This conference is designed to update solicitors, barristers and probate practitioners on current wills and probate issues and will provide invaluable advice on practical as well as legal issues, pertinent to todat, from leading experts in the field.

Key Subjects

• CAPITAL TAX PLANNING LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
• DEALING WITH TRUSTS
  • USING AND ABUSING TRUSTS
  • TAX DRAFTING – TIPS AND TRAPS
• PROBLEMS IN RELATION TO JOINT PROPERTY
• PRACTICAL ISSUES WHEN MAKING INHERITANCE TAX RETURNS
• ELDERLY CLIENT UPDATE
• WILL DRAFTING & ESTATE ADMINISTRATION ISSUES

A one day course that covers most aspects of advising clients who have an Inheritance Tax problem and whether it can be resolved through careful Will planning and drafting.

PLEASE NOTE:

- DELEGATES MUST HAVE AT LEAST 12 MONTHS WILLWRITING EXPERIENCE

- PLEASE TAKE YOUR COPY OF PARKER'S MODERN WILL PRECEDENTS TO THE COURSE

A one day interactive practical workshop and examination to equip delegates to have full confidence in embracing Lasting Powers of Attorney taking clients from initial instructions through to execution and registration at the Office of the Public Guardian.

An opportunity to sit the Intitutes entrance examination either at 9.30am or at 1.30am.

This course will provide Private Client practitioners with an insight into will drafting, tax and estate planning for any client owning property in France, from the point of view of non-residents. It will cover tax implications, wills, inheritance taxes and conflicts between UK and French law. The speaker is dual qualified as a French Notaire and an English Solicitor and is now practising in France. He offers expert insight into the myriad of issues which arise on these estates and equips those attending with know how to be able to tackle these estates with confidence and to know when to refer to an expert where required, thus reducing risk.

This course will provide Private Client practitioners with an insight into the peculiarities of the Spanish probate and taxation system. The course also covers Spanish Estate Planning. It is suitable for any practitioner whose clients own property in Spain. The speaker is dual qualified as a Spanish and an English Solicitor with experience of practising in both jurisdictions. He offers expert insight into the myriad of issues which arise on these estates and equips those attending with know how to be able to tackle these estates with confidence and to know when to refer to an expert where required, thus reducing risk.

This course covers recent case law, new and pending legislation. Advice for elderly clients is a rapidly changing area of expertise and covers a wide range of subjects including rapidly changing case law, property, LPAs, Court of Protection, care funding (Local Authority and NHS) and professional conduct issues. It will also look ahead to the pending changes following the Dilnot Commission report. The detailed notes include practical examples, draft clauses, specimen letters and action points. The materials are constantly updated to provide delegates with a thorough and valuable resource of information.

Estates with assets in more than one jurisdiction are encountered frequently and can present difficult problems. This course is presented by an expert in this field and is offers both an analysis and some solutions for the issues which arise. It also looks at the conflicts of laws and tax for foreign beneficiaries. Delegates are encouraged to bring questions on estates of this nature as the basis for discussion in the course.

Wealth protection in retirement has never been more important as funding options for care come under Government scrutiny. This course identifies potential problems areas when advising elderly clients and offers practical advice, action lists and guidance on how to minimise the risks for both practitioners and the clients. It looks at the risk of financial abuse, LPAs, deputyship applications, tax advice for the elderly, long term care funding and best practice in care funding. It will also look ahead to the pending changes following the Dilnot Commission report.

Litigation arising from trusts and probate is a growing area and lawyers acting for beneficiaries, trustees and executors need to keep up to date with the evolving changes to practice and procedure.

This one day conference addresses the significant developments during the year, including the demise of Hastings-Bass, I(PFD)A claims after Ilott v Mitson and the latest developments on costs.

Adult safeguarding work in the new Court of Protection centres is booming. Many child care practitioners in both the public and private sectors are looking at diversifying their expertise to open up the possibility of new adult safeguarding work as a major new stream of income. This course is suitable as a grounding in the subject and also as a refresher and update for those already practising in it.

CLT’s Probate Problems conference is an opportunity for probate lawyers to keep on top of recent developments and hear from our team of experienced speakers on all the tricky issues which might arise in a typical caseload.

This one day conference will offer guidance on valuation issues, variation of wills and capacity issues as well as practical problems with applications and critical management issues.

We have 5 speakers covering a broad range of topics and 3.5 CPD hours available to attendees.

Continuing Health Care Funding by Tracy Creed, Probate Solicitors Ltd

The Role of the Funeral Director by Andy Hawkins, Funeral Director

"Married v Living Together" Exposing the myths & Exploring the Sharon Brassington, Woolley & Co

End of Life Care by Maxine Clarke, Family Support Team Leader at Marie Curie Solihull

IFA Opportunities for Will Writers by David Morris IFA (and our host for the day)

Andrew Robertson, Partner with W W & J McClures, will present:

“Protective Property Trusts”

Why Family Protection Trusts are much better than Protective Property Trusts from the clients point of view, the Willwriters point of view and the IFA's point of view

How to upgrade existing Protective Property Trust into Family Protection Trusts.

Does your Will drafting meet the real needs of your clients? Are you aware or are you in need of a refresher of the different ways of providing for everyday and more complex problems? Using up to date precedents from the Practical Law Company’s Private Client Service, this course offers the opportunity for you to reappraise your precedents and maybe you will be able to improve them!

Clients who have worked hard to build up or maintain the family’s financial position will be anxious to ensure that this is passed on to future generations, and not depleted by avoidable tax, or transferred outside the family on death or divorce.

This one day conference gives guidance on how to achieve this objective whether by tax planning or other options, such as the use of marital agreements and trusts.

Practical Lifetime Tax Planning

The course will focus on common practical issues: for instance how do taxpayers take advantage of the normal expenditure out of income and what, if any, “house schemes” can I recommended to clients. The course will include an update on any changes made by the 2011 Finance Bill and recent cases.

Will and Estate Administration in Practice

Contentious probate is an expanding area of practice. This course equips practitioners to advise personal representatives, beneficiaries and potential claimants with confidence and is equally suitable for contentious and non-contentious probate practitioners and civil litigators who seek a greater understanding of the issues involved. It will include a review of developments and relevant case law over the last 5 years, a consideration of preparation of cases, and practical obstacles and how to overcome them.

This is a seminar for those with responsibility for management, or training, of estates and trusts work or those solely responsible for this work in a firm. Risk management policies are mandatory in legal practices and this seminar looks at the practical implications of creating such policies for estate and trust work.

