A couple who established their own writing company has explained all the strangest applications they have received, including the pay in crabs.
Robert and Gill Phipps set up Pembroke Will Will in 2000 with a laptop and second -hand printer in the dining room of his home.
A quarter of a century and 30,000 wills later, they have probably seen and heard everything, from requests without any legal incidence to families who challenge what the loved ones wanted.
In one of the strangest encounters over the years, the family business based in Gillingham, Kent, says they were paid for services with a living crab.
Robert, 62, said: “I had a client who couldn’t pay me, but we always talked about seafood, so he gave me a huge living crab as part of the payment.
“I had elastic bands around its claws. I felt so badly because of it, so I drive it to Sharp’s Green in Gillingham and threw it into the sea.
“I was concerned that someone thought I was up to suspicious, so I called the police to make them know.
“I said” if someone reports that someone acts suspicious, I am, returning a crab to the sea. “”
Due to the customer’s confidentiality, Robert said he cannot go into too many details, but he says it is often difficult to marry -the requests of the people to what is legally possible.
For example, once she had a mother who wanted to say that her children did not spend her legacy on “fast cars and fast women”.
He said, “Who defines the fast women? I tried to explain that it can really not be put into will. All that will happen is that there will be endless judicial arguments about what it counts as a” fast car “or” fast woman “.
“We always tell customers not to rule the grave; if you leave money, it is better to trust people who use it wisely.”
While most wills involve relatively modest sums, Robert and Gill, 61, have treated some important arrangements, including “someone in London” who had more than $ 108 million to leave.
At the other end of the scale, there are often problems that arise with the recipients who are not happy or completely true about their circumstances.
For example, someone requested that their inheritance be paid to their sister’s bank account, although the law required the payment to go directly to them.
Robert added: “They are likely to be benefits and did not want the money to enter their account to be afraid to lose these benefits. But you have to pay directly the inheritance.”
During his years in the industry, the family’s business has also seen several cases of people disagree with their desires for their loved ones.
Robert said, “It’s increasingly regular from pandemic. Due to changing circumstances, people have been desperate for money, so they will defy their will when they know they have no real chance to win. We have never had a challenge and won.”
Before starting the company, Robert made an intervention at Royal Navy, which he joined at the age of 16, and 11 years as a Kent police, before becoming financial advisor.
It was common to deal with people who had not made an agreement for his death, so he started thinking.
He said, “I thought it would be a good idea if we could recommend someone, so I talked to my wife’s cousin in Norfolk, who wrote Wills, and asked if we could recommend it.
“He said” no “because he was miles away, but he suggested that we did it ourselves with his help.”
The Malvines veteran joined the Institute of Professional Tens and has spent several courses over the years to obtain the necessary qualifications.
Robert says his time in the Navy and police helped to train him to keep calm as he spoke with those who lost their loved ones, which is now useful.
The business owner also encourages others not to neglect their will, especially in the age of mixed families.
He said, “The law only follows the blood line. So, for example, my own son has two children, but one of them, his wife already had when he met her.
“If we did not put it to our will, the law would not recognize it as our grandson.
“It is very important in will, especially now with second relationships and children from previous marriages.”
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, business owners plan a special event on June 18 at their office in Watling Street.
Their children, 37, and Leah, 35, have been with them in the business from the beginning.
“They have helped us for years,” added Robert. “And one day, they would probably take over.
“I am sure they would have their own fun stories to tell …”
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