The UK’s most popular wills register, Certainty, continues to see growth with new firms joining its ranks daily. The benefits of a service that allows firms to register wills with an easy online system has shown a wide popularity amongst those in the wills and probate industry.
The company boasts impressive numbers, stating that over five million wills are currently registered. However, current research states that around two thirds of Britons do not currently have a will – despite the risks of strict intestacy rules.
During a time where those born during the baby boom of 1946 and 1957 are now reaching older age, the issue of not having a will may mean that many will lose out to the large tax implications.
Bevirs Solicitors of Wiltshire have been one of the latest to take advantage of the online registry service.
Nicholas Sewell, Partner at Bevirs Solicitors, has voiced his support of the service stating that the firm’s reasoning for using Certainty is centred on protecting their clients’ interests. He has also noted the importance of joining a national register that allows for current wills to be found in the future.
There are seemingly a number of advantages to a national will register. As reasoned by Bevirs, it is a system which predominantly protects clients’ interests foremost. Quotations from the Certainty website show that members of the public have found peace of mind from registering their wills – not having to worry about the possibility of losing such an important document.
Other positive aspects include the ease at which wills can be registered and searched for, and also the speed at which this can be done. Online access provides an even quicker service, and suggests a future where registering the documents is an irrevocable aspect to creating wills. Certainty has also been commended for the low cost at which the service is provided.
Of course there may be reasons why law firms decide against using services such as Certainty. Many of those creating or updating wills will be in their later years of life, and as such may be more distrustful of using an online service with such an important document.
However, since many aspects of modern society are placing increased confidence in online resources, the use of a centralised national wills register seems an inevitable and necessary outcome.
What are your opinions on using companies such as Certainty? Does your law firm currently utilise the services they provide? Do your clients seem happy having their wills registered on a national wills register?
