Getting my will updated by "Will Writer"

[DXP55]

I am having a new will drawn up by a company locally who specialise in these sort of things.

They are a member of "The Society of Will Writers" - I have looked up this society and they are listed. The Will Writers also have a Limited Company Number of 7098054.

Is there anyone who can confirm the above society is a legitimate society ?
and the Will Writer company registration no is bona fida.

I must also mention this company had a table at entrance to a supermarket touting for business so should I be aware or cancel the appointment.

I am useless at looking for finer details on this sort of thing so any help or info would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

 

[antijoke]

Well the company registration number shows these details on Companies house:

EQUITY WILL WRITERS LIMITED
CLARENCE HOUSE
30 QUEEN STREET
MARKET DRAYTON
SHROPSHIRE
TF9 1PS

What's wrong with a table in an entrance to a supermarket?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

I'm no legal adviser but they sounds legit to me.

 

[Mat]

Just Googling "The Society of Will Writers" brings up some results questioning the regulation of will writing and the self-regulation of said society...

 

[Cosimo]

What's wrong with a table in an entrance to a supermarket?

Nothing if it's got a good offer on it.

 

[dbmzk1]

I just did mine myself, don't get why you'd pay to make one!

 

[cheesyboy]

Will writing isn't a particularly highly skilled area.

In fact, I was reviewing my in-laws' wills just this weekend. They had been drawn up by the local solicitors a few years ago, who had made a right mess of it. Mother-in-law had the bulk of hers paying out to The Trustees, instead of split between the specified beneficiaries (who were not trustees), and Father-in-law's residual assets were being split between mother-in-law's children (some of whom were from previous marriage, and were not supposed to be included in the will at all).

Fortunately, they have survived long enough that we can get them corrected!

 

[DXP55]

Will writing isn't a particularly highly skilled area.

In fact, I was reviewing my in-laws' wills just this weekend. They had been drawn up by the local solicitors a few years ago, who had made a right mess of it. Mother-in-law had the bulk of hers paying out to The Trustees, instead of split between the specified beneficiaries (who were not trustees), and Father-in-law's residual assets were being split between mother-in-law's children (some of whom were from previous marriage, and were not supposed to be included in the will at all).

Fortunately, they have survived long enough that we can get them corrected!

So it seems a good will writer is needed - we had Solicitor the last time.

Thank you all for posting - The company that "anticonscience" came up with is one I am looking at - Nothing is wrong with a table at supermarket provided they are not shysters, which is why I have asked question and trying to make sure they are above board..

Thanks

Dave

 

[Nikias]

An advantage of going to a solicitors' firm is you (or the beneficiaries) can sue them on their PI insurance if they get it wrong. And they are less likely to in the first place.

How much is this company quoting you? Are they regulated by the SRA?

 

[therealpieman]

The only advice I have is don't make them or a solicitors executers of the will. If they suggest they are then run away.

 

[B@Th*nG]

An advantage of going to a solicitors' firm is you (or the beneficiaries) can sue them on their PI insurance if they get it wrong. And they are less likely to in the first place.

How much is this company quoting you? Are they regulated by the SRA?

I hear suing solicitors is a piece of cake

B@

 

[DXP55]

The only advice I have is don't make them or a solicitors executers of the will. If they suggest they are then run away.

The reasons why ??

My wife and myself are the end of line so after we have gone we don't really care - most will go to Charities and they can sue the company.

The more I go into this the more I don't trust anyone - it's becoming a nightmare.

Dave

 

[cheesyboy]

Solicitors are, inherently, some of the least trustworthy people you'll ever meet. They hold an awful lot of cash, and have a history of stealing it.

That's why they have to have a special Law Society audit, which involves reporting every little bit of bad practice in record keeping and client money movements. This gives some assurance as to the safety of your money. If only a little. They aren't all crooks, many aren't, but a lot are less than fully competent when it comes to correct management of client funds.

Appointing a competent trustee/executor who will be able to understand some of the transactions involved is a good safety net.

 

[Nikias]

Solicitors are, inherently, some of the least trustworthy people you'll ever meet. They hold an awful lot of cash, and have a history of stealing it.

That's why they have to have a special Law Society audit, which involves reporting every little bit of bad practice in record keeping and client money movements. This gives some assurance as to the safety of your money. If only a little. They aren't all crooks, many aren't, but a lot are less than fully competent when it comes to correct management of client funds.

Appointing a competent trustee/executor who will be able to understand some of the transactions involved is a good safety net.

There are quite a lot of character and credit checks before you join the roll. Any kind of dishonesty, even a caution, will permanently exclude you from joining the profession. Like other regulated professions, solicitors are held to a higher standard than unregulated people.

