Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010

Part 3 Confirmation and will writing services

Chapter 1 Confirmation services

Regulation of confirmation agents

90 Confirmation agents and services

(1) For the purposes of this Part, confirmation services are services that are—

(a) described in subsection (2), and

(b) provided (or offered)—

(i) to members of the public, and

(ii) for a fee, gain or reward.

(2) The services are those of drawing or preparing papers on which to found or oppose an application for the confirmation of a person as the executor nominate or dative in relation to the estate of a deceased person.

(3) It is immaterial for the description in subsection (2) whether or not the services also involve applying to the sheriff on behalf of the person so as to secure the person’s confirmation as such (or taking other related action).

(4) For the purposes of this Part, a confirmation agent is a person on whom, in accordance with an approving body’s regulatory scheme, the right to provide confirmation services is conferred.

91 Approving bodies

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, an approving body is a professional or other body which is certified as such by the Scottish Ministers under section 92.

(2) That is, following an application to them by the body under subsection (3).

(3) An application to become an approving body must include—

(a) a copy of the applicant’s proposed regulatory scheme (see section 92(1)(b)),

(b) a description of—

(i) the applicant’s constitution and composition (including internal structure),

(ii) its activities.

(4) The applicant—

(a) must provide the Scottish Ministers with such other information as they may reasonably require for their consideration of its application,

(b) may withdraw its application at any time by giving them written notice to that effect.

(5) There is no restriction on the number of approving bodies that may exist at any time.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations prescribe fees that they may charge an applicant to become an approving body.

92 Certification of bodies

(1) The Scottish Ministers may certify the applicant as an approving body if they are satisfied that—

(a) the applicant is suitable to be an approving body,

(b) the applicant’s proposed regulatory scheme is adequate (as determined with particular reference to section 93).

(2) The Scottish Ministers may certify the applicant as an approving body—

(a) either—

(i) without limit of time, or

(ii) for a fixed period,

(b) with reference to a specified date from which the approving body may exercise its functions in relation to its regulatory scheme,

(c) subject to conditions.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may, after consulting the approving body, vary (including by addition or deletion) any conditions imposed under subsection (2)(c).

(4) Before deciding whether or not to certify the applicant as an approving body, the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a) the OFT, and such other organisation (appearing to them to represent the interests of consumers in Scotland) as they consider appropriate,

(b) such other person or body as they consider appropriate.

(5) In consulting under subsection (4), the Scottish Ministers—

(a) must send a copy of the application to the OFT,

(b) may send—

(i) to any other consultee, a copy of the application,

(ii) to the OFT or any other consultee, a copy of any revised application.

(6) The Scottish Ministers must, with reasons, notify the applicant if they intend to—

(a) refuse to certify it as an approving body, or

(b) certify it as such subject to conditions.

(7) If notification is given to the applicant under subsection (6), it has 28 days beginning with the date of the notification (or such longer period as the Scottish Ministers may allow) to—

(a) make representations to the Scottish Ministers,

(b) take such steps as it may consider expedient.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about certification under this section, including (in particular)—

(a) the process for seeking their certification,

(b) in relation to capability to act as an approving body, the criteria for their certification (including things that applicants must be able to demonstrate).

93 Regulatory schemes

(1) An approving body must—

(a) make a regulatory scheme for—

(i) conferring on any of the individual persons within its membership the right to provide confirmation services, and

(ii) regulating the provision of confirmation services by the persons on whom (in accordance with the scheme) that right is conferred, and

(b) apply the scheme in relation to them.

(2) The regulatory scheme is to—

(a) describe the training requirements to be met by a prospective confirmation agent,

(b) incorporate a code of practice to which a confirmation agent is subject,

(c) require that a confirmation agent keep in place sufficient arrangements for professional indemnity,

(d) include rules about—

(i) the making and handling of any complaint about a confirmation agent,

(ii) the measures that may be taken by the approving body, in relation to a confirmation agent, if a conduct complaint (as construed by reference to section 2(1)(a) of the 2007 Act (and as if the confirmation agent were a practitioner to whom that section relates)) about the confirmation agent is upheld,

(e) allow a confirmation agent to make representations to the approving body before it takes any of the measures available to it by virtue of paragraph (d)(ii),

(f) cover such other regulatory matters as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify (and in such manner as they may so specify).

(3) The code of practice mentioned in subsection (2)(b) must—

(a) set out the standards to be met by confirmation agents,

(b) make such further arrangements as to the professional practice, conduct or discipline of confirmation agents for which provision is (in the approving body’s opinion) necessary or expedient,

(c) allow for—

(i) the rescission or suspension of, or attaching of conditions to the exercise of, the right of a confirmation agent to provide confirmation services if the agent contravenes the code of practice,

(ii) the suspension of that right of a confirmation agent if a complaint, suggesting that the agent is guilty of professional misconduct in relation to the provision of confirmation services, is made about the agent.

