A British couple has been running a will-writing company, providing services for clients to draft their wills. Over the past approximately 25 years, this couple has written 30,000 wills, including some very peculiar cases.
According to the South West News Service in the UK, 62-year-old Robert Phipps from Kent, who had served in the Navy and also worked as a police officer and financial advisor, along with his wife, established a will-writing company in Gillingham, Kent in 2000. They started writing wills for clients in their own restaurant using a second-hand laptop and printer.
Phipps, who served in the Falkland Islands, joined the Institute of Professional Will Writers and obtained professional qualifications through several related courses and exams.
In the blink of an eye, this family business is approaching its 25th anniversary. To celebrate this special occasion, they plan to hold a special event in their office on June 18.
In the many years they have been in business, this couple has written 30,000 wills for clients, including all sorts of peculiar requests. Due to confidentiality agreements, Phipps cannot disclose too many details but mentioned that fulfilling people’s wishes while aligning with legal requirements can often be tricky.
For example, someone requested for their inheritance to be deposited into their sister’s bank account, but the law requires the money to be directly paid to the beneficiary.
Phipps said, “They were likely receiving benefits and didn’t want the money in their own account for fear of losing those benefits. However, you must pay the inheritance directly to them.”
He mentioned encountering situations where some clients disagreed with their loved ones’ wills, a scenario becoming more common since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to people needing money urgently, leading them to question wills when they realize they have no chance of winning.
Phipps recounted a client who frequently talked about seafood with him. Unable to pay the fees, the client gave him a large live crab as compensation. Phipps, feeling sympathy for the crab, drove it to the seaside to release it back into the ocean and even reported it to the police to avoid any suspicions.
Regarding this unique line of work, Phipps mentioned that his experiences in the Navy and the police force taught him how to remain calm when speaking to people who have lost loved ones, which has been very beneficial for him.
He also encouraged others not to delay drafting their wills, especially in this era where blended families are common. Blended families refer to households composed of two adults, their shared children, and children from previous relationships.
Phipps emphasized that the law follows bloodlines, citing an example where one of his sons is from his wife’s previous marriage. If they do not include him in the will, the law would not recognize him as their grandson.
He highlighted the importance of addressing such complexities in wills, especially in situations involving children from second relationships and previous marriages.
He also mentioned that his two sons have been assisting in the company from the beginning and may potentially take over the business in the future. “I believe they surely have their own interesting stories to tell…”