DIY wills 'should not be allowed'

The culture of 'DIY wills' should come to an end to ensure people are compiling documents that hold significant legal water, it has been claimed.

That is the opinion of Bromsgrove lawyer Maria Shakespeare, who has said that the rise in the number of people writing a will over the internet that later have a negative impact on their loved ones needs to stop.

She told the Birmingham Mail that writing a will involves many complex areas and misunderstanding any of these aspects can bring "years of needless heartache" to families, as well as lots of stress.

"We're seeing a growing number of people coming to us, some in tears, when they find that after a relative has passed away and their DIY wills have failed because of some complications which only come to light after their deaths," she explained.

Ms Shakespeare, who estimated that 60 per cent of British adults do not have a will, also pointed to a recent call to action from the Legal Services Ombudsman urging consumers to only use reputable organisations when writing a will.

Published by Phil Hammond