WILLS

Early day motion 2240, tabled 14 October 2008 by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 46 members.

That this House notes with concern that only 30 per cent. of people make valid wills before they die, leaving loved ones with the problem of searching for a valid will and added difficulties in resolving the estate if none is found; notes that some will writers operate without professional indemnity insurance or proper training; and calls on the Government to raise public awareness of the costs of dying intestate and of the desirability of the public ensuring that whoever produces their will is properly trained and insured, to create a national will register where all valid wills can be logged, and to work with the will-writing industry to create vocational qualifications for draftsmen and instruction-takers to raise professional standards in the industry.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.