Interview with Matt Walkden, Business Owner & Professional Will Writer
Matt Walkden runs online will writing service www.wills.org.uk and has just launched an app with the aim of inspiring and enabling everyone in England and Wales to write a legal will. He told Today’s Wills and Probate’s Jane Common why Will Do — the first will writing app in the country — is the start […]
Price of average will falls under pressure from online services
Price of average single will from a Solicitor falls to £118 from £126. Average single will from a will writer also falls. The price of an average standard single will from a law firm has fallen because of increasing competition from cheap online services, according to research from IRN. According to information published by the […]
Stonebridge Group launches wills proposition with ULS Technology
Stonebridge Group, the mortgage and insurance network, has today (23rd November 2015) launched its new wills proposition for appointed representative (AR) firms via a new relationship with ULS Technology (ULS). Stonebridge will be integrating the ULS adviser system for instructing wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) into its own Revolution technology allowing easy access […]
Glass half empty (Will they, or won’t they?)
According to this week’s Tweet of the Week, less than half of people instruct a solicitor to handle probate. Yes, there is no legal requirement, but do you think the growing disputes could be reduced if a qualified professional handles the case? Will beneficiaries ever take heed and realise the potential to protect relationships and […]
Can you handle it? (Will they, or won’t they?)
It isn’t compulsory to appoint a solicitor or qualified practitioner to carry out probate, but complex cases, such as the one in this week’s tweet of the week, are becoming more frequent occurrences. As a professional within the industry, do you think it should be a legal requirement to use a specialist to handle probate? […]
Lights, camera, wills! (Will they, or won’t they?)
This week’s #SolicitorHour on Twitter, brought to you by The Law Society, has highlighted the efforts the regulator has taken to encourage people of the UK to create a will. With video being such a significant and popular form of media – will this make the difference, particularly amongst younger generations? Has your business evolved […]
The Law Superstore set to launch new comparison service for legal service providers
The Law Superstore (www.thelawsuperstore.co.uk), a new web-based comparison site for customers and legal service providers is to be launched with substantial institutional shareholder support and an experienced management team led by Matthew Briggs, former CEO of Minster Law Solicitors and Brilliant Law Solicitors. Aimed at simplifying the complex procedure of knowing which legal service is […]
Reach for the stars (Will they, or won’t they?)
This week’s tweet is all about the CILEx Practice Rights Roadshow – with events running throughout October and November. Legal professionals are said to gain knowledge into how to develop their careers and enhance earning potential through attending these events. A range of practice areas will be covered, including probate. Will you be attending? […]
Lock them up (Will they, or won’t they?)
At this year’s Society of Will Writers’ Conference, a brand new product will be launching that’s designed to keep digital legacies and sensitive information used for probate, within a safe “Vault”. What are your thoughts on such a product? Will your business integrate this type of system in order to safeguard client details? Given the […]
Online, on the line (Will they, or won't they?)
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, this week’s tweet raises the issue of online and digital assets. Your clients may not consider the value of certain accounts, photographs, messages and other forms of media. Such technological assets often form a large part of someone’s memories and forms a record of their lives. Will […]
The probate wait (Will they, or won’t they?)
This week’s tweet highlights the delays that are being caused with applications to the Probate Register when issuing grants of probate. This means the process is extended even further for bereaved families. What needs to be done to alleviate this issue – can anything be done? Will the Government ever put investment into later life […]
Crystal-clear website gains recognition for probate genealogists Anglia Research
The legal services industry has something of a reputation for confusing and bemusing clients with long, tortuous sentences and jargon. However, one specialist genealogical and people-tracing firm, which works closely with the legal sector, is bucking the trend. The Plain English Campaign has recognised probate genealogists Anglia Research under its Internet Crystal Mark scheme, for […]
Is your website effective and user-friendly?
The Society of Will Writers now offers bespoke web design services, exclusively available to all SWW members. This new service offering goes further than basic design work, with a range of supporting elements to help will writing businesses embrace a more effective and up to date marketing strategy. Alongside designing your website from as little […]
Innovate and generate (Will they, or won’t they?)
More and more firms and practices are embracing online marketing; with the introduction of websites, downloadable client documentation, and the use of social media, with an aim to invite potential clients to use their services. Wills and probate firm, Clutton Cox have recently announced the launch of their new website – and many other businesses […]
Could the future provide more certainty for wills?
The UK’s most popular wills register, Certainty, continues to see growth with new firms joining its ranks daily. The benefits of a service that allows firms to register wills with an easy online system has shown a wide popularity amongst those in the wills and probate industry. The company boasts impressive numbers, stating that over […]
e-know.net issue warning to the will writing and probate industry against using unsecured emails
e-know.net, the leading provider of outsourced IT services in the legal sector has issued a warning to the Industry against using unsecured emails. Misuse of client funds and bogus law firms were identified as key risks in the SRA’s Risk Outlook (2014 / 2015) and in 2013 alone the SRA had 549 reports of bogus […]
What would you advise? (Will they, or won’t they?)
This week’s tweet is a consumer query about whether or not they need to use a probate professional. Would you always advise people use a specialist, no matter how small the estate – or where would you draw the line? What would you say in this particular case? Please share your thoughts in the comment […]
Untapped resource? – Will they, or won’t they?
Social media channels continue to be one of the greatest untapped resources of many will writers, probate practitioners, and estate planners. There are regularly potential clients who are looking for particular service providers in their local area. To find them, all it takes is a simple search! Do you integrate social media into your business […]
Common sense IT security
Craig Matthews of the Legal Software Suppliers Association gives some practical tips on IT security and how to educate your staff to minimise security risks to your practice. The most frequently used passwords are 123456 and password. Others often used include QWERTY and abc123. For passwords that require eight characters the most common one is […]
Silly, silly probate! – Will they, or won’t they?
This week’s social media focus is of the comical kind, though when you break it down, there are a lot of questions that can be asked. It’s regularly a topic of conversation on social media – is probate really required and how can consumers come to this conclusion? Another issue that is raised by this […]