it's really bothering me that it's not sorted. I am now due to have our second child in a month and really want our Wills properly in place.

Can anyone advise what to do? I have a draft of the Wills that they emailed me (before I made the few small changes). Could I just use this to do a DIY will? Should I keep on the them, or would I be fighting a losing battle? I don't think the solicitors firm will ever get back to me. I got the impression we were small-fry when we went for our meeting with them.

Thank you very much for your help.

Phone and ask about making a formal complaint.

gettingtheresometime

As you're now expecting another child, do these wills take into account subsequent children being born?

I'm just thinking that they may be out of date as so long has passed

FreeBear

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

Phone and ask about making a formal complaint.

Most certainly make a complaint. A will shouldn't take months to draw up.. Mine (all be it a fairly simple one) took a couple of weeks to draft along with some edits. When i went in to sign it, there were still a couple of minor changes needed, but these were dealt with in minutes.

Tom99

If you have already agreed the wording you need, then type it out yourself and save £150 unless you have already paid them.

fifilafluff

Thank you for your replies. It's reassuring to know that I am not being unreasonable to have expected the Wills to be sorted by now. The wording in the Wills is that our estate will be shared equally amongst daughter 1 and any subsequent children (or something to that effect) so i don't think it matters that our second child won't be named explicitly. I did wonder the same and maybe as we are so close to the birth it might be worth waiting and getting him/her named.

I know I need to ring them again but the thought actually fills me with dread now. The secretary is very good at making me feel very insignificant and this is only enhanced when no one ever gets back to me. I will pluck up the courage to phone and will mention making a complaint and see if that spurs them into any sort of action.

I was also thinking of contacting Will Aid. I wouldn't expect any money back (we've already paid) as it's a charity, however I don't think this particular firm should be allowed to sign up to the scheme in the future if they do not have the capacity to actually complete the Wills for people.

I do have all the wording. In the interim, while I try to get the proper Wills sorted, do you think if we printed and signed the drafts (taking off the draft watermark) they would stand up legally?

Thank you again.

Tom99

fifilafluff wrote: »

I do have all the wording. In the interim, while I try to get the proper Wills sorted, do you think if we printed and signed the drafts (taking off the draft watermark) they would stand up legally?

Thank you again.

I followed my will, drafted by a solicitor, for my mother. It only ran to a single sheet of A4 but was fine and probate was obtained without any trouble.

Remember to date the will and two witnesses

Margot123

Do you have a written agreement (retainer) with the solicitor? It should state timeframes, expectations etc.
Give them a call and ask who you make a formal written complaint to at the partnership. This simple request might stir them into action, as any receptionist worth their salt would ask why you are complaining.

poppystar

fifilafluff wrote: »

I was also thinking of contacting Will Aid. I wouldn't expect any money back (we've already paid) as it's a charity, however I don't think this particular firm should be allowed to sign up to the scheme in the future if they do not have the capacity to actually complete the Wills for people.

I would contact them especially as you paid in advance. Did they receive the money even?

Did you get a receipt? I'm fairly sure that I got a receipt from Will Aid, albeit dispensed by the solicitor. I also only paid after I had the will signed and witnessed, I was never asked for any money up front.

Robin9

As its Will Aid time again is this firm on this years list ?

fifilafluff

Hi,

Yes, this solicitors firm is again on the list this year (happy to PM anyone who would like to avoid it). I have contacted Will Aid to explain what has happened and my concerns about them being on the list given that they seen to be unable to complete the work they are offering.

How it worked with Will Aid last year was that you make the payment (donation) directly to Will Aid and then take the receipt to the first solicitors appointment. I followed the Will Aid instructions which was to pay prior to the appointment and prior to actually receiving the completed wills. The solicitors don't actually receive any money themselves for taking part but I guess it's a way for them to drum up business and to be seen to be doing something good. I think this is partly why I am hating chasing them so much, as I don't feel like a 'proper' customer. I still have the Will Aid receipt so can prove that we have paid.

Thank you.