Unregulated Will Writer Jailed

Mr Walter Ventriglia, Berkshire resident, plead guilty to fraudulent trading, resulting in a jail term of 14 months.

Mr Ventriglia ran a will-writing business called Legacy & Law. He had written to people under an alias, advising them that their wills were soon to become invalid as a result of changes to the law, and that he could amend their wills to avoid the problem for a fee of £30-£60. The legislative changes he referred to did not exist.

He also ran a will storage business, UK Will Register, and claimed that he stored client’s wills in a secure facility in London. In fact, the documents were kept in the airing cupboard in his house.

In February the Law Society launched a consumer campaign calling for regulation of will-writing. This has not yet happened, although the Legal Services Board has said it intends to undertake a formal investigation.

Robin Gambles

Published on 03/01/2012