Consumers are being urged to be vigilant and to make their Will with solicitors after an investigation proved they were at risk of losing thousands of pounds following a boom in the private Will-writing business.

Private Will-writing companies currently account for 10% of Wills made. These firms often do not employ qualified solicitors but people whose only qualification is to have taken a short course in Will writing. One of the most concerning differences is that solicitors are governed and regulated by law, Will writing firms are not.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community and Safety Protection said: “Anyone who is charging a fee for writing a Will must be regulated. They must have appropriate qualifications and they must have proper indemnity in place. At present none of this protection exists.”

Consumers are also encountering hidden costs when making their Wills with private companies; a recent investigation by Panorama uncovered cases where fees were stated to be £75-£100 for a Will but soared to thousands of pounds after large percentage fees for handling Estates after death were included.

The investigation also revealed that some beneficiaries were not receiving their full entitlement and some were having money stolen.

Stephen Green, Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate at Fosters Solicitors warned of the danger: “These companies are unqualified, unregulated and uninsured. We have had several instances of clients approaching us with horrific details of excessive and hidden charges. Many of these companies charge an annual storage fee which over a period of years will add several thousand pounds to the initial cost. Most solicitors do not charge anything for storage.”

For further information about the industry guidelines and to see regulated practitioners please visit www.legalservicesboard.co.uk or www.lawsociety.org.uk