Online Will Writing Services and Pre-paid Probate Plans to be Investigated

In the UK anyone can legally draft a Will document. This means someone with no legal qualifications or experience in this area of law can set up in business and offer Will preparation services. This unregulated area of law is to be investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as consumers have been in touch with them indicating issues with the services provided by some of these firms.?The CMA said consumers had been attracted by ‘extremely low’ initial fees for advice but had not been warned about the way costs could escalate ‘significantly’.?The CMA have also received reports of consumers being subjected to pressure selling tactics and coercion.?

Also coming under scrutiny are pre-paid probate plans where consumers pay set fees up front for their probate process.?The idea behind the plans is that when someone dies their family will not have to pay anything for their affairs to be finalised.?However, as well as looking at the pressure sales tactics which have been employed by some firms, the CMA are concerned about lack of transparency about what the plans cover.?There have also been instances of plans being sold unnecessarily.?

While increased competition and ease of access to legal advice for consumers is a good thing and can make the legal market more accessible, when dealing with preparation of Wills, advice about tax planning or ensuring your wishes are met when you die, unregulated, unscrupulous parties can cause untold issues for your family after you have gone.?Getting fully regulated advice from a professional, legally qualified person is the best way to protect your assets and make sure you do not leave a mess behind for your family to have to unpick.?Cheaper headline rates never tell the whole story and sometimes it really is a case of you get what you pay for.

The CMA is asking any consumer who has been affected by these issues to contact them by 4th September 2023.