BTO extends Settify tool to wills work

An innovative online tool devised to help family law clients provide information about their circumstances has been extended to wills and related work by BTO Solicitors.

The independent legal firm has developed the tool with legal tech company Settify. Accessible through BTO’s website, it allows clients to start the legal process at the time and in the place of their choice through a “Get Started Online” button. They are then guided through an artificially intelligent, responsive, interview process which gathers the relevant information about their circumstances and prompts them to consider relevant matters along the way, such as whether they wish to put a power of attorney in place.

Settify launched in Scotland late last year as a way to help those needing advice in perhaps emotionally charged family law situations explain their circumstances when they felt best able to (click here for Journal feature).

BTO claims it will also reduce costs to clients, as its solicitors will not need to spend so much time asking questions. Instead they will be able to begin their client meetings with a full brief of each client’s information.

Lynn Melville, who leads BTO’s Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team in Edinburgh and helped develop the Settify tool for the Scottish market, commented: "In my view, this product ticks all the boxes. It is extremely user friendly and allows us as solicitors to be more organised when preparing for the first meeting. It provides the important information required ahead of the meeting, yet we still have the opportunity to build rapport with our clients at face-to-face meetings, which is vitally important. Using this tool is really the most efficient and effective way to have a solicitor prepare your will and power of attorney."