SMP Calls for Greater Regulation of Will Writing Solicitors

Thu, 12 Aug 2010

A Scottish minister has called on stricter regulation on the private will-writing industry amidst reports that consumers are losing out to fee-hungry solicitors . Though the Legal Services Board (LSB), the organisation responsible for overseeing all legal services in England in Wales, has indicated it is monitoring whether greater regulation is needed, the Scottish minister for community and safety protection has called for more immediate action.

Fergus Ewing MSP says the rest of Britain must follow Scotland’s example of bringing in legislation to offer consumers greater protection. There have been cases across the UK where law firms advertise cheap will writing services, though consumers soon become duped into paying hidden costs in the form of lawyers legal fees . There have even been reports of beneficiaries having their payouts stolen by erroneous solicitors.

According to Neil Hollingsworth, part of the Economic Crimes Unit of Lincolnshire Police, part of the problem lies in the fact that in the majority of cases, beneficiaries are not aware that they are due to receive any money, so they would not query the legal firms in question.
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