It is no longer unusual for solicitors to have to deal with clients with international backgrounds, and the problems of probate and succession which arise on their deaths are complex.

This innovative conference provides guidance on the legal framework, but also includes three practical case studies, highlighting the problems which arise in such cases, and providing a structure on how to analyse and resolve the problems.

This comprehensive 2-DAY Course will be presented by

ANDREW HASNIP - Solicitor specialising in Wills and Probate work

There is an increasing need for a reliable, efficient and reasonably priced Estate Administration Service. This Course is designed to help Willwriters meet this demand.

· Learn how to deal with estate administration with qualified guidance

· Improve your Will-writing skills by improving your understanding of Probate procedure

· Expand your practice and earnings potential

This practical course looks at all aspects of will preparation, including taking instructions, attendance notes, drafting the retainer, capacity issues, foreign property, joint property and concentrates on measures which can control and reduce risk. It will assist those attending in putting in place sound risk management policies which will contribute to improving the firm’s PI risk profile.

This practical course comprises an update on current issues affecting all lawyers who undertake Court of Protection and LPA work.

According to recent reports there is a major shortage of probate lawyers, so why not invest in training your existing staff? This seminar is suitable for training para-legals and support staff to become more hands-on fee earners.

Has your firm lost its 'legal aid contract' have conveyancing, crime, family and other areas of work 'dried up'? As a licensed conveyancer would you like to take on some probate work but are not sure you know how? Would you like to add another string to your bow? In short, secure your future and become a probate lawyer.

Designed to give a complete grounding in the law and practice of probate work this course will get you up to speed quickly and effectively. To ensure you will have all the tools that you will need the course has been extended to a full day.

Practical Lifetime Tax Planning

The course will focus on common practical issues: for instance how do taxpayers take advantage of the normal expenditure out of income and what, if any, “house schemes” can I recommended to clients. The course will include an update on any changes made by the 2011 Finance Bill and recent cases.

Will and Estate Administration in Practice

The course will also include a general update covering any significant legislative changes and case law. It will be based on the common problems encountered in practice with suggestions for their solution: appropriate precedents will be provided.

New disclosure rules for IHT: new

reporting obligations and a ‘root and

branch’ review of the taxation of trusts

and estates. We live in interesting times

where keeping up to date has never been

more important as the string of recent

negligence cases testifies. The morning

course will provide both a general update

and a consideration of common issues in

lifetime tax planning.

· TAX PLANNING REVIEW

· MAXIMISING BUSINESS PROPERTY RELIEFS

· TIPS AND TRAPS WITH WILL DRAFTING

· ADMINISTERING ESTATES and TRUSTS – RECENT CASES AND TOPICAL ISSUES

· WHERE’S THE INSURANCE POLICY? – LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PRIVATE CLIENT NEGLIGENCE

· REVIEW OF THE MENTAL CAPACITY ACT IN PRACTICE

This course is aimed at Private Client practitioners who hitherto have only tackled estate administration and accounts and who wish to develop their knowledge. It deals with the whole range of taxes: Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax, with the emphasis on clear and practical explanations of this complex area.

The calculation of tax payable on trust income and the burden of income tax and CGT on trustees and beneficiaries is often difficult to understand and even more difficult to explain.

This course provides guidance on best practice advice which should be given to clients seeking care home accommodation for an older relative, or spouse/partner, or indeed for themselves.

Nettle Hill Training & Conference Centre, Coventry CV7 9JL

A one day course that will give instruction on the basics of writing a will.

Someone who has little or no experience of the profession and wishes to find out more will find this course invaluable.

This newly updated and revised course will steer private client practitioners through the intracacies of IHT calculations for both lifetime transfers and on the estate at death and the need to appreciate that undertaking lifetime planning and probate work where IHT is payable is not just a matter of completing a few forms. The new Government is intent on recovering increased taxation revenue to meet the deficit and the rigorous penalties and disclosure regime need to be navigated with care.

Whether acting for someone who is divorced, separated or cohabiting, particular legal issues arise. Whether people like it or not, being “married” does give certain rights and create certain obligations – and ending that relationship, does not necessarily end those obligations. Similarly, couples in long-standing relationships who choose not to marry often do not understand the lack of recognition that the law gives to their condition.

Traps abound for the lawyer in such situations. Failing to consider the possibility of Inheritance Act claims by former partners, or “children” of the family, what happens to pensions and life insurance policies or the tax consequences of lifestyle decisions can lead to complaints, or even negligence claims.

This course will acquaint private client practitioners with recent developments in the areas of Will drafting, construction and interpretation, Trusts and Probate practice and related tax issues to ensure practitioners can apply these developments to their daily practice and be able to discuss the changes in an informed way with colleagues and clients. It will also look ahead to future developments

This course analyses will provisions for clients with various business interests and in particular will look at how business and agricultural property relief can be maximised and also at various common business structures, cross option agreements and succession and tax planning issues.

Various family business scenarios will be used to illustrate the options that are available to family businesses so that delegates will become aware of the kinds of issues they should consider in their role as family business advisors. The course will cover recent cases and legislative changes as well as a wide range of will provisions.

This course offers an in depth look at the process of estate administration with an emphasis on efficient planning of the work in order to deliver good client service, managing risk and minimising delays and complaints.

The deputyship regime introduced by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is presenting new challenges for people acting as deputies, and their advisers.

This one day conference has been specifically developed to address both the common problems which might arise in a typical caseload and offer guidance on all the important issues.

This course offers a fresh look at the opportunities and tools available to give pro-active advice to clients to make the most of their assets and income for their current and future needs (including family members) within the current tax regime.
The course explores tax problems, asset protection and estate planning illustrations from ‘starting out', through old age and ultimately succession.

This course provides guidance on commonly used Will clauses with the use of case studies and sample clauses to explain the benefits and pitfalls of particular drafting techniques. It also provides a practical analysis of nil rate band gifting and typical tax efficient Will structures. It looks at discretionary trusts, business property, cross border wills, exempt resides and grossing up and gifts of residue which are partially exempt.

This practical course will assist you in the preparation of Estate and Trust Accounts. Many private client practitioners have no specific training in this and, as a result, struggle to prepare detailed Accounts for their clients, causing avoidable and unnecessary anxiety and delay.

The course will give all those attending the confidence to prepare comprehensive Estate and Trust Accounts efficiently. This will avoid outsourcing and thereby also improve profitability.

