Terms & Conditions of Business

The following standard terms apply to all instructions accepted by the Company. All work carried out in the provision of Will Writing services is subject to these except where changes are expressly agreed in writing. These Terms of Business form that basis of the contract between the Company and the client.

Definitions

The ‘Company’ shall mean Sterling Wills Ltd.

The ‘Client’ shall mean anyone instructing the Company for the provision of Will Writing services.

‘Will Writing services’ shall mean the provision of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Notices of Severance, Probate advice and other services of a legal nature provided by the Company. It shall also mean inheritance tax advice and other tax planning advice in connection with the preparation of Wills.

‘Documents’ shall mean Wills, Powers of Attorney or other legal documents produced as part of the Will Writing services.

Procedures

On the initial appointment, your detailed instructions will be taken and appropriate advice given on matters relating to Will Writing services. Any queries or questions will be answered and a full explanation given as to the contents and terminology used in the drafting of your documents.

The Company undertakes to:

  1. Comply with your instructions with reasonable care, skill and expedition appropriate to your needs.
  2. Provide you with the best advice on matters relating to the Will Writing services. In some cases, this may mean advice to draw up other documents, or take other action, which may incur further fees. In such cases, full details of such charges will be given to you in advance and you are under no obligation to proceed with any ancillary services offered or recommended.
  3.  Dispatch a draft for your approval by 1st class post or by e-mail within 14 days of receiving your full and complete instructions.
  4. Maintain the strictest confidentiality and not to pass on your details to any other person or organisation without your express written permission unless legally required to do so and to comply with all legislation in force relating to data protection.
  5. Refund any money paid in respect of the preparation of your Will(s) should you change your mind within 14 days from the date of giving your instructions.
  6. The Company does not accept any liability or obligation to advise you of any changes in legislation or taxation which may affect you either directly or indirectly and may necessitate a review of your documents. Any Will should be reviewed every three years and on the occasion of any material change in your circumstances, such as divorce, marriage, the birth of children or a large inheritance.

Charges for our work:

Our charges are clearly stated on our leaflets and we reserve the right to alter these charges from time to time, whether by way of special offer reductions or by way of increase. Full details of charges for all our services are made known to clients before our adviser attends for the initial interview and we request payment in full at the end of this interview. All cheques must be payable to Sterling Wills Ltd. and we shall always provide a receipt for payment.

Your obligations are:

  1. To disclose all relevant facts and answers to all the questions asked to allow the Company to provide accurate advice and to produce an effective and appropriate legal document. The Company shall not accept liability in respect of the non-disclosure of information which may come to light at a later date and which may have a bearing on the validity and content of the document(s) produced by the Company or the advice given.
  2. To read through the draft documents provided in order to ensure that they correctly reflect your wishes as to the distribution of your estate.
  3. To inform the Company in writing and within a reasonable time that either the draft is approved and the Company may proceed to the final document, or that you wish to make amendments or corrections to the draft, which must be submitted in writing. The Company shall accept no liability for any delay or for the consequences of any delay due to your failure to comply with the foregoing.
  4. To notify the Company if you do not receive your draft documents within two weeks of the first appointment, unless otherwise agreed.

Complaints procedure

  1. The Company is committed to providing all its clients with a first class level of service. An essential part of that service is that we will communicate effectively with you so that you are kept informed of progress.
  2. The Company maintains a full complaints procedure and any complaint should first be addressed to the Managing Director, Trevor Hawkins, at the Company’s Head Office address. If the matter is unable to be resolved to your satisfaction you may refer it in writing to: Complaints Dept., The Society of Will Writers, Chancery House, Whisby Way, Lincoln LN6 3LQ.
  3. The Company complies with the Society’s Code of Practice, which can be viewed on the Society’s web site.