The article ‘Mixed-up wills have no value in law’ surprised me a great deal. I disagree that there is any need for a change in the legislation. The provisions of section 9 of the Wills Act are specific and rigid, for the very reason that they are intended to protect a testator and their estate from fraud or undue influence.

The act fulfils this role and it would be ill-advised to diminish this protection. Thankfully, remedies are available to disappointed beneficiaries in such circumstances. Let us not loosen the protection of the existing legislation simply to lessen the professional implications of a mistake.

As practitioners, our role is to apply the law to assist and serve our clients and not to escape our mistakes more easily.

Sara Stabler, consultant solicitor, higher court advocate, Setfords Solicitors, Hart Scales & Hodges Solicitors, Surrey