Aims: A one-day course to confirm knowledge and introduce delegates to Advising the Elderly

Prerequisites: some experience in writing Wills is required

Led by Sue Ioannou this one day course will provide the specialist knowledge and understanding necessary to deal with elderly clients and to be able to deal with their concerns.

• The market for elderly clients
• Issues affecting elderly clients
• Capacity
• Care fees – the rules
• Mitigating Care Fees – through writing a Will
• Protecting the house
• Protecting cash and savings
• Pre-paid funeral plans
• Drafting Tips
• Heading off foreseeable problems

Worked examples including sample Wills

CPD Awarded = 5.5 hours

Please take along your copy of Parker’s Modern Wills Precedents

This course offers experienced practitioners the opportunity to take time out of the office and explore up to date issues in wills and trusts (both drafting and tax planning) as the law and practice changes in the company of other practitioners and our expert speaker. Examples of draft clauses will be examined.

Court of Protection work is on the increase and becoming more complex as more clients become mentally compromised. Many individuals who fail to make LPAs fall within this jurisdiction and this presents a practice development opportunity for private client lawyers who need to offer a service to clients to meet the demand for Court of Protection applications. This course includes sample forms and a case law update and will equip practitioners to tackle the range of applications with confidence.

Clients who run businesses which might fall into their estate have quite specific needs when it comes to giving advice on how best to manage their tax and estate.

Focusing on clients who have businesses this one day conference covers all aspects from the implications and relative benefits of trusts versus partnerships versus company structures drilling down to the finer points of pensions and inheritance tax opportunities. With guidance on will drafting included, this conference is an unmissable event for private client advisers.

This course examines what steps wealthier clients might take to minimise or counteract their potential liabilities to IHT, CGT and income tax, in the light of the prevailing tax regime. It will look at available options to plan and reorganise clients’ affairs both in lifetime as well as by will and post death.

How would you describe your welfare benefits knowledge? Very new and uncertain? Rusty? Patchy? Non existent? Hopelessly confused? This course is specially designed to provide a "back to basics" overview of what can seem to be a very complex benefits system.

Whatever field of private practice you are involved in, it is likely that some of your clients will have dealings with the ever-changing benefit system - divorce, probate, personal injury etc may all have impacts on your client’s finances. This course looks at recent and forthcoming changes to the benefit and tax credit system (legislative and procedural) and, through case studies, discussion and practical exercises, examines that impact on your clients and you.

This course looks at the practical issues involved in trusts from the outset, when the professional has to advise the client upon the most appropriate form of trust for their needs, through the key drafting aspects of the trust deed, the setting up of the trust, some practical aspects during the course of administration and, finally, completing the distribution to the beneficiaries.

Increasingly lawyers and practitioners are involved in dealing with stressful and emotional client issues particularly in areas such as relationship breakdown, bereavement and personal injury. This session is designed to help focus on providing practical advice on how to work most effectively in areas with high potential for emotional distress.

Advice on the funding of care home placements is frequently required as part of a full service private client department and is coming under close scrutiny in the review which the Government has embarked upon with the promise of new legislation following the recent Law Commission Report and the Dilnot review. This course looks at the detail in getting the most out of state support to equip practitioners with the know how to give practical advice to elderly clients and their families.

This course will give a detailed and reassuring overview of the complete process of handling an estate in a cost efficient manner without compromising client service. A winning combination!

In our response to the Legal Services Consumer Panel request for evidence of problems in the Will-writing market, the Institute of Professional Willwriters referred to a programme broadcast on BBC1 as part of their series ‘Rip-Off Britain. The programme featured the case of a client who had contracted the firm ‘Trust inheritance’, although they were not named in the programme, to draw up her Will. The client claimed she had been ‘ripped off.

Trust Inheritance complained to Ofcom the programme was misleading and they had been treated unfairly in it.

It has transpired that the circumstances of the client were not as portrayed in the programme and that in the view of Ofcom, the position of Trust Inheritance, by way of a brief commentary in the programme, did not sufficiently represent the position of them.

In featuring the events of the programme in its response to the Consumer Panel, the Institute chose to name Trust inheritance and to reply on the BBC programme without undertaking any independent investigation into the allegations made, despite the fact that we now understand that Trust Inheritance complained to the BBC before the first programme was shown and subsequent to the first broadcast and before it was broadcast makers and reported the content in good faith. We acknowledge this was a serious mistake we apologise to Trust Inheritance for allowing misleading and incorrect information about it and its services to be included in our response.

There has been a lot of activity in the press recently about Will-writing following the publication of a report by the Legal Services Consumer Panel which recommended that the provision of Will-writing services should be regulated. Comments have also been made by the Legal Services Ombudsman, who deals with complaints arising from the provision of services in the regulated legal sector, highlighting his frustration that his service was unable to deal with a number of complaints that have arisen in the un-regulated legal sector, including Will-writing.

The IPW provides its own form of regulation of its members which we maintain is at least equal to that in the regulated legal sector and has welcomed the conclusions of the Legal Services Consumer Panel and understands the frustrations of the Legal Services Ombudsman. However we are concerned that a picture is emerging that is creating confusion about who is best placed to provide a Will-writing service. Headlines have appeared recently such as ‘1,000’s are being ripped off by Will-writers’. We believe this to be scare-mongering and with no evidence to support this claim and we are concerned that this could lead to even fewer people making a Will.

IPW chairman Paul Sharpe said, “Cowboy Will-providers, whether they are solicitors or Will-writers don’t wear a Stetson so it’s not easy to spot them, so the IPW has today issued a 10 point checklist to help anyone wishing to purchase a Will to wise up and to identify who is best placed to provide a Will-writing service for them and to protect themselves from falling prey to a cowboy. “

Top Tip 1

Understand the market. There are two sorts of providers in the market place – solicitors and Will-writers. All solicitors are regulated. Some Will-writers are regulated by the IPW through its Code of Practice which has been approved by the Office of Fair Trading, but Will-writers who are not members of the IPW will be subject to a weaker form regulation, or no regulation at all.

Top Tip 2

Check that your Will-provider knows what they are talking about. Will-writers are not the only people who can offer Wills without any qualifications in the subject. A solicitor can become qualified as a solicitor without studying Wills. Ask about qualifications and training and ask to see evidence of their expertise. If they refuse or are offended by your request – look elsewhere.

Top Tip 3

Check that your Will-provider has professional indemnity insurance. This insurance will compensate your beneficiaries if a mistake is made in your Will. It is mandatory for all solicitors to have this insurance and it is mandatory for all members of the IPW to have this cover.