(4) A confirmation agent may appeal against a decision taken under the regulatory scheme to rescind or suspend, or attach conditions to the exercise of, the agent’s right to provide confirmation services—

(a) to the sheriff,

(b) within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which that decision is intimated to the agent.

(5) An approving body must, so far as practicable when exercising its functions under this Chapter, observe the regulatory objectives.

94 Financial sanctions

(1) Rules included in a regulatory scheme in pursuance of section 93(2)(d)(ii) may provide for the imposition of a financial penalty.

(2) A financial penalty provided for by virtue of subsection (1) must not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Scottish Ministers when giving their certification under section 92.

(3) A financial penalty imposed by virtue of this section is payable to the Scottish Ministers (but the approving body may collect it on their behalf).

(4) A confirmation agent may appeal against a financial penalty (or the amount of a financial penalty) imposed on the agent by virtue of this section—

(a) to the sheriff,

(b) within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which the penalty is intimated to the agent.

(5) Where an appeal is made under subsection (4), no part of the penalty requires to be paid before the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

95 Review of own performance

(1) An approving body must review annually its performance.

(2) In particular, a review is to cover the following matters—

(a) the approving body’s compliance with section 93(5),

(b) the exercise of its functions in relation to its regulatory scheme,

(c) its compliance with any measures applying to it by virtue of section 100(3).

(3) The approving body must send a report on the review to the Scottish Ministers.

(4) The report must contain a copy of the approving body’s annual accounts (but only so far as they are relevant in connection with its functions under this Chapter).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about—

(a) the review of approved bodies’ performance,

(b) reports on reviews of their performance.

96 Pretending to be authorised

(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) pretends to be a confirmation agent (or otherwise pretends to have the right to provide confirmation services under this Part), or

(b) takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying falsely that the person is a confirmation agent (or otherwise so implying that the person has the right to provide confirmation services under this Part).

(2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Other regulatory matters

97 Revocation of certification

(1) Subsection (2) applies where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that an approving body has failed to comply with a direction under section 100(3).

(2) The Scottish Ministers may—

(a) revoke the certification given to the approving body under section 92,

(b) require the approving body to take specified action (or refrain from doing something) if they consider that to be necessary or expedient in connection with the revocation.

(3) The revocation under subsection (2) of the certification of an approving body has the effect, from the date on which the revocation becomes effective, of rescinding the right of each of its confirmation agents to provide confirmation services (so far as that right is conferred by the approving body in question).

98 Surrender of certification

(1) An approving body may, with the prior agreement of the Scottish Ministers, surrender the certification given to it under section 92.

(2) The approving body must—

(a) take all reasonable steps to mitigate such disruption to the clients of its confirmation agents as is likely to result from the surrender,

(b) in particular, take steps for ensuring that any relevant work is—

(i) completed, or

(ii) taken over by a suitably qualified person,

before the date from which subsection (5) is operative.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may direct the approving body to take specified action (or refrain from doing something) if they consider that to be necessary or expedient—

(a) for the purpose of subsection (2), or

(b) otherwise in connection with the surrender.

(4) Before the Scottish Ministers may agree to the surrender, they must be satisfied that the approving body has complied (or will comply) with—

(a) subsection (2), and

(b) any directions given to it under subsection (3).

(5) The surrender of an approving body’s certification under subsection (1) has, from the date on which the surrender becomes effective, the effect of extinguishing the right of each of its confirmation agents to provide confirmation services (so far as that right is conferred by the approving body in question).

99 Register and list

(1) The Scottish Ministers—

(a) must keep and publish a register of approving bodies,

(b) may do so in a such manner as they consider appropriate.

(2) The register is to include the following information in relation to each approving body—

(a) its contact details (including its address, website and telephone number),

(b) the date on which it was given the relevant certification under section 92.

(3) An approving body must—

(a) keep a list of its confirmation agents,

(b) give the Scottish Ministers a copy of the list whenever they request it.

(4) An approving body must give the Scottish Ministers such information about its confirmation agents as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably request.

Ministerial functions

100 Ministerial intervention

(1) An approving body must—

(a) provide such information about its performance in relation to its regulatory scheme as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably request,

(b) do so within 21 days beginning with the date of the request (or such longer period as the Scottish Ministers may allow).

(2) An approving body—

(a) if directed to do so by the Scottish Ministers, must—

(i) review its regulatory scheme (or any relevant part of it), and

(ii) report to them its findings and (if appropriate) inform them of any proposed amendment to the scheme,

(b) may amend its regulatory scheme so as to give effect to the proposed amendment, but—

(i) any material amendment is invalid unless it has the prior approval of the Scottish Ministers,

(ii) the Scottish Ministers may not give their approval before they have consulted such person or body as they consider appropriate.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may—

(a) if, after consulting such person or body as they consider appropriate, they consider that an approving body’s regulatory scheme is not (or is no longer) adequate, direct the approving body to amend the regulatory scheme in such manner as they may specify,

(b) if they are satisfied that an approving body has not complied with a requirement imposed on it by or under this Chapter, direct the approving body to take specified remedial action (or refrain from doing something).

