Charity’s Will writing Service Challenged

The Telegraph recently reported the following case concerning Help the Aged’s Will writing service where the charity was the main beneficiary of will drawn up by its own recommended adviser. Mrs Southwell, who did not have any children, had made a will 10 years previously, leaving the bulk to her friend, Susie Crichton, with smaller legacies bequeathed to five other friends and six charities.

But shortly before her death, Mrs Southwell asked her social worker to help her draw up a will, claiming she did not have one and did not want her assets to go to the Government. The social worker contacted Help the Aged who sent round a Wills and Legacies adviser. But not one of the previous beneficiaries received a penny from this new will. Instead the bulk of her £350,000 estate went to Help the Aged.

Not surprisingly, when Mrs Crichton and her family learnt what had happened they proceeded to challenge the will. Helen Foster, the head of Wills and Legacies at Age Concern and Help the Aged was quoted in the article saying: "The Charity is aware of the dispute around this will, however we have defended our position as a legally- recognised beneficiary of the will. "Mrs Southwell did change the beneficiaries in her first will when constructing her second legal will and testament. As a charity it is not appropriate for us to speculate on why she reached this decision, but we utterly and profoundly reject any suggestion that pressure was brought to bear. The decision to amend the will lay solely and only with Mrs Southwell."

This case once again highlights the benefits of using an independent and professional Will writing service.