Top Tip 4

Be suspicious of low cost Wills and special offers and prices quoted ‘from £x’ and prices quoted ‘for a basic Will’. If it looks too good to be true, then that is exactly what it will be. Some providers set their fees for Wills at temptingly low prices just to get you ‘on the hook’ and then sell you other services at unnecessarily high costs in order to make the transaction profitable. Others offer never ending, apparently discounted, special offers. If a Will costs less than £100 for a single person or £150 for a couple (excluding VAT), then it’s difficult to understand how money is being made, unless corners are being cut or money is being made elsewhere. Check if the prices quoted need to have VAT added to them.

Top Tip 5

Ask to see a price list of ALL the services provided by your Will-provider. These other services, such as Lasting Powers of Attorney and trusts may be to your advantage but some providers charge extortionate prices for these services because they are not part of the headline cost of making a Will. You need to understand what the full cost of the service to you could be because the cheapest Will may not be the cheapest solution for you.

Top Tip 6

Ask if you can change your mind without being liable for costs. If you see a Will-provider in your home, the law gives you a 7 day cooling off period, but you can waive this right. Be suspicious if your Will-provider asks you to waive this right unless you particularly need your Will completed urgently.

Top Tip 7

If you are asked to pay for any transaction before it is completed, find out what happens if your Will-provider fails to deliver the service, or it is delivered late or you are not happy with it. Any member of the IPW who collects a payment ‘up front’ has to be part of a scheme run by the IPW that will refund the payment or provide for the service to be completed by another member in these circumstances.

Top tip 8

Be aware that you do not have to appoint the Will-provider as the executor of your Will. Administering your estate may not be difficult so you can appoint family or friends. If they get into difficulties, they can always employ a professional to help them with some or all of the work – and agree fees with them accordingly.

Top Tip 9

NEVER pay a fee at the time of making your Will for someone to provide assistance after your death to administer your estate. There can be no guarantee that the firm that you pay the money to will still be in business when you die and therefore will be able to provide the service that you have paid for.

Top Tip 10

Find out what happens if things go wrong. A decent Will-provider should provide you with this information without you having to ask for it. If you choose a solicitor you can refer matters to the Legal Ombudsman and if you choose a member of the IPW you can refer matters to the Estate Planning Arbitration Scheme (EPAS). Both are completely independent.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact Paul Sharpe, IPW Chairman on 0345 257 2570 during office hours or ay any time by email at chairman@ipw.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Institute of Professional Willwriters was formed in 1991 with the aim of setting high standards for individuals and firms offering Will writing services. It currently has 800 individual members representing 250 firms. More information about the IPW can be found at www.ipw.org.uk

2. In 2010 the IPW became the 10^th organisation to obtain approval of its Code of Practice from the Office of Fair Trading under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2010/56-10

3. The full report by the Legal Services Consumer Panel on regulating Will-writing can be found at http://www.legalservicesconsumerpanel.org.uk/publications/research_and_reports/documents/ConsumerPanel_WillwritingReport_Final.pdf

4. Comments made by the Legal Ombudsman can be found at

http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/aboutus/blurred_edges.html

A one day course for people who want to take Will instructions on behalf of an existing member of the Institute.

The IPW has welcomed today’s report by the Legal Services Consumer Panel to recommend that will-writing services in England and Wales should be regulated. The recommendation follows a 10 month investigation into the provision of will-writing and related services which included mystery shopping and interviews with consumers who had recently made their Will.

For most of the 20 years that the IPW has been in existence it has campaigned for the provision of Willwriting services to be regulated and during that time has consistently led the way in setting the highest standards for its members, both in terms of technical competence and customer service. This was endorsed when in 2010 the IPW became only the tenth organisation, and the only one in the legal sector, to have a Code of Practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading under its Consumer Code Approval Scheme.

For some time the government has acknowledged that there have been issues in the will-writing sector, ranging from high pressure selling to poorly drafted Wills but has asked for hard evidence of detriment to consumers before taking action. Evidence has been difficult to provide because making a Will is an occasional event that makes it difficult for buyers to measure and quantify the quality of the product and service that they receive. And as the report points out, many problems with Wills don’t surface until after death –when it’s too late to find out whether the Will was up to the job intended – when it’s often difficult and /or expensive to carry out corrective work.

IPW Chairman, Paul Sharpe said

"We are grateful to the Consumer Panel for this piece of work that provides so much evidence of serious and damaging consumer detriment. We call on the Legal Services Board and Government ministers to take prompt action to implement the recommendations of the report

The IPW is also encouraged that the Consumer Panel recognised the position of the IPW and its members in the sector and the strength of its Code of Practice by making the recommendation that the IPW Code of Practice is used as the basis of a new regulatory scheme.

Last year the Scottish Government announced that it was to regulate Willwriting services in Scotland and ahead of that decision we formed the Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters to apply to be a regulator of will-writing services in Scotland, using the IPW Code of Practice as the basis of the application. The IPW has every intention of applying to be a regulator of will-writing services in England and Wales should the proposals of the Consumer Panel be acted upon – and will use its Code of Practice as the corner stone of such an application."

No one knows the importance of a will more than a stuntman. He wouldn't put his life on the line for the sake of mere entertainment without knowing that everyone and everything he cares for in life is taken care of, should anything happen.

That’s why Remember a Charity approached the ageing stunt legend, Rocky Taylor to be the face of their new campaign. You may recognise him from his days as the Honey Monster. Or perhaps you saw him in a film, doubling for 007s, such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore and that other one.

You name it, Rocky’s done it. And together, it is hoped to raise awareness of the importance of wills, not just to friends and family, but also to the many charities that depend on legacy giving. Just a 4% increase in gifts left in wills would raise an additional £1 billion a year for good causes.

For the success of this campaign, Remember a Charity are going to need your help and support. So get behind Rocky by watching his film and sharing it with everyone you know. You can follow Rocky on Twitter @RockyStuntman and you can even play your part in deciding his fate at facebook.com/rememberacharity. If you want to see Rocky in action, you can also check out his online video.

This will be Rocky’s lasting legacy. Now it’s over to you to leave yours. So please, write your will today and consider leaving a gift to charity, because you never know, tomorrow might be too late.

Rocky wisely chose an expert member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters, Alex Trusedale of Alex Trusedale Wills, based in Cobham, Surrey in to draft his Will. Alex commented "I saw Rocky over the weekend and turned Wills round for him and his partner, so I know that he is speaking from experince when talking about leaving a gift to charity in a Will."

