Where there’s a will there’s also a way to con

Death, much like politics and religion, is not widely mentioned in polite society. Ironically it is the only inevitable fact of life that for the most part is ignored. This apparent ignorance is evident in recent research that shows a staggering 60 per cent of people die without making a will. Consequently, in some situations this means loved ones are left with no inheritance and furthermore, it can often lead to the government cashing in on the value of their worldly possessions.

It appears that many people avoid making a will because they think it’s complicated and expensive. But as some unfortunate individuals have discovered, since the late 1980’s when will writing was no longer retained to solicitors only, it is in fact the false predatory firms specialising in will writing that can arrange to plunder their estate even before they pass away.

In July 2011 the Legal Services Board (LSB), having given due consideration to the advice they received from their consumer panel, began a statutory investigation aimed at finding the best way to protect consumers from false or misleading will writing and probate services. As a result, the LSB is recommending to the government that regulation is re-imposed in the form of licensed activity by legal professionals under the 2007 Legal Services Act.

An associate working at a highly established solicitors firm said of the situation: ‘I strongly recommend your will is prepared by a solicitor or legal professional so you have the peace of mind knowing you are dealing with an expert who can advise on all the circumstances affecting your estate.’

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