Beware of low cost online Wills!

Being a Private Client Solicitor, we meet with clients on a day-to-day basis to discuss the preparation of their Wills and estate planning. Sometimes when discussing these matters with prospective clients it is raised as to why they should instruct a Solicitor, when they can complete their Wills themselves online or at a lesser expense through a Will writer.

Our starting point is to always advise prospective clients that they are able to prepare their Wills as and how they wish but to always err on the side of caution due to issues that can arise if their Wills are not prepared correctly or specialist advice sought (depending on their personal circumstances). The Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP) have also recently warned of the same risks and highlighted the potential issues due to lack of regulation in England and Wales.

Ensuring that you have a professionally drafted Will in place adds a layer of protection to your Will, ensuring that potential claims are discussed, capacity is assessed and all options available fully explored. When a claim is made against an estate, this usually involves substantial legal involvement to resolve the matter, sometimes leading to thousands of pounds of fees being incurred which may have been avoided through careful planning, advice and safeguards being put in place.

If you would like to learn more, please visit here.

For advice in relation to writing a Will, contact our expert Team on 01908 660966 / 01604 828282 or contact the Private Client team.