To find a member of the Institute who can draw up your Will, please visit our membership directory.

The Institute is required by the Office of Fair Trading to publish a report every year on its Code of Practice. The report in full is attached to this news item.

Key points to note from the report this year are:

1) The maintenance of excellent standards of service - with 100% of 4,200 surveyed customers rating the service they received from their Institute member as good, very good or excellent and 99.6% of them saying that they would recommend their Willwriter to a friend or relative.

2) A continuing low level of complaints about members received by the Institute. Just four in the period covered by the report - with one made by a firm of solicitors being dismissed as vexatious and another relating to fees charged by a firm who referred business to an Institute member.

3) No complaints referred to the Estate Planning Arbitration Scheme (EPAS), the independent complaints process which is run for the Institute by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

For more information, please contact the Institute on 0345 257 2570.

Nettle Hill Training & Conference Centre, Coventry CV7 9JL

A one day course that will give instruction on the basics of writing a will.

Someone who has little or no experience of the profession and wishes to find out more will find this course invaluable.

A one day interactive practical workshop and examination to equip delegates to have full confidence in embracing Lasting Powers of Attorney taking clients from initial instructions through to execution and registration at the Office of the Public Guardian.

A one day course for people who want to take Will instructions on behalf of an existing member of the Institute.

Nettle Hill Training & Conference Centre, Coventry CV7 9JL

Led by Sue Ioannou this one day course will provide the specialist knowledge and understanding necessary to deal with elderly clients and to be able to deal with their concerns.

• The market for elderly clients
• Issues affecting elderly clients
• Capacity
• Care fees – the rules
• Mitigating Care Fees – through writing a Will
• Protecting the house
• Protecting cash and savings
• Pre-paid funeral plans
• Drafting Tips
• Heading off foreseeable problems

Worked examples including sample Wills

CPD Awarded = 5.5 hours

Cost of the course is £175 (no VAT) including course notes, lunch and refreshments .

To book a place on this course, please telephone 0345 257 2570

The Institute has welcomed the budget announcement to encourage people to make a charitable legacy in their Wills

Paul Sharpe, chairman of the Institute said "Making a legacy to a charity really should be the norm, so any measures from Government to encourage people to make charitable legacies in their Wills is most welcome. The reduction in the inheritance tax rate by 10per cent for those who leave at least 10 per cent of their wealth to charity in their Will is great news, which has the potential to raise millions for charities and should encorage more people to make a Will."

A recent survey of Institute members on behalf of Remember a Charity, a consortium of over 140 charities, found that members of the Institute were twice as likely to ask their clients about leaving a gift to charity in their Wills - and as a result the number of Wills written by Institute members which includes a charitable gift was double the norm in the whole sector.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity said, "It’s important to remember that charitable legacies are not just for the rich. All gifts, large or small, can make an enormous difference. If we all left a gift to charity after taking care of friends and family, we could raise billions of pounds a year for our favourite charities.”

Rob Cope added: “The UK legacy market is currently worth almost £2 billion a year, the equivalent of more than 24 Comic Relief appeals. A 4% change would represent a further £1 billion a year for good causes.”

Seminar Speakers

Steve Brooker, Manager, Legal Services Consumer Panel - The future in legal services, where do we go from here?

Whether Willwriting in England & Wales is regulated, or whether in England & Wales Willwriting is not regulated, Willwriting in Scotland will be regulated and the
Government in Scotland and Legal Services Board Consumer Panel in England have both set out on a road that puts the consumer firmly in the driving seat when
choosing legal services. Only those that recognise the changes as an opportunity will survive and thrive. Steve Brooker was the author of the 2007 report 'Finding
The Will' during his time at the then National Consumer Council, now Consumer Focus, and the Institute is delighted to welcome Steve to give delegates a head start
in planning to head off threats and maximise opportunities that will be coming our way.

Andy Hanselman - Excelling in Customer Care = Excelling in Business

Andy has 21 years experience in business consultancy, and motivational speaking. His engaging, humorous, and down to earth approach deals with the real
issues that businesses face in these times of increased competition, tighter resources, massive customer choice and ever increasing transparency. Andy will be
talking about how delegates can maximise their own potential and by excelling in customer service, win more customers and retain more customers.

Robin Paul, Solicitor & Partner, Withers LLP - Wills and Estates - The International Element


Robin is the Succession and Trusts Practice Group Leader at Withers and is a co-author of Sweet & Maxwell’s Practical Will Precedents and the succession section of Practical
Commercial Law. He wrote the chapters on Business and Agricultural Property in Tolley’s Administration of Estates and, with Filippo Noseda, and is currently working on a new chapter on
Cross-Border Estates. He has written for numerous legal and tax journals and lectures widely, particularly on aspects of international succession law and advises on all aspects of probate,
succession and tax planning, which, as many Willwriters will know from experience, often has an international element, and acts as executor and trustee of complex estates and trusts
(including pension funds). Robin will be be guiding delegates on how they can guide their clients through the maze.


Starts 9.00am - Registration

Ends 4.45pm


For bookings made on or before 23rd February 2011

Institute Members (of any grade) = £80

Non members = £110

For bookings made on or after 24th February 2011

Institute Members (of any grade) = £110

Non members = £140

All delegates will receive a gift which commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Institute.

Recent research published by National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has found that over a third (36%) of the population whose parents are still alive do not know if their parents have a will, or how their parents plan to distribute their estate and more than two-fifths of the population (46%) admit they do not know where any of their parents’ important financial documents are kept

One often unanticipated problem highlighted by NS&I’s research is that many British people admit they would not know where to find the relevant paper work needed in the event of a parent’s incapacity or death. More than two-fifths of the population (46%) admit they do not know where any of their parents’ important documents are kept, and less than a third of people (27%) know where their parents’ wills are kept, making a stressful time even more so during a time of loss. NS&I’s Savings Survey reveals that only 7% of British people have spoken to their parents about inheritance

Additionally:

• Only a third (33%) know where their parents’ bank account details are kept

• Fewer than a quarter (24%) know where information about their parents’ savings funds are kept

• Only one in five people (21%) know where their parents’ deeds to the house are kept

• Less than a third (31%) know where their parents’ birth certificates are kept

NS&I’s research highlights that almost a third of people (31%) admit they have ‘no idea’ about their parents’ financial plans. A quarter (25%) of British people say they will rely on an inheritance to help in the future. Lack of communication about money management means over a third (36%) of the population do not know if their parents have a will, or how they plan to distribute their estate.

