We often highlight the dangers of using unregulated Will writers when making arrangements to deal with your assets after death. But an article in the Law Gazette this week made the dangers all the more significant, after it was reported that an un-regulated Will-writer has been jailed for 14 months after duping 130 people. The fraudster, Walter Ventriglia, from Berkshire, had set up a Will-writing firm called Legacy and Law. He was writing to clients, to advise them that their Wills were invalid due to a recent change in the law (there hadn’t been a change in the law) and that they would need to pay him between £30 and £60 to have their Wills updated. In addition, Mr Ventriglia was running a Wills storage company called UK Will Register, which claimed to store client’s Wills safely and securely in a facility in London. In reality, they were in his airing cupboard. He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 19 August having pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading contrary to section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006. This case highlights once again the potential pitfalls of using an unregulated Will writer. Will writers are not regulated in the same way that qualified and experienced solicitors are, so if things go wrong, there is little redress at the moment. Professionals, such as solicitors and legal executives, are regulated, have relevant qualifications, undergo continual training, must be insured and provide redress if things were to go wrong. For more information on making your Will, we have a dedicated website, www.4willsandprobate.co.uk. By wills and probate solicitor, Rob Gore
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