Wills & Probate
© InHouse Wills
Institute of Professional Willwriters
InHouse Wills & Probate is a member of the IPW. Feel free to contact the IPW to check us out.
But why is membership important? - we explain here.
IPW Gains OFT Approval
It was back in June 2010 that the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) was able to announce that it had achieved approval for its code of practice from the government’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Even in 2012 this remains the only code for legal services to receive this approval.
The IPW is a professional body for Will writers, regulating its members providing consumers with Will writing services, assistance in estate planning and related legal services. The OFT approval means that consumers using an IPW member (such as InHouse Wills) can be sure that they operate to a level of consumer protection that is higher than the law requires, setting standards for Will writing that most other law firms do not reach. Amongst many other conditions IPW code members are required to:
- pass an initial entrance exam and also to keep up to date via relevant ongoing professional training every year;
- ensure appropriate advice is provided through face-to-face personal meetings and not through third parties nor online services;
- provide consumers with a minimum seven day cooling off period;
- complete work within strict time frames, agreed with the client;
- maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance;
- provide consumers with access to a low cost, independent redress scheme in case things go wrong.
You can contact the IPW via www.ipw.org.uk
IPW Celebrates 20 years: 2011 saw the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Professional Willwriters. Membership continues to grow each year, particularly boosted by the approval of the Code of Practice by the OFT
A Will is probably the most valuable document that you create, dealing not just with everything that you own but also able to make decisions about guardians for young children and create Trusts that can benefit your family for many generations to come. As such you need to have full confidence in the service that you use; IPW membership, backed by the OFT-approved code of practice, is the guarantee that you need.
You can view the IPW Code of Practice here.
