A leading regional law firm is urging people to seek professional advice to write a Will, ensuring they don’t leave behind significant complications and distress for loved ones.

Jack Robinson, a senior associate in the Private Client team at mfg Solicitors said it is vital to consult trusted professionals and warned that using unqualified Will writers can lead to costly costs, delays and anguish for relatives.

Statistics show that more than half of adults in the UK don’t currently have a Will, but Jack has warned that having a clearly worded and legally-sound Will was crucial.

He said: “Creating a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your wishes are respected. A Will ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes, that your family and dependants are looked after, and you avoid unnecessary disputes.

“A well-drafted Will created by a qualified professional will look at your estate holistically. This means considering all assets, including property, savings, investments, pensions, and even digital assets which may not form part of the estate.”

Jack said increasingly complex modern family structures involving stepchildren, half-siblings, multiple marriages and cohabiting partners, made it more important for Wills to be drawn up with expert advice.

His warning comes following a recent court case involving the estate of the late Veronica Clarke, whose poorly worded and ambiguous Will led to costly and distressing litigation for loved ones.

He added: “In the case of Veronica Clarke the Will was badly drafted by an unqualified Will writer. There was a complex family tree of 17 defendants involved in the case and the judge pointed out that the dispute had caused some of them untold anguish, substantial expense and destroyed family relationships.

“While unqualified Will writers might appear to offer a cheaper alternative, there are always hidden costs due to add-ons and unnecessary upsells.

“Working with a qualified Will writer such as a solicitor, legal executive or members of the Institute of Professional Will Writers, ensures that people’s wishes are honoured and their family is protected.

“People may also want to seek advice from members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers or choose a firm that are members of the Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme.”

To discuss your Will, readers can contact Jack through jack.robinson@mfgsolicitors.com on 01952 641651. Further information can be found on www.mfgsolicitors.com.