You might have noticed advertisements for free Will writing or offers for a ‘’free Will pack’’ when you are browsing the internet. Perhaps you even clicked on the ads and thought that it was a great deal.
Will and financial arrangements are complex, unique to each situation and require careful planning. Sadly, dealing with a Will on the cheap or free can become a huge issue in the future.
With the recent increase of these ads, we would like to go through the potential dangers of such free and hasty services:
- A properly drafted Will is vital, and there are legal formalities needed for a Will to be valid. If a Will is incorrectly drafted, your estate could be held for years in litigation before being distributed. If a Will is incorrectly drafted, your chosen beneficiaries may not benefit from your estate.
- Testamentary capacity should be determined before making a Will. Experienced solicitors are used to dealing with these issues and make contemporaneous notes in this regard. If capacity is challenged from a “homemade” Will or a Will where the writer has never met the testator, the Will could be challenged as invalid on grounds of capacity.
- Firms of Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) whilst most Will-writing companies are unregulated.
- If your Will is stored with a solicitor and the firm goes out of business, either a successor practice or the SRA will take control of the client’s Will and documents. If Will-writing companies go into administration, there is a risk that the original Wills and documents will be left unaccounted for.
- It is a legal requirement that solicitors have insurance in place which covers client losses. However, Will-writing companies are not obliged to have the same level of cover if any at all.
- Lastly, solicitors have undergone years of training and are qualified to give advice tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.
We offer free no-obligation appointments; you have nothing to lose in discussing your circumstances and needs with us. Let us advise you, and you can decide if you would like to proceed.
Use our contact form to submit an enquiry or call us on 01325 482299 to book a free consultation.
