What to look out for when choosing a Will writing service?

Writing a will is an important matter and choosing a competent and reputable Will writing service is vital if you want the peace of mind that your affairs have been properly put in order for when you are no longer here.

The Legal Services Board recently carried out a mystery shopping exercise to assess the level of service and the quality of Wills that are being written. The results of their finding were somewhat shocking with one in five wills prepared by solicitors and will writing companies being criticised by expert assessors.*

It is therefore important that when choosing a Will writing service, you choose one that is provided by a professional and trusted company.

The Will Writing world can be a confusing place with a growing number of companies offering services as well as an increase in different ways those services are delivered. Choosing a company to write your Will is not an easy task and to choose a company simply on the basis of cost alone is unwise.

Below is a list of things you should find out about the Will writing service you are looking to choose:

About the company

Are they a company you can trust?
How long have they been established?
Can you be sure they will still be around long into the future?
Are they adequately insured?
Are their employees competent?

It is important to choose a company that is reputable, is well established and likely to still be around when you die. Another important thing to find out about the company is whether they are adequately insured should a mistake be made in your Will and one of your beneficiaries detrimentally affected.

Price

Is the cost of writing your Will fixed?
Are there any hidden costs?
Is the storage of your Will included in the quoted price?

It is important to find out what the full cost of writing your Will is before going ahead as not all companies work on a fixed fee basis. You need to fully understand all the costs involved before making a decision. Beware of companies who charge hourly rates or for letters and phone calls they make to you as these costs can soon add up. If a Will storage facility is offered make sure this will be in a fire and water proof facility and make sure you check whether there are any ongoing charges associated with this. Some companies charge a seemingly small yearly fee for storage which can soon add up, especially if you are still young, fit and healthy.

Service

Will you be able to get in touch with someone outside normal office house?
Will you be provided with a dedicated Will writing expert who you can contact directly?
Will you have access to free ongoing advice and support once your Will has been written?
Will your family and loved ones have access to free advice and support when you have gone?
Will the Will writing service you choose write themselves into your Will as executors and charge you a fee if you want to remove them?

It is important to fully understand the service you will receive so you know what to expect and the level of support available to you. There are many Will writing services which simply require you to fill in a form with your wishes and they then go away and write your Will without discussing your circumstances with you. Having the wrong type of Will for your circumstances could mean your wishes are not adequately recorded and may cause problems when you die.

Also, you should beware of companies who insist on naming themselves as an executor in your Will or charge you to simply remove them from it. The reason some companies do this is that when you die they will automatically have legal authority to deal with your estate and will charge your estate for their service. It is therefore very important to find out exactly what their fees are before naming them as an executor and also to understand whether your family or friends could carry out that role instead. The Co-operative Legal Services have specialist Will writers to help you when making a will in the UK. Writing a will is an important matter that needs to be done properly to ensure it’s legal and valid.