When asked why Britons aren’t speaking with their family about this, 12% say it is simply not a priority for them, and 6% prefer to push these conversations back to a later date, assuming there will be enough time in the future. Interestingly, nearly one in ten people (9%) say their parents don’t like discussing the subject with them, and 11% say they don’t want to think about their parents passing away. 6% say they find it an embarrassing subject to talk about.

NS&I spokesperson Tim Mack says, “Later life financial planning is an important issue which affects everyone. It might be a sensitive subject, but every member of a family should try and encourage the others to sit down together and talk about this openly. This is a chance for parents to have honest conversations with their children about the importance of planning ahead, and provides an opportunity for parents to share advice from their own experiences on this matter”.

NS&I is encouraging people to bridge this gap of communication as soon as possible, and there are many benefits in doing so. 13% of the population say talking to loved ones provides a positive opportunity to discuss using the money for events, such as holidays, before the individual passes away, while 14% feel it can be a welcome chance for family members to input to the will. Half (49%) of people whose parents have passed away said it was especially important to have these conversations early because it allowed time for financial matters to be discussed in a calm fashion, instead of being held in times of stress.

The BBC programme, Can’t Take It With You encouraged people to look at later life financial planning such as writing wills. The presenter Sir Gerry Robinson, adds, “With people leading such busy lives, it is sometimes a rare occasion for all family members to be in one room at the same time; this can make it very tempting to push these family discussions back to a ‘more appropriate’ time. In reality, there will never be a ‘good time’ to bring tricky subject matters like inheritance into conversation, and the longer these discussions are avoided, the more likely it is that unforeseen problems may arise with future financial matters”.

Currently, less than a quarter (21%) of the population recognises the importance of speaking with family members about inheritance and family financial planning. NS&I is encouraging more people to take the time to sit down together and open up discussions about the family’s future finances.

However IPW Chairman Paul Sharpe said "Discussing your financial circumstances and the content of your will, even with your children, is not always a good idea and these are subjects that many people, understandably, want to keep private. What is far more important is that people do actually make a Will, keep it safely, tell nobody what is in the Will, but tell everybody where the Will is being kept."

The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a campaign calling on Government to make Willwriting a reserved (regulated) activity.

Part of the 'manifesto' states "We do not advocate that solicitors never make mistakes - the key point is not who can draft a better will, but what safeguards are in place to promote high standards and provide protection when something goes wrong"

IPW Chairman Paul Sharpe said

'Regulation of Willwriting is something that we have been campaigning for for decades so we support the aims of the Law Society. I am glad to see that the Law Society has recognised the shortcomings in its own professional standards. Perhaps the Law Society should get its own store in order before campaigning for others to do so. One only has to look at the submissions made to the Legal Services Consumer Panel recently* to understand that a great number of problems with Wills are caused by solicitors. A start would be to restore the requirement for any solicitor offering Willwriting services to have actually studied the subject before they do so. Currently Wills is an optional subject on the road to becoming a solicitor so its possible to have a Will drafted by a solicitor who has far less technical expertise that some Willwriters. This is especially true of Willwriters who are members of the IPW who are required to study the subject of Wills and who have equivalent mechanisms of address through their Code of Practice which has been approved by the Office of Fair Trading.'

* Examples of problems with Wills caused by Willwriters and solicitors alike can be found here

Normal service has resumed at the Institute following the restoration of power supplies over the weekend.

We are working through the backlog of telephone messages that were left during our enforced absence following a power failure at our Halesowen head office.

We would like to thank members, potential members and members of the public for bearing with us during this difficult time.

However it appears that we have lost any inbound emails sent to us between 12 noon on Monday 21st February and 10.00am on Monday 28th February.

If you contacted us by email during this time, please re send your email, where it will receive our prompt attention.

Barclays Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS Group have all voluntarily agreed to review and, where necessary, improve the way they sell will-writing and executor services following discussions with the OFT.

The OFT approached the four banks during 2010 as part of a wider effort to improve the will-writing market for customers and their beneficiaries, following concerns that some consumers were appointing professional executors without fully understanding the likely costs and the alternative options.

The four banks have agreed to meet three key principles, to ensure customers are able to make well-informed decisions:

• Consumers making a will should not be led to believe that appointing a professional executor is essential or the norm.
• Consumers should not be encouraged to appoint a professional executor unless it is clearly in their best interests.
• Providers should be satisfied, before the will is drafted, that the consumer has the information necessary to make an informed choice. The consumer should understand the options around executor appointments and be aware of the likely basis of charging for the professional executor service.

All four banks are currently reviewing their product literature and processes and any necessary changes should be in place within six months at the latest.

There is no requirement in law to appoint a professional executor, although, according to a survey published by the OFT last year, some 43 per cent chose to appoint the professional will-writer or solicitor who wrote their will. While the costs for preparing a will can be relatively modest, the costs for a professional executor to administer an estate can be high and vary considerably. For an average estate, consumers can pay between £3,000 and £9,000. Failing to shop around for executor services could be costing UK consumers around £40 million a year, according to OFT estimates.

David Stallibrass, Director in the OFT Services and Public Markets Group, said:

'The wrong decision when appointing executors could mean a potentially expensive professional service is chosen, when a family member or friend may be quite capable of handling the task either alone or with professional support. We are pleased that each of the banks has agreed to review its selling practices and marketing literature to ensure customers are getting the information they need to make informed choices.'

Paul Sharpe, Chairman of the Institute of Professional Willwriters said:

'There are many firms who offer tantalisingly cheap Willwriting services, but they often have a sting in the tail because the document is drafted as a 'loss leader' to secure lucrative executorship appointments. Saving a few pounds on a Will might be tempting, but it's a saving that can cost thousands. Members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters (and its sister organisation the Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters) must abide by a Code of Practice which is approved by the Office of Fair Trading and the code requires Institute members to:

• explain all the options available to consumers for appointing an executor in their Will,
• provide a written estimate of fees if they (or a firm with which they are connected) is appointed as an executor
• relinquish their appointment as an executor if requested to do so by co-executors or beneficiaries.'

For more information, please contact the Institute on 0345 257 2570

Following an explosion in the electricity substation which supplies electricity to the Institutes Head Office in Halesowen at around mid day today, there has been no electricity supply to the our offices.

The situation is likely to continue until at least Thursday 24th February.

This means that the Institute is not able to answer telephone calls, nor is it able to receive emails and nor is the new website able to deliver functionality that requires access to the membership database - in particular the find a member function.

