Estate planning

edward1993

When re-mortgaging I was offered a deal on sorting out my will/estate planning, having never done any of this before. So I decided to take them up on it,  we had a long call and filled out a lot of documents, got everything sorted and signed. I made a couple of small mistakes, so it was sent back, I amended it and sent it back again, but this now 3 months ago and I haven't heard anything since. I have proof as I sent it tracked, and it was signed for so I know it was received.

I tried calling the company but never can get through, it just says they are experiencing high call volume and to email them, which I have done multiple times but have had no response. 

I don't know what to do, as we may be moving next month and I don't want the documents to turn up when we have moved. What am I meant to do? I am not sure whether to mention the firm's name or not but wondered what my options are here?

Thanks

ColdIron

edward1993 said:

I tried calling the company but never can get through, it just says they are experiencing high call volume and to email them, which I have done multiple times but have had no response.

You could report it here while you wait

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/report-high-call-volumes

LHW99

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

Was it a solicitor, or a will-writer you went through? Either way, a tracked letter headed "Complaint" and laying out in detail what has happened (include a copy of the tracking details, not the original) may trigger action?

Marcon

LHW99 said:

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

...but that assumes the documents are sent by Royal Mail rather than one of the many courier services which now provide an alternative, including for letters and other paperwork.

OP, 3 months is a very long time to wait and there's always a sense of 'tempting providence' by having a will floating around, signed or unsigned! Do you have a copy of the final document? If so, sign that and get it properly witnessed. Doesn't matter if it's a copy of what has already been signed - you just need to sign again/witnesses sign again (they can be different witnesses this time around - all they're doing is witnessing your signature) and date with the date of this later signature.

edward1993

LHW99 said:

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

Was it a solicitor, or a will-writer you went through? Either way, a tracked letter headed "Complaint" and laying out in detail what has happened (include a copy of the tracking details, not the original) may trigger action?

Thanks, I didn't consider re-directing the post.

edward1993

Marcon said:

LHW99 said:

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

...but that assumes the documents are sent by Royal Mail rather than one of the many courier services which now provide an alternative, including for letters and other paperwork.

OP, 3 months is a very long time to wait and there's always a sense of 'tempting providence' by having a will floating around, signed or unsigned! Do you have a copy of the final document? If so, sign that and get it properly witnessed. Doesn't matter if it's a copy of what has already been signed - you just need to sign again/witnesses sign again (they can be different witnesses this time around - all they're doing is witnessing your signature) and date with the date of this later signature.

Unfortunately not. It was a big document and quite detailed

LHW99

edward1993 said:

LHW99 said:

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

Was it a solicitor, or a will-writer you went through? Either way, a tracked letter headed "Complaint" and laying out in detail what has happened (include a copy of the tracking details, not the original) may trigger action?

Thanks, I didn't consider re-directing the post. It was this company: https://www.generational-wealth.co.uk/. I presume they are will writers. 

Looking at the page you link to, it says

"© 2023 This website is provided to you by Generational Wealth and Generational Wealth Genie Limited" at the bottom.

Companies House lists Generational Wealth Genie Ltd as having its office in Didsbury, along with two others, Generational Wealth Network Ltd and Generational Wealth Services Ltd at the same address:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14790172

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14486736

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14477492

They all seem to have been incorporated in 2022-2023, and are unfortunately listed as being in liquidation.

If this is who you have been dealing with, your only redress may be through the liquidators themselves, but I suspect there will be little there.

Generational Wealth Genie apparently filed a winding up resolution in January this year.

artyboy

LHW99 said:

edward1993 said:

LHW99 said:

Well you could arrange for a redirect for post - that would catch any documents that arrive after a move.

Was it a solicitor, or a will-writer you went through? Either way, a tracked letter headed "Complaint" and laying out in detail what has happened (include a copy of the tracking details, not the original) may trigger action?

Thanks, I didn't consider re-directing the post. It was this company: https://www.generational-wealth.co.uk/. I presume they are will writers. 

Looking at the page you link to, it says

"© 2023 This website is provided to you by Generational Wealth and Generational Wealth Genie Limited" at the bottom.

Companies House lists Generational Wealth Genie Ltd as having its office in Didsbury, along with two others, Generational Wealth Network Ltd and Generational Wealth Services Ltd at the same address:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14790172

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14486736

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14477492

They all seem to have been incorporated in 2022-2023, and are unfortunately listed as being in liquidation.

If this is who you have been dealing with, your only redress may be through the liquidators themselves, but I suspect there will be little there.

Generational Wealth Genie apparently filed a winding up resolution in January this year.

ISTBC but there's nothing above to suggest that the OP parted with any money, the query seems to be more about documentation and contact issues. If (hopefully) that is the case, then all that has been wasted here is time, and the OP will have to start again with a more solvent firm...

(hopefully not SJP...)

Keep_pedalling

This could be a good thing, as far as I can see from their website they do not appear to be regulated, and I would not put making a will in the hands of anyone other than a regulated solicitor. Have they sold you trusts by any chance?

Marcon

edward1993 said:

Hi, thanks for the additional information. Liquidation, now I am very worried. It wasn't cheap, it was to deal with what happens to our kids if we die, our savings, setting powers of attorney, beneficiaries etc. Does that mean that was all for nothing? Think we spent around £650. But from what I can tell it was all nearly done, as I say they had sent it back for a correction, which I did and then posted back to them but that was the last I ever heard anything.

Edit: I just found we do have our Last Will & Testament thankfully. But not lasting powers of attorney, I think it was these that I had sent back for corrections in November. What would be the next steps? I contacted the insolvency firm, but presumably I need to go to a solicitor now with my will and to finish off the rest of it?

That would be a good idea. There are too many sad posts on this forum from people who've left it just that bit too late to make a will, do a PofA or whatever. Do it while you can.

LHW99

Is it possible that the LPA application was sent in to the OPG? Could be worth trying to find out, as even if it was sent in December, it may still be in progress there as they are taking a couple of months to get things done. Have your attorneys received anything from the OPG?