Last nights episode of Panorama has created a big buzz in our trust department at Hart Brown, the Head of our Trusts and Investments department Paul Tobias commented:
You need to be of sound mind to make a will. After the Panorama report on will writers last night, I question whether anyone using a will writer can be regarded as of sound mind. For something as important as your will, the only sensible thing to do is to use solicitors who specialise in advising on and drafting wills. Surely it is better to use highly regulated (and insured) professionals rather than taking the risk of getting involved with unregulated unqualified will writers?
Read more about Hart Brown's Trusts section here
Showing posts with label BBC panorama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC panorama. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
BBC - Panorama - R.I.P off
I have often warned people about the lack of regulation among will writers and the fact that they are not required to have any qualifications at all. However, the BBC’s Panorama programme entitled “R.I.P. Off” was a very sobering view of the unregulated legal services that are being marketed. The programme highlighted hidden fees, extremely poor administration of estates, theft and fraud, but I would say that, wouldn’t I? I’m a solicitor. In order to become a solicitor, you train for a total of 6 years, you are governed by the Law Society and if after that something goes wrong, there is the Solicitors Compensation Fund and indemnity insurance to turn to.
It appears there are two tiers of advice available:
1. Solicitors with the training and regulation
2. A steadily growing industry of unqualified and unregulated will writers and probate service providers.
All of the assets that you have worked for and built up over your life are governed by your will. It is a document which is too important not to get absolutely right. Or is my view tainted because I am a solicitor? Perhaps there are those who think that there should be less regulation in the legal world and that it should be the choice of the individual as to whether they choose to use the services of a will writer.
I would be interested to hear your views.
To read more about this author - Shaun Parry-Jones, click here
It appears there are two tiers of advice available:
1. Solicitors with the training and regulation
2. A steadily growing industry of unqualified and unregulated will writers and probate service providers.
All of the assets that you have worked for and built up over your life are governed by your will. It is a document which is too important not to get absolutely right. Or is my view tainted because I am a solicitor? Perhaps there are those who think that there should be less regulation in the legal world and that it should be the choice of the individual as to whether they choose to use the services of a will writer.
I would be interested to hear your views.
To read more about this author - Shaun Parry-Jones, click here
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