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Follow on Google News | Frazer Coogans Solicitors welcome regulation of non-lawyer will writersLeading Ayrshire lawyer Norman Geddes, senior partner at Ayr-based Frazer Coogans Solicitors, has welcomed proposed new legislation by the Scottish Parliament which will regulate the activities of non-lawyer will writers in Scotland.
Amendments to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill have been lodged by Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing. Norman Geddes commented: “This is a most welcome change to the Bill. “The interaction of the Law of Succession, Family Law and Tax Law is very complex, and can give rise to unexpected and unwanted results if a Will is not drafted with great care and with a full knowledge not just of the law, but also of the family background. “As a result of changes in modern society, the traditional nuclear family is no longer the norm. Separation, divorce, remarriage, cohabitation and adoption are all much more common nowadays, and all have a potential impact upon the distribution of a person’s estate. “Drafting of a Will without expert knowledge of the law and a clear understanding of the family background can lead to disastrous results. These can include increased tax liability or, worse, the wrong people inheriting money or assets, and the possibility that cherished family members unexpectedly lose out financially.” The proposed amendment to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill follows a consultation process, and would apply a set of regulatory rules, enforcement measures and sanctions to ensure that non-lawyer will writers conform to acceptable industry practice. It will bring to an end an era where consumers have been vulnerable to non-regulated practices which are often unnecessarily expensive. One example of this was when an elderly client was charged £1,000 for a straightforward will in a non inheritance tax estate. That client was driven to her bank by the will writer to withdraw the money in cash to pay the fee. In another case, consumers wanting a will have been sold specialised services they do not require. In some cases they are being persuaded to pay up to £2,400 when a simple will costing £150 would suffice. Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said: “That is why we intend to regulate non-lawyer will writers, and why I have lodged amendments to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill to provide for such regulation. “A number of persons and organisations have made representations to us about non-lawyer will writers, providing examples of poor practice. These include lack of skill and competence, cold calling, and advice based on English rather than Scottish law. “We are very concerned that some non-lawyer will writers may be exploiting the lack of regulation to the detriment of the consumer in Scotland. “The regulation will continue to allow non-lawyers to provide a will writing service, but will protect consumers by ensuring that such will writers are subject to robust regulatory rules, enforcement measures and sanctions. However, we will not regulate individuals preparing their own will, with or without a DIY pack, including ‘deathbed’ As well as individual instances of poor practice, it is possible to identify some main themes, including the following: * lack of skill and competence * poor knowledge of inheritance tax * advice based on English rather than Scottish law * low advertised costs translating into substantial fees through bait and switch and tying in of other services * cold-calling and unsolicited mail * lack of professional indemnity insurance, and * poor storage of wills The regulation will continue to allow non-lawyers to provide a will writing service, but, at the same time, will protect consumers, by providing a set of regulatory rules, enforcement measures and sanctions that would apply to such non-lawyers. In conclusion, Frazer Coogans Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes commented: “The fact that the Scottish Government has felt it necessary to make these proposals highlights the importance of taking professional advice from an experienced practitioner, preferably a solicitor.” Frazer Coogans Solicitors is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle. Frazer Coogans Solicitors Dalblair House 46 Dalblair Road Ayr KA7 1UQ Ayrshire, Scotland Contact: Norman Geddes, Senior Partner Tel: 01292 280499 Fax: 01292 611645 E-mail: norman.geddes@ Web: http://www.frazercoogans.co.uk/ THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire. Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of industry, commerce and business services available within the county boundaries of Ayrshire. Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel and South Ayrshire Council. and member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy. Norman Geddes, senior partner at Ayr-based Frazer Coogans Solicitors, is executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and Murdoch MacDonald, proprietor of public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services, is managing director. For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@ Website: http://www.eliteayrshire.com Founder members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle: South Ayrshire Council http://www.south- Clydesdale Bank http://www.cbonline.co.uk Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort http://www.turnberry.co.uk Ayr Racecourse http://www.ayr- Western House Hotel http://www.ayr- CKD Galbraith Property Consultants http://www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk Frazer Coogans Solicitors http://www.frazercoogans.co.uk Accident & Injury Claims Centre http://www.accidentclaims.com MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers http://www.mackaycorporate- Donald Ross Estate Agents: http://www.donaldross.co.uk William Skinner & Son Building Contractors http://www.williamskinner.co.uk Sinclair Scott Chartered Accountants http://www.sinclairscott.com Paligap Creative Agency http://www.paligap.com ARP Lorimer & Associates Architects http://www.arpl.co.uk Brunston Castle Golf Club http://www.brunstoncastle.co.uk Visimetrics http://www.visimetrics.com Fouters Restaurant http://www.fouters.co.uk Christie Financial Planning Ltd http://www.christiefp.com Allison Lightbody Waddell Chartered Surveyors http://www.alwsurveyors.com Kestrel Press http://www.kestrelpress.com Fame Publicity Services Public Relations Consultancy http://www.famepublicity.co.uk West Sound Radio http://www.westsound.co.uk http://www.westfm.co.uk Easton Property Easton Kitchens & Bathrooms Issued by: Murdoch MacDonald Fame Publicity Services 10 Miller Road AYR, Ayrshire Scotland KA7 2AY E-mail FamePublicity@ Web: http://www.famepublicity.co.uk Telephone: 01292 281498 Mobile: 07833 667322 # # # Wherever you are in the world, no other public relations consultancy, PR firm or publicity company can offer you a better or more cost-effective worldwide news distribution service, combined with search engine optimisation techniques that will drive customers and qualified sales leads to your company's website. Fame Publicity Services was founded in September 2003 by husband and wife team Lilian and Murdoch MacDonald Murdoch is one of Scotland's top PR consultants, having worked successfully in the profession for more than 35 years Use of our groundbreaking and cutting edge PR techniques is guaranteed to help your company to source new business in these difficult times. End
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