Over-50s to benefit from new legal service provider
Over-50s champion Saga has entered the legal market, offering fixed-price services in will-writing, power of attorney, conveyancing and probate.
Saga Legal, which launched this week, will charge a flat rate for conveyancing and set its probate fees according to the complexity of the estate rather than its value. It says this will help people who have benefited from the rise in house prices over the last couple of decades.
It will offer clients a legal essentials package, which includes unlimited legal advice by phone or e-mail, an online standard will and £100,000 of legal cover.
Saga offers its members a range of other services, including holidays, travel services, financial advice, a magazine, insurance and online dating.
Roger Ramsden, chief executive of Saga Services, says: “People want legal advice and products at a price they understand, can afford and that is agreed in advance.
“They want a clearer idea of what it is they are paying for; legal issues are complicated and the jargon used by the industry prevents many people from understanding the process.”
A survey of nearly 10,000 over-50s, conducted by Saga, revealed only four per cent believed the legal services market is fine as it is. Top complaints were spiralling solicitors’ bills, being bamboozled by jargon and poor value for money.
More than four out of five respondents said they wanted lawyers to offer fixed fees at the outset rather than hourly rates. Two-thirds called for letters and documents to be written in plain English rather than “legal jargon”.
Last month, LegalZoom announced it had teamed up with QualitySolicitors and would launch a range of personalised online legal contracts and documents later this year.
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