We write with reference to the article entitled “If there’s a will, there’s a way” dated 21st February 2010. In the article, a will writer was quoted as implying that lawyers do not specialise in the will writing service while will writers were specialists.

We wish to state that we do not countenance such a statement which we find regrettable and we consider the analogy inappropriate. In actuality, in providing will-writing and other estate planning services, we do not compete with lawyers but work closely with them. We do not purport to do the work of lawyers. As a matter of fact, we employ a panel of lawyer firms numbering around thirty, both large and small, throughout the country. What we do do is create the awareness of the need to do estate planning through public talks and various marketing programmes and provide an array of products to meet the needs of customers, at the convenience of their homes. For example, we provide insurance trusts or similar products to meet urgent cash calls from the family upon death of the main breadwinner, bereavement care products to take care of the funeral arrangements and we engage the services of the lawyers for the application of probates and estate administration and the appointment of the trustee company as executor or trust administrator.

In addition, we provide custodial services for the wills and other important documents in a state-of-the-art vault. At the same time, we also send annual reminders to our clients to update their assets inventory in a “Personal Assets Inventory Booklet” and to renew their free Personal Accident cover. And, just as we consult lawyers on legal issues, we outsource tax advice and valuation work to other professional firms. The analogy of a GP and a specialist in this business is therefore misleading.