Scaremongering by Will Writers
‹ Back to list 02 Jul 10
Be aware of Will Writing firms who tell you that your Will is invalid because it is not signed and witnessed on each page with the pages being numbered. The claim is that the Probate Registry will object to any Wills that do not meet these criteria.
This is a false warning. The Probate Registry confirm that no such ruling has been made.
Tony Hetherington, “The Readers’ Champion” wrote in the Mail on Sunday on the 20th December 2009, “are they all in danger of being rejected? Will millions of people die intestate? Will they heck. Legacy and Laws’ letter is false, irresponsible, rubbish and can only have been issued in an attempt to squeeze more cash out of the firm’s existing, often elderly, customers. It is quite simply untrue”.
We have seen Wills made by Wills Writing firms who have simply got the terms of the Will wrong before charging a higher fee than advertised. The Will has then had to be corrected by a solicitor at further cost.
The moral of the story: get proper legal advice from solicitors who are members of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and who know how best to achieve what you want in a Will at a fair and reasonable cost.
Melanie Pratlett
Partner
Wills, Estates and Trust
