Legal Ombudsman, Complaints About Will And Probate Services, And The Unregulated Sector

The Legal Ombudsman published its latest Annual Report on 29 January 2015. It reports that it resolved 8,055 cases in the year 2013-2014. Of these, 13% related to Wills and Probate - the third largest category after Residential Conveyancing and Family. The percentage remains unchanged from 2012-2013. At present, the Legal Ombudsman is only able to deal with complaints about regulated legal providers, such as solicitors, barristers or chartered legal executives. The Report comments on a case study where an unregulated will-drafting firm provided an inadequate service to a client, including losing a family heirloom. The client was unable to receive compensation as no ombudsman scheme is...