Don’t let just anyone write out your will (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Fellowship’s campaign to safeguard people

3:49pm Wednesday 24th March 2010 in Business By Mike Pryce

A WORCESTERSHIRE organisation has launched a nationwide campaign for the regulation of the will writing industry in a bid to safeguard consumers.

The Fellowship of Professional Willwriters and Probate Practitioners, which is based in Chequers Close, Malvern, wants to highlight that will writers are not currently regulated and people should be cautious about who they invite into their homes.

Rita Leat, chief executive officer of the fellowship, said: ‘It is outrageous the will writing industry is still unregulated. This means that anyone can set up as a will writer and advertise their services without having any training, qualifications or indeed insurance.

“We at the fellowship are lobbying for will writing to become qualified and the subject to a strict code of conduct that is backed by appropriate sanctions. Consumers can only be assured of this if they choose individuals who are members of the fellowship. No other professional body offers nationally accredited training and a full regulatory board to monitor members.”

The organisation met with Conservative parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, Harriett Baldwin, who has pledged to support the campaign.

She said: “I was concerned to learn there are order-takers calling on vulnerable people offering to write wills for a fee when they don’t have to have any specialist knowledge in this technical area.”