Not sure how that makes them 'inherently dishonest'. A bad personal experience?

The normal thing to do is appoint both a personal and a professional executor, each of whom you trust.

 

[big_white_dog84]

How much would it typically cost for a 'normal' couple with children to get a will drawn up?

 

[cheesyboy]

There are quite a lot of character and credit checks before you join the roll. Any kind of dishonesty, even a caution, will permanently exclude you from joining the profession. Like other regulated professions, solicitors are held to a higher standard than unregulated people.

Not sure how that makes them 'inherently dishonest'. A bad personal experience?

The normal thing to do is appoint both a personal and a professional executor, each of whom you trust.

I've performed a few solicitor audits

To be fair, the ones I've come across have been more incompetent than outright dishonest but, either way, it's client money at risk. And those heavy handed audits are there for good reason

 

[Participant]

Thought op had found someone on the internet called 'Will Writer' to arrange his affairs.

 

[DXP55]

Although I have asked a will writer to come and see us I don't think we have an agreement to use them - As we are the last oldies of family I am finding it difficult to find an executer for our affairs.

I asked the Will Writers what they charged to be our executers and reply was £95 PER HOUR + VAT - so logically if we are both dead they can drag their heels and string it out as long as they like - So now the hunt is on for a distant relative who I could trust and someone else who is much younger than we are.

This has turned from a quick chat at supermarket entrance to a bloody nightmare. - I have put back the visit by Will Writers for a month and will start ringing local solicitors although I am not expecting much difference in price range.

Dave

 

[Skillmister]

I just did mine myself, don't get why you'd pay to make one!

So it's done properly.

An advantage of going to a solicitors' firm is you (or the beneficiaries) can sue them on their PI insurance if they get it wrong. And they are less likely to in the first place.

This.

Solicitors are, inherently, some of the least trustworthy people you'll ever meet. They hold an awful lot of cash, and have a history of stealing it.

That's why they have to have a special Law Society audit, which involves reporting every little bit of bad practice in record keeping and client money movements. This gives some assurance as to the safety of your money. If only a little. They aren't all crooks, many aren't, but a lot are less than fully competent when it comes to correct management of client funds.

Appointing a competent trustee/executor who will be able to understand some of the transactions involved is a good safety net.

Brilliant.


@OP, get it done properly, go to a solicitor.

 

[Nikias]

I hear suing solicitors is a piece of cake

B@

Hah, it depends. I wouldn't fancy taking them on on an employment tribunal, but professional negligence isn't bad actually (hence why a lot of people try it on). They are insured and if your claim has merit, in most cases the insurer will settle. Much better than suing some uninsured individual without assets, or a firm based in the BVI that was wound up two years before you (or beneficiaries in this case) bring a claim...

I've performed a few solicitor audits

To be fair, the ones I've come across have been more incompetent than outright dishonest but, either way, it's client money at risk. And those heavy handed audits are there for good reason

My practice includes professional negligence and solicitors are no more incompetent than any other profession. I have done cases involving negligent solicitors, barristers, doctors, dentists, surveyors, architects, engineers, accountants, tax advisers, bankers, IFAs, and insurers...everyone cocks up sometimes.

You might get a few dodgy ones, but per capita solicitors are more honest than the average man on the street. E.g., around 25% of people in the UK have convictions - very few will be solicitors because a criminal convictions means i) not being admitted or ii) being struck off.

Although I have asked a will writer to come and see us I don't think we have an agreement to use them - As we are the last oldies of family I am finding it difficult to find an executer for our affairs.

I asked the Will Writers what they charged to be our executers and reply was £95 PER HOUR + VAT - so logically if we are both dead they can drag their heels and string it out as long as they like - So now the hunt is on for a distant relative who I could trust and someone else who is much younger than we are.

This has turned from a quick chat at supermarket entrance to a bloody nightmare. - I have put back the visit by Will Writers for a month and will start ringing local solicitors although I am not expecting much difference in price range.

Dave

Being regulated, insured, traceable and familiar with the work means a good probate solicitor will also be a good professional executor in most cases. Having both a personal and professional executor (or more) is a good balance and each will be able to keep check on the other. Appoint people you trust.

£95 could be reasonable depending on whom you're getting - for comparison, my headline (commercial) rate is £295 plus VAT. You can always negotiate on fees too, remember. I personally wouldn't pay £95 for an unqualified person at high street rates, for example. No personal experience of 'will writers', but you can get a straightforward will done on a fixed fee for around £50-£100 by a solicitor (depending on where you live).