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MP in plea over will writing
Feb 21 2008 By Jonathan Walker
A WEST Midlands MP who used to make her living writing wills has warned the industry attracts "the incompetent, the dishonest and the fly-by-night operator".
Lorely Burt (Lib Dem, Solihull) called for tight regulations to prevent people setting themselves up as professional will writers without proper training.
But she admitted she had drafted wills for customers despite having no legal qualifications before she became an MP in 2005.
Ms Burt said she had received training from a private company, and the wills she helped draft were sent to legal professionals to be checked.
But she warned that many will writers had no training at all.
She added: "Many consumers do not appreciate the difference between a will writer and a solicitor.
"In fact, many assume that a will, being a legal document, can be drafted only by a solicitor."
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