The BBC's series Fake Britain aired a very interesting piece about fraud and what can go wrong when you don't have an official will in place. Click on the image below to watch the programme - the will's section begins at 12 minutes 30 seconds.
As this example shows, even an official document like a will can be faked. Lee Young, a Partner in our Wills & Tax Team concurs with the advice from Richard Roberts in the clip. He says "DIY wills have perhaps made it easier to fake a will as they are less official, handwritten documents. It is more difficult to fake or even dispute a will drawn up by a solicitor and the fact that a solicitor can hold a copy of this important document can be very useful to the relatives of the person that has died, even when no fraud is taking place."
At Frettens, we also have a specialised team who deal with disputes over wills. Michelle Hayter and Carl Geary help people who find themselves in circumstances where their relative has died without a will or where the will does not reflect what they believe to have been their intentions. These situations often lead to disputes which can be very complicated and distressing for those involved. We are one of a small number of firms in the area with specialist solicitors who are experienced in handling the complexities of disputes. Both solicitors hold ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) qualifications.
We have offices in the Christchurch, New Milton and the New Forest. Our Wills & Tax and Dispute Resolution Teams also cover Bournemouth and Poole.
For a free initial chat, please call 01202 499255 and Lee, Michelle or a member of their teams will be happy to discuss any questions that you may have.
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