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10,000 wills frozen in solicitors probe

A Midlands firm has been banned from managing people’s wills – but is still offering these services at excessive prices.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stopped Solicitors Probate Services Ltd from dealing with probate work last month. The ban meant the firm was unable to act as executors of wills or charge to store them.

The firm, based in Malvern, Worcestershire, appealed against their decision in the High Court, but lost.

The firm is allowed to draw up wills – a service which is currently unregulated by the SRA.

But last week a ‘consultant’ from SPS Ltd quoted an undercover reporter from the Sunday Mercury £2,100 upfront payment for the firm to be named as executor in the will.

The company and its sister firm, Solicitors Probate Services (Midlands) Ltd, have 10,000 wills on their books from customers across the country.

They signed up thousands of customers by touting for business in supermarkets and on high streets.

SPS Ltd and its sister company were set up just over a year ago by Stephen Share, 57, who qualified as a solicitor in 1975.

The SRA suspended his practising certificate at the same time they banned his companies from dealing with probate work.

The High Court has ordered the two firms to hand over all of the wills in which Mr Share or the companies are named as executors by the end of the month or risk being in contempt of court.

The wills have effectively been frozen and it’s not yet clear what the implications will be for the holders or their relatives.

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