(4) An approving body must—

(a) review annually the performance of its confirmation agents,

(b) prepare a report on the review,

(c) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision—

(a) about the review of confirmation agents,

(b) so far as it appears to them to be necessary for safeguarding the interests of clients of confirmation agents—

(i) concerning the functions of approving bodies,

(ii) relating to confirmation agents.

Chapter 2 Will writing services

Regulation of will writers

101 Will writers and services

(1) For the purposes of this Part, will writing services are services that are—

(a) described in subsection (2), and

(b) provided (or offered)—

(i) to members of the public, and

(ii) for a fee, gain or reward.

(2) The services are those of drawing or preparing wills or other testamentary writings.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, a will writer is a person on whom, in accordance with an approving body’s regulatory scheme, the right to provide will writing services is conferred.

102 Approving bodies

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, an approving body is a professional or other body which is certified as such by the Scottish Ministers under section 103.

(2) That is, following an application to them by the body under subsection (3).

(3) An application to become an approving body must include—

(a) a copy of the applicant’s proposed regulatory scheme (see section 103(1)(b)),

(b) a description of—

(i) the applicant’s constitution and composition (including internal structure),

(ii) its activities.

(4) The applicant—

(a) must provide the Scottish Ministers with such other information as they may reasonably require for their consideration of its application,

(b) may withdraw its application at any time by giving them written notice to that effect.

(5) There is no restriction on the number of approving bodies that may exist at any time.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations prescribe fees that they may charge an applicant to become an approving body.

103 Certification of bodies

(1) The Scottish Ministers may certify the applicant as an approving body if they are satisfied that—

(a) the applicant is suitable to be an approving body,

(b) the applicant’s proposed regulatory scheme is adequate (as determined with particular reference to section 104).

(2) The Scottish Ministers may certify the applicant as an approving body—

(a) either—

(i) without limit of time, or

(ii) for a fixed period,

(b) with reference to a specified date from which the approving body may exercise its functions in relation to its regulatory scheme,

(c) subject to conditions.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may, after consulting the approving body, vary (including by addition or deletion) any conditions imposed under subsection (2)(c).

(4) Before deciding whether or not to certify the applicant as an approving body, the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a) the OFT, and such other organisation (appearing to them to represent the interests of consumers in Scotland) as they consider appropriate,

(b) such other person or body as they consider appropriate.

(5) In consulting under subsection (4), the Scottish Ministers—

(a) must send a copy of the application to the OFT,

(b) may send—

(i) to any other consultee, a copy of the application,

(ii) to the OFT or any other consultee, a copy of any revised application.

(6) The Scottish Ministers must, with reasons, notify the applicant if they intend to—

(a) refuse to certify it as an approving body, or

(b) certify it as such subject to conditions.

(7) If notification is given to the applicant under subsection (6), it has 28 days beginning with the date of the notification (or such longer period as the Scottish Ministers may allow) to—

(a) make representations to the Scottish Ministers,

(b) take such steps as it may consider expedient.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about certification under this section, including (in particular)—

(a) the process for seeking their certification,

(b) in relation to capability to act as an approving body, the criteria for their certification (including things that applicants must be able to demonstrate).

104 Regulatory schemes

(1) An approving body must—

(a) make a regulatory scheme for—

(i) conferring on any of the individual persons within its membership the right to provide will writing services, and

(ii) regulating the provision of will writing services by the persons on whom (in accordance with the scheme) that right is conferred, and

(b) apply the scheme in relation to them.

(2) The regulatory scheme is to—

(a) describe the training requirements to be met by a prospective will writer,

(b) incorporate a code of practice to which a will writer (and anyone acting on behalf of the will writer in relation to will writing services) is subject,

(c) require that a will writer keep in place sufficient arrangements for professional indemnity,

(d) include rules about—

(i) the making and handling of any complaint about a will writer,

(ii) the measures that may be taken by the approving body, in relation to a will writer, if a conduct complaint (as construed by reference to section 2(1)(a) of the 2007 Act (and as if the will writer were a practitioner to whom that section relates)) about the will writer is upheld,

(e) allow a will writer to make representations to the approving body before it takes any of the measures available to it by virtue of paragraph (d)(ii),

(f) cover such other regulatory matters as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify (and in such manner as they may so specify).

