Does Unison Offer a Will Writing Service?
Unison is a leading provider of legal services in the UK, offering a range of support for both individuals and businesses. One question that many people have is whether Unison provides a will writing service. This article will explore Unison’s offerings in detail to determine if they can assist with estate planning and drafting wills.
What is a Will?
A will is a legal document that allows an individual, known as the testator, to dictate how their property, money and possessions should be distributed after their death. It also allows the appointment of guardians for any minor children. Having a valid will is important to ensure your wishes are carried out and to avoid potential disputes among beneficiaries. It also prevents your estate from being distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
What Services Does Unison Provide?
Unison is well known for offering affordable legal advice and support on a wide variety of common issues such as employment, housing, debt and consumer problems. Some of their core service areas include:
Legal advice line – Members can call their advice line for guidance on any new legal problem.
Letter writing services – Solicitors will draft letters on your behalf, such as for debt repayment plans or issues with a landlord.
Court and tribunal representation – Representation is provided for many small claims court and employment tribunal cases.
Online legal guides – Extensive self-help information is available on their website for numerous issues.
Estate planning and will writing requires specialized legal knowledge and expertise. While Unison provides general information about making a will, they do not directly draft wills or offer will writing as one of their core legal services. Their services are primarily focused on common everyday legal issues rather than more complex areas like probate.
Alternative Options for Will Writing
Since will preparation is not a service Unison currently provides, members looking specifically for will writing assistance have a few alternative options:
solicitors – Speaking to a private solicitor who specializes in wills and probate is the standard route. Costs can vary significantly depending on complexity.
digital will writing services – Several companies now offer affordable online will kits or template-based services to draft simple wills without legal advice.
DIY online templates – Free basic will templates are available from some organizations but requires understanding legal terms and ensuring technical validity.
legal expenses insurance – Some policies include provisions for paying solicitor costs if needed for will preparation.
As with any legal document, having a professionally drafted will provides the best assurance it fulfills all legal requirements. If costs are a barrier, solicitors sometimes offer reduced rates for drafting simple wills if no ongoing estate administration is required.
Could Unison Expand Their Services?
Given the clear demand for affordable will writing help, there have been suggestions Unison could consider expanding their service offerings in future to directly provide basic will preparation. Some key considerations in whether this would be feasible include:
Resourcing – Having solicitors or legal professionals experienced in wills and probate law on staff to draft documents properly.
Complexity – Ensuring ability to handle simple wills but refer more complex estates elsewhere for legal protection.
Templates – Relying on pre-approved templates and clauses could streamline basic will production.
Training – Staff would require specialized training in estate planning law beyond general legal knowledge.
Licensing – Providing will writing may require a different licensing structure than general legal advice.
Liability – Managing risks of disputes or challenges if errors made in drafting will documents.
Demand – Clear evidence of member need and take up of an affordable will writing offering.
While it could potentially expand access to justice, there are certainly additional compliance, staffing and risk factors Unison would need to consider carefully before taking on regulated will preparation work directly. For now, their services are focused only on general legal advice and representation.
In Summary
To answer the question – no, Unison does not currently offer a dedicated will writing service as part of their portfolio of legal support. While they can advise generally on estate planning, the drafting of wills requires expertise they do not presently possess. Alternative options are available through private solicitors, digital providers or DIY templates if costs are a concern. There may be an opportunity down the line for Unison to enter this space, but significant considerations around resourcing, training and liability management would need addressing first. For the present, Unison remains a source of general legal advice but not specialist will preparation help.