Wolferstans goes live with Wills register

“Certainty.co.uk, the UK’s first ‘on-line registry for Wills’ has launched in Plymouth with Wolferstans Solicitors as a Founder Member, after almost 20 years’ of lobbying for a register of this nature”, says Samantha Buckthought, Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate at Wolferstans Solicitors. The register enables rapid registration of a Will and the ability to search for lost or missing Wills.

In a recent public survey commissioned by Certainty, 67% of people surveyed were unaware of the location of their parents’ Will. Certainty.co.uk is launching with a unique offer whereby 12.8 million free of charge Will registrations are available to the general public to be used in association with solicitors. Wolferstans is naturally participating in this launch and offering free registration to any of their clients who have made their Wills with Wolferstans prior to 5^th October 2009.

If you’re one of the 67% of people who don’t know where your own or your parents’ Will might be, then you may one day be glad of this Will register which has just been launched and which can easily locate a Will when needed. Over time circumstances change, you might move house or enter a new relationship and keeping your Will safe may be the last thing on your mind. But now your solicitor can register your Will with certainty.co.uk and this will allow your family to locate your Will when you pass away and ensure that your last wishes are respected.

Certainty’s Chairman, Kevin Martin and Law Society President 2005/06, holds the firm belief that Certainty provides a definitive solution supported by technological investment and consultations with key legal figures. Kevin, who is spearheading the initiative says, “We believe Certainty is the first organisation to actually provide a compliant solution to the chronic problem of Will registration.”

What happens if you don’t register?

If your Will is not found or worse still, if you haven’t made one, then your loved ones may not receive the inheritance that you would wish but would get the proportions laid down by law, and of course family disputes can occur. So for your own peace of mind, the best advice is to make or review your Will with your solicitor and ask them to register it with Certainty.

The recent explosion of unregulated Will writers, online and home do-it-yourself Will

packs is confusing and these Wills cannot be registered, only those prepared by a solicitor can be registered.

Samantha Buckthought of Wolferstans says: “Everyone who cares what happens to their assets after they die should make a Will and review it regularly especially when they experience a major life change such getting married, having children or moving house. Having your Will registered is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones – our clients will now have the peace of mind that their loved ones can easily locate their Will when the time comes.”

Wolferstans is recognised as a specialist in all areas of Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Elderly Client work. We have a dedicated team with extensive experience in acting for clients across a broad range of situations which include the preparation of Wills, Court of Protection and Appointment of Deputies, Administration of Estates, Powers of Attorney and Inheritance Tax Planning.   

Contact Wolferstans Solicitors for more information with regard to registering your Will.

Samantha Buckthought - 01752 292216 Email: sbuckthought@wolferstans.com  or Melanie Cotterill - 01752 292244 Email: mcotterill@wolferstans.com