CMA publishes compliance guide for unregulated providers of will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published compliance guidance to help unregulated businesses providing will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services to understand and comply with their existing obligations under consumer protection law.  

The guidance sets out the CMA’s view on the key requirements of consumer law which all businesses, including unregulated providers of legal services, must comply with.  

In the specific context of will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services, consumers are often making purchasing decisions in challenging circumstances, and those decisions are likely to have important and long-lasting consequences. The guidance sets out the CMA’s views on the most important consumer protection law requirements which apply to unregulated providers of these services. 

The guidance also provides practical ‘do and don’t’ checklists and case study examples, specifically in relation to the provision of will writing and online divorce services. There is also a chapter setting out the CMA’s views on pre-paid probate schemes.  

While the compliance guidance is designed to help businesses, it is not legal advice. Responsibility for complying with the law remains with businesses themselves. 

Read more on the CMA's unregulated legal services case page.