The willwriting industry - a free for all?
No willwriting company regulates the willwriting industry despite what some companies claim on their websites. At the moment it is an unregulated industry rather like estate agents.
The Fellowship, which is not a willwriting company but a membership body, believes that the willwriting industry should be regulated to give you, the consumer, the best protection.
The Legal Services Board does not currently regulate or approve any willwriting company to carry out willwriting or probate activities. The Fellowship, on behalf of its members, is applying to be the regulator of probate activities for its members and is lobbying Parliament for willwriting to become a regulated activity. Should the Fellowship be chosen by the LSB to be a Regulator, you, the consumer, can rest assured that your willwriter will be properly trained, carries insurance and abides by a strict code of conduct.
Did you know?
The Fellowship already has
(a) a requirement that willwriters have personal liability insurance, a clear Criminal Records Bureau check and references, and
(b) an independent regulatory board to set high standards for willwriters to follow, and
(c) an academic board to create nationally accredited BTEC training for our members?
So what does this mean for the consumer?
It means that until willwriting becomes a regulated activity, you should ensure your willwriter carries adequate professional indemnity insurance in case something goes wrong, is CRB checked and is properly trained.
What next?
We are continuing to lobby Parliament for willwriting to be regulated. Why not join our campaign to persuade the Government to regulate willwriting? Visit our website again soon to see the launch of our No.10 petition so you can have your say.
In the meantime, make sure your willwriter is a Fellowship member.