We apologise that we are not able to deliver services to our members and to consumers.

We suspect that any emails sent since mid day 21st February and until such time as power is restored will be lost, therefore please do not send any emails to ipw email addresses until we are able to confirm that our systems are up and running.

Welcome to the brand new websites of the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) and the Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW).

Members of the public can find information about making a Will in the Public Section.

Clients of members of the Institute can review the service that they have received by searching for their member and entering the 4 digit PIN code that they will have been given. If you have not been given a PIN code, please contact your member.

Professionals can find out about the benefits of being a member of the Institute in the Professionals Section. Professionals can find out about the training courses offered by the Institute's associated firm, IPW Services in the events section.

Members of the Institute can access a wide range of information in the password protected members section. central to this section is a new 'members Dashboard' which includes

• Information about CPD training recorded by the Institute and countdown timer to the end of the CPD year
• Contact information held by the Institute for each member - which can be updated through the dashboard
• Membership directory listings - and the ability to update the information contained in the listing.

In the coming weeks and months we will be adding more, including

1) training courses from other, selected, providers in the events section

2) an archive of past press and news items indexed by year as well as month

3) An improved members dashboard which will include

• additional information about CPD completed and CPD requirements
• additional information about membership which will enable members to renew their membership on line
• the facility to upgrade membership listings

The IPW is required by the Office of Fair Trading to publish a report every year on its Code of Practice. The report can be downloaded here (requires Adobe acrobat reader).

Residents of a West Midlands town have reported an orange halo appearing in the area of an local office block which is occupied by the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW). Reports say there is a distinct 'oranginess' in the area which is becoming more and more distinct by the day and often spreads out towards the location of a nearby website design firm.

More soon......

The future's bright. The future's orange.

Like any democratic members organisation, the Institute is obliged to hold an Annual General Meeting of its members. In 2011 the event will mark, and celebrate, 20 years since the formation of the Institute. The meeting will consider approval of the financial statements of the organisation, elect and/or re-elect representatives from its membership to its Management Council and debate any issues notified by members.

Following the success and popularity of the event in 2010, this years meeting has been moved to the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham - chosen for its central location, good travel links and its capacity to hold the number of delegates predicted to attend. Attendance at the AGM is free of charge to all Institute members.

Following the meeting, the day will be devoted to seminar speakers who will be covering a number of issues which are relevant to Willwriters in 2011. There is a charge for attending the seminars and for more details and booking information see here.

Following a breach in the Institute's Constitution and following complaints received from customers of the firm which indicated an ongoing failure to comply with the Institute's Code of Practice, the Institute has terminated membership of Telford based Willwriting firm Walters & Sons, which also trades as WDS Shropshire.

Regrettably the Institute is no longer able to deal with complaints from members of the public in relation to the firm.

The firm is no longer entitled to display the IPW membership logo and the OFT 'Code Approved' logo and instances of any breach in this entitlements should be addressed to the Chairman of the IPW by following this email link.

As part of its commitment to the OFT, the IPW is required to compile a report annually covering five aspects of the Code. These are:

Details of compliance monitoring
A report from the independent Chairman of the Compliance Board
Any changes that have been considered to the Code
A report detailing the complaints handled during the year and the outcomes of those complaints
Outcomes of performances measured against agreed performance indicators.

Highlights from this years report include:

No complaints have been reported to the independent complaints procedure - the Estate Planning Arbitration Scheme - EPAS.
No cases of non compliance with the Code of Practice have been referred to the Compliance Board.
75% of customers rated the service that they received from an IPW members as excellent, 21% as very good, 3% as good and practically nobody rated the service as poor.

The report can be downloaded in full here.

Following the Panorama programme on will writing and probate, will campaigner Lorely Burt MP has called on the government to finally regulate the will-writing profession.

'Anyone can put a sign over their door and call themselves a will-writer' said Lorely, 'But people entrust the will writer with correctly ensuring their worldly goods are disposed of properly after their death. And of course they will never know if the instructions have been taken correctly. But grieving relatives will be left to pick up the pieces.'

Solihull MP Lorely Burt has been highlighting the need for regulation of the will-writing profession since 2006, when she commissioned a debate in Parliament to bring the government to answer her calls. In September the Legal Services Board will start to 'gather evidence' on the need to make Will writing a reserved activity.

Mrs Burt welcomes this decision, saying 'It can't come soon enough. Trusting elderly people have been quoted £30 and ended up paying £1,700 for their wills. When they write their will, literally everything they have is at stake, and they deserve protection through proper regulation.'

Paul Sharpe, Chairman of the Institute of Professional Willwriters said 'We welcome the stand that Lorely Burt is taking. Lorely used to work as a Willwriter and was a member of the IPW, so it's not too difficult for her to imagine the havoc that an untrained and unregulated Willwriter can cause - and of course she has first hand experience of protection and assurance that is afforded to consumers by IPW membership.'

Following the BBC Panorama programme about unscrupulous Willwriters, popular financial website, Moneywise.co.uk has released the following information and advice to consumers about making a Will.

Its worth pointing out that none of the firms featured on the show are members of the IPW.

Read the full story here.

Ahead of the broadcast by the BBC 1 programme "Panorama" of an investigation into Willwriters and the fees charged by a wide range of Willwriting providers to administer an estate after someone has died, the Institute wishes to confirm the measures that it has in place in its OFT Approved Code of Practice to ensure that the antics that will be referred to in the programme are not exhibited by its members.

1) Members are not allowed to make the appointment of themselves, or an associated firm, as executors a condition of drawing up the Will.

2) Members, or an associated firm, who is appointed as an executor in a Will must step down if requested to do so by the executors and/or the beneficiaries.

3) At the time of making a Will, members are required to outline the duties of an executor and ALL of the options available to their clients for appointing an executor.

4) Members are not allowed to use high pressure selling techniques.

5) Members are only allowed to provide services for which they are technically competent - and the Institute has a training regime in place to ensure that its members acquire the competence that they need to provide a wide range of first class legal services.

6) Client funds must be kept in a separate client account.

7) Any fees collected at the time a Will is made which are payments for, or to allow access to, estate administration services must paid directly into independently managed trust fund until such time as the estate administration service is required.

The OFT has been working closely with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Institute of Professional Willwriters in order to help people preparing Wills understand that they have the option to shop around for professional executor services, or to appoint a non professional (such as a family member or friend) who can then choose to be assisted by a professional if required.

