We look at the growing problem of Will writers charging exorbitant fees for Will storage
We were recently instructed to prepare Wills for a married couple who had previously been on the verge of making their Wills through a Will writing company.
They told us that they had been approached by a salesman from the will writing company at a local farmer’s market. The approach was totally unsolicited and the salesman arranged an appointment for a representative of the company to visit the couple at their home for a further discussion. He gave them a rough estimate of costs – in the region of £150 – which they thought was reasonable enough.
The visit took place as planned and after several cups of tea and a packet of custard creams it was very nearly midnight before he left, by which time the proposed charges for making the Wills had risen to an astonishing £1,000.
Every aspect of the meeting, it would seem, was designed to extract as much cash as possible from the clients.
On top of their fees for preparing the Wills the company proposed to charge £70 per year just for storing them.
The Wills were not in any way complicated. Nor did they involve complex legal issues or intricate trusts. The estates were modest and would not be taxable. In short they were absolutely typical, bog standard husband and wife Wills. There is no way in our professional opinion that the proposed charges could be justified and the whole sorry story illustrates the serious problems being posed by unregulated will writing companies.
Fortunately the clients decided to sleep on it before signing anything and didn’t proceed.
At Slee Blackwell Solicitors we offer a clear estimate of the costs involved in making a Will at the outset. There are no hidden charges or cheeky extras. The figure you are quoted is the figure you pay.
We estimate the average cost of mirror Wills for a couple with a non-taxable estate (ie currently holding assets worth less than £650,000 for a married couple) would be in the region of £260 plus Vat. Our electronic storage of the file carries a one off flat fee of £10.00 plus VAT.
If you are interested in making a Will call us on FREEPHONE 0800 052 3620 or email us at [email protected].
