Why you should use a Solicitor to draft a Will rather than a DIY kit

During the pandemic, making a Will virtually became essential to both ensure Wills were made without delay but whilst adhering to social distancing.

“Why should you use a Solicitor to draft a will rather than an unregulated service or do-it-yourself kit?” #Solicitor Chat asked.

A Member of our Wills team explains:

A Will is an extremely important document, and making a Will is an extremely important task. This will have major implications on your loved ones. Anybody can set up as a Will writer and charge for the service. There is no industry wide regulation for Will Writers.

The Law Society has recently called for urgent regulation of will writers because of the varying nature of their training and expertise. There are good will writers out there, but it can be very difficult to determine which is which. Some have only a rudimentary understanding of wills and may not understand the complexities of tax planning, trusts and other areas associated with giving proper advice on estate planning.

The idea of paying for a Will can put people off, but it is essential not to opt for cost over quality. In the last few years unregulated Will Writers have received media attention for all the wrong reasons, leaving customers facing turmoil for poor Will writing.

Solicitors by contrast have professional qualifications and are heavily regulated by The Law Society. They have indemnity insurance and offer a much broader range of legal knowledge across associated areas such as tax planning and property law.

Solicitors also offer services such as free secure storage of your Will.