An estate planner who went from selling windows to producing wills says too many people are “putting their lives in the hands of a robot”.

Estate planning expert Steve Bish lost one of his closest friends, Carl, in a scooter accident in 2001. Carl had not left a will and Steve helped his widow deal with the estate.

The experience proved life-changing: Steve left his role as managing director and founder of a traditional timber window company and retrained as an estate planner.

Nearly 25 years on, he runs S Bish Estate Planning from offices in Hertfordshire and his journey is the focus of a new book, Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way.

Steve was concerned by a recent survey that revealed that 72% of UK adults aged between 30 and 34 would consider using AI to update their will, and only half (52%) of wills in the UK have been drafted by a solicitor.

Writing in his new book, Steve says: “A recent study that caught my eye showed how rising numbers of people are turning to automated intelligence (AI) to generate and write a will. Research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers found 72% of UK adults aged between 30 and 34 would consider using AI to update their will. It also revealed how only half (52%) of wills in the UK have been drafted by a solicitor.

“AI is improving many areas of our lives, but will writing isn’t one that this extends to. The problem with AI is that the underlying code will likely be based on a limited number of basic questions. An experienced lawyer or specialist in estate planning may ask hundreds of questions, depending on the size of the estate. These will be specifically tailored to the client, taking into account their wishes and include a careful consideration of how assets are to be shared.

“A one size fits all approach – which AI delivers – is likely to lead to loopholes and grey areas that could be contested in court with potentially ruinous costs for all involved. So, don’t put your life in the hands of a robot.

“There are also concerns that AI-generated wills might not meet the UK’s legal requirements and, if one is deemed to be invalid, it could be contested after your death. The risk is that it could spark costly family in-fighting and, at the end of the day, your final wishes may not be carried out.

“Writing a will should also not be seen as a one-off event. It should be reviewed every five years or after major life events, such as a divorce or the loss of an executor.”

For more information visit https://www.sbishestateplanning.co.uk/product-page/where-there-s-a-will-there-s-a-way