Look in the Yellow Pages or on the internet and there are any number of organisations offering to prepare your Will. Many of these services are advertised as being cheaper than using a local North Devon firm of solicitors, such as Slee Blackwell. However, comparing the service you get from a specialist firm of solicitors with the service being offered by the unqualified and unregulated Will writers is like comparing chalk with cheese. You also need to look carefully at the small print as the headline price of the Will being offered by these companies may not be the full amount you will have to pay as there are often a number of “add ons” which inflate the overall price. Cost considerations aside, what benefits do you get from having a specialist North Devon firm like us prepare your Will?

  • You get an assurance that the lawyer dealing with your Will knows their job. Many of the Will writers you see advertised are unqualified and inexperienced. Their only technical knowledge is what they have picked up by doing a speedy training course. Solicitors by contrast have been properly trained and will have an in-depth knowledge of the subject and how the various different aspects of Will preparation interlink. It is a complex area and it cannot be learned overnight or on a weekend course.
  • Solicitors are properly regulated. We are members of The Law Society and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This is not the case for unqualified Will writers who operate in an entirely unregulated environment. And if they get it wrong you may find that they are either under insured or do not have any insurance at all, leaving your loved ones and dependants without entitlement to compensation.
  • We offer a truly local service to the people of North Devon. We have a network of local offices in Barnstaple, South Molton, Bideford, Braunton and Taunton. We cover the entire North Devon region and surrounding areas including Ilfracombe, Torrington, Crediton, Bude and Minehead. If it is not convenient for you to call in to see us at one of our offices, we can arrange to see you at home. We also offer hospital and nursing home visits.
  • We will give you sensible and practical advice before drafting your Will. We will not try and sell you documents or services that you do not need. Nor will we try and use a cheap Will as a way to entrap you into buying other services at inflated prices.
  • Unlike many of the unregulated Will writers, we will not make a charge to store your Will, nor will we charge you to access it whenever you want to check anything out.
  • All the technical drafting is carried out by experienced professionals. We do not delegate the important task of drafting to unskilled members of staff.
  • We wish to establish a long and supportive relationship with our clients in North Devon. We pride ourselves on being traditional family solicitors and have acted for many local families over several generations. Unlike the “here today, gone tomorrow” Will writer, we will be there for you should you ever want to update your Will or need advice when circumstances change.
  • When we prepare a Will we consider the client’s personal circumstances as a whole so as to ensure that all relevant issues are addressed, thereby minimising the possibility of unintended consequences arising. This includes a consideration of potential claims that could be made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
  • By going to a properly qualified, fully regulated specialist solicitor you are assured of receiving a standard of service that far surpasses what you will receive from an unqualified, unregulated Will writer. Solicitors invest in training their staff and developing professional expertise so that they can provide practical considered advice and offer you the best range of options to achieve your desired outcome.

Summary of the benefits of using Slee Blackwell to prepare your Will

  • Wills drafted by specialist lawyers with up-to-date technical knowledge;
  • An individual, local service tailored to suit your specific needs;
  • Free long term secure storage with easy access;
  • Practical and sensible advice;
  • A professional service that centres on what you need rather than what makes a profit;
  • An opportunity to establish a long term relationship with a traditional firm of family solicitors;
  • The protection and peace of mind that comes from dealing with properly regulated and fully insured solicitors.