David Stalibrass, OFT Director of Services said 'Preparing a will is important to make sure that your wishes are respected after your death. We welcome the steps taken by the SRA and the IPW to provide greater clarity for consumers'.

Read the Daily Mail Special Investigation into the scandal of high priced executor services here.

Independent on Sunday

BBC

Daily Mirror

The Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW) welcomes the announcement by the Scottish Government of proposals to regulate Willwriters in Scotland. The ISPW has looked at the proposals and is delighted to announce that all of the requirements outlined in the proposals are already included in the ISPW, OFT Approved Code of Practice.

Although it will be some months before the proposals are implemented, consumers in Scotland who select an ISPW member to make their Will can have the assurance that the firm making their Will already meets the regulatory requirements.

To find details of an ISPW member local to you, visit here.

We have been deluged with interest from people wanting to make their Wills. Please bear with us, it will take us a few days to work through the backlog and distribute your delays to a participating member.

It maybe too late to claim a free Will, but many members are now offering discounted Wills to those who wish to make their Will.

To celebrate the announcement that the Institute is the only organisation in the Willwriting sector to have a Code of Practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading, participating members are offering members of the public the opportunity to have a Will drawn up completely free of charge on Wednesday 9th June 2010.

The number of Free Wills available is limited, so don't delay.

Join before 28th July 2010 and pay no membership fees!!

Pay £100 to sit the Institute's entrance examination or assessment through the Qualified Practitioner option, unless you are exempt. See here for more details on entry criteria.

Pay half your membership fees when you submit documents

Pay the balance of your membership fees when you renew your Professional Indemnity insurance. Remember, it is almost certain that because of the high standards of membership, it is almost certain that Institute membership will save you money.

Over the coming weeks IPW members will be adding the OFT Code Approved Logo to their websites and stationery so that members of the public can be certain that they are dealing with an OFT Code Approved Willwriter.

Remember that the Institute of Professional Willwriters is the ONLY organisation to have a Code of Practice approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

To find details of an IPW member in your area, visit the Office of Fair Trading Website here or visit the 'Find your local IPW member' section of the IPW website here - where you will also be able to view comments left by clients of IPW members about the service and attention that they have received.

As of today, we have recruited 50% more new members so far this month than is our target for the whole of April. Many, if not all, are members of other organisations, but they now wish to align themselves with a professional and progressive organisation - and the ONLY organisation in the legal sector with a Code of Practice which has OFT approval.

To find out more about the benefits of becoming a member of the IPW, please visit the membership section of our website here, or send an email to our membership department here or telephone 08456 442042.

We look forward to hearing from you!!!

This has been a two stage process.

In June 2008, the IPW's code completed Stage One - in which the OFT accepts that the content of the Code of Practice meets the OFT criteria. The Code of Practice provides clients of IPW members with assurances that:

1. Their Willwriter is competent to provide the services that they offer
2. Their Willwriter has professional indemnity insurance of at least £2million
3. Their Willwriter has Public Liability Insurance of at least £2million
4. They will have a cooling off period of at least 7 days
5. In the event of a failure of a firm, if any money has been paid in advance of work being completed, that money will be refunded or the work completed by another practitione.

Any complaints against an IPW member will be dealt with through a three stage process

1. an in-house process run by the IPW member
2. a conciliation service provided by the IPW
3. an independent arbitration scheme run for the IPW and its members by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

OFT approval which has been confirmed today follows a period in which:

1. The IPW has completed compliance visits on its members at a rate of 20% of its membership per year to ensure their compliance with the Code of Practice
2. The IPW has monitored customer satisfaction through surveys completed by clients of IPW members and returned to the IPW
3. There has been a consultation with consumer organisations to ensure that the content of the Code of Practice addresses known issues within the sector
4. The OFT has investigated results from the above. Stage Two approval means that IPW members will be able to display the OFT CCAS logo on their stationery and marketing material.

OFT approval means that IPW members will be able to display the OFT Approved Code logo on their stationery and marketing material.

Needless to say, the IPW will continue the hard work to enforce and monitor compliance with the Code of Practice in order to maintain its OFT approval. The IPW will also continue to review the content of the Code of Practice to ensure that it addresses issues in the sector as they emerge.

The IPW will shortly be consulting with its members and consumer organisations on a Code of Practice, with minor revisions, that will underpin an application by the IPW to the Legal Services Board to become an Approved Regulator of reserved (regulated) probate activities in England and Wales.

January 1st 2010 saw a revolution in the way that Legal Services in England and Wales are delivered and regulated with the formation of a new 'super regulator', the Legal Services Board (LSB). The LSB will regulate existing regulators of legal services, such as Solicitors, Barristers and Licenced Conveyancers.

The LSB also has powers to investigate whether the provision of any legal services that are currently outside of its regulatory net should be brought within its remit. For many years the IPW has been campaigning for a light touch, but compulsory, regulatory regime for the provision of Willwriting services and accordingly has asked the LSB to consider this matter.

As a result of increased interest in Scotland in Willwriting as a career, and interest from existing Willwriters in Scotland in joining a professional membership organisation, the IPW has formed the Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW).

The ISPW will be based in Edinburgh and the IPW training courses and examinations have been adapted to reflect differences in Scottish laws in Wills without compromising standards.

As a result, ISPW members will enjoy the same benefits as IPW members and members of the public in Scotland will have the same protection and reassurance when having a Will drafted by a member of the ISPW as members of the public 'south of the border' have when having their Will drafted by a member of the IPW.

Ever wondered why you need a Will, how you go about getting one, how much it will cost?

The answers are in this free booklet available to download here.

The IPW is delighted to announce that it has agreed a partnership agreement with Scottish solicitors WW&J McClure. The agreement will see McClures providing training to IPW members on lifetime trusts - which are joining Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney in becoming an important part of estate planning. McClures will also be providing a document drafting and case checking service which will enable IPW members to offer a fully joined up service which will provide their clients with the assurance of solicitor backing.

Progressive Legal have agreed to provide their training courses on Wills and associated subjects to IPW members at a discounted rate which means that IPW members can save over one third of the cost of courses provided by them. Similar discounted training is available to IPW members from legal training providers Central Law Training and BPP Professional Conferences.

Every March, June, September and December, the IPW publishes a full colour magazine, Inheritance Matters, aimed at those considering making or updating their Will, those working in the Willwriting sector, and those whose work involves Wills, Estate Planning, Legacy Planning or Employee Benefits. The magazine (including back issues) is now available to download free of charge online at www.inheritancemattersmagazine.com