Executor Who Stole From Estate Faces Prison

29 July 2010

An executor who stole more than £80,000 from the estate of a client faces a jail sentence for his crime. The man, who operated as a ‘will writer’, also faces a confiscation order against his assets. Much of the money was used to finance a luxury cruise for him and his wife and for gambling.

The theft was discovered by a cancer charity, which was due to benefit under the client’s will and which informed the police when no payment was forthcoming.

“Stories like this involving non-solicitor will writers are all too frequent. Unlike solicitors, unregulated will writers do not have to be legally qualified or insured. As there is no regulatory body, there is no mechanism for bringing a complaint, and without insurance there may be no means of redress should things go wrong. Solicitors, on the other hand, are professionally qualified to do the work, are bound by a stringent code of professional conduct and, in the very rare event of a loss to a client, clients are protected by the solicitor’s professional indemnity insurance, which is compulsory.”

If you are seeking to write or amend your will, we provide a professional service at a reasonable cost and give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your will has been drafted by qualified specialists.

For more information on this subject or any other legal matter,
please contact us:

Tonbridge: 01732 770660
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