Will writing services to come under tougher scrutiny

Which? has joined calls to ensure that will writing services are operating under higher standards.

The organisation has welcomed a report earlier this year by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) which called for everyone in the industry to be regulated and properly qualified.

Mark McLaren, Which? principal advocate, said: "'Which? also wants to see higher standards from all will writers whether they are solicitors or work for a will writing firm, so we welcome STEP's statement."

John Wotton, president of the Law Society, added that regulation of will writing is the "only appropriate means of protecting the consumer" and it supports the recommendation that it should become a reserved activity.

He stated that writing a will is "one of the most important financial and personal decisions" that someone can make, and public protection should reflect this.

Recently, the importance of writing a will was highlighted by figures from the Office of National Statistics, which reported that the number of unmarried couples in the UK was making up just less than 50 per cent of the population.

Published by Rob Stanworth