(3) The code of practice mentioned in subsection (2)(b) must—

(a) set out the standards to be met by will writers (and persons acting on their behalf in relation to will writing services),

(b) except in such circumstances as the approving body considers appropriate, prohibit the drawing or preparation of a will or other testamentary writing by a will writer which provides for the writer to be a beneficiary,

(c) require a will writer who provides the service of storing wills or other testamentary writings to keep in place sufficient arrangements for the storage of such documents (including arrangements in the event of the writer ceasing to provide will writing services),

(d) make such further arrangements as to the professional practice, conduct or discipline of will writers for which provision is (in the approving body’s opinion) necessary or expedient,

(e) provide that it is a breach of the code of practice for a will writer to fail to comply with the writer’s duties under any enactment specified in the code,

(f) provide that a breach of the code of practice by a person acting on behalf of a will writer in relation to will writing services constitutes a breach of the code of practice by the writer,

(g) allow for—

(i) the rescission or suspension of, or attaching of conditions to the exercise of, the right of a will writer to provide will writing services if the writer contravenes the code of practice,

(ii) the suspension of that right of a will writer if a complaint, suggesting that the writer is guilty of professional misconduct in relation to the provision of will writing services, is made about the writer.

(4) A will writer may appeal against a decision taken under the regulatory scheme to rescind or suspend, or attach conditions to the exercise of, the writer’s right to provide will writing services—

(a) to the sheriff,

(b) within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which that decision is intimated to the writer.

(5) An approving body must, so far as practicable when exercising its functions under this Chapter, observe the regulatory objectives.

105 Financial sanctions

(1) Rules included in a regulatory scheme in pursuance of section 104(2)(d)(ii) may provide for the imposition of a financial penalty.

(2) A financial penalty provided for by virtue of subsection (1) must not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Scottish Ministers when giving their certification under section 103.

(3) A financial penalty imposed by virtue of this section is payable to the Scottish Ministers (but the approving body may collect it on their behalf).

(4) A will writer may appeal against a financial penalty (or the amount of a financial penalty) imposed on the writer by virtue of this section—

(a) to the sheriff,

(b) within the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which the penalty is intimated to the writer.

(5) Where an appeal is made under subsection (4), no part of the penalty requires to be paid before the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

106 Review of own performance

(1) An approving body must review annually its performance.

(2) In particular, a review is to cover the following matters—

(a) the approving body’s compliance with section 104(5),

(b) the exercise of its functions in relation to its regulatory scheme,

(c) its compliance with any measures applying to it by virtue of section 111(3).

(3) The approving body must send a report on the review to the Scottish Ministers.

(4) The report must contain a copy of the approving body’s annual accounts (but only so far as they are relevant in connection with its functions under this Chapter).

(5) The Scottish Ministers must lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about—

(a) the review of approved bodies’ performance,

(b) reports on reviews of their performance.

107 Pretending to be authorised

(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) pretends to be a will writer (or otherwise pretends to have the right to provide will writing services under this Part), or

(b) takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying falsely that the person is a will writer (or otherwise so implying that the person has the right to provide will writing services under this Part).

(2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Other regulatory matters

108 Revocation of certification

(1) Subsection (2) applies where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that an approving body has failed to comply with a direction under section 111(3).

(2) The Scottish Ministers may—

(a) revoke the certification given to the approving body under section 103,

(b) require the approving body to take specified action (or refrain from doing something) if they consider that to be necessary or expedient in connection with the revocation.

(3) The revocation under subsection (2) of the certification of an approving body has the effect, from the date on which the revocation becomes effective, of rescinding the right of each of its will writers to provide will writing services (so far as that right is conferred by the approving body in question).

109 Surrender of certification

(1) An approving body may, with the prior agreement of the Scottish Ministers, surrender the certification given to it under section 103.

(2) The approving body must—

(a) take all reasonable steps to mitigate such disruption to the clients of its will writers as is likely to result from the surrender,

(b) in particular, take steps for ensuring that any relevant work is—

(i) completed, or

(ii) taken over by a suitably qualified person,

before the date from which subsection (5) is operative.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may direct the approving body to take specified action (or refrain from doing something) if they consider that to be necessary or expedient—

(a) for the purpose of subsection (2), or

(b) otherwise in connection with the surrender.

(4) Before the Scottish Ministers may agree to the surrender, they must be satisfied that the approving body has complied (or will comply) with—

(a) subsection (2), and

(b) any direction given to it under subsection (3).

(5) The surrender of an approving body’s certification under subsection (1) has, from the date on which the surrender becomes effective, the effect of extinguishing the right of each of its will writers to provide will writing services (so far as that right is conferred by the approving body in question).

110 Register and list

(1) The Scottish Ministers—

(a) must keep and publish a register of approving bodies,

(b) may do so in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(2) The register is to include the following information in relation to each approving body—

(a) its contact details (including its address, website and telephone number),

(b) the date on which it was given the relevant certification under section 103.

(3) An approving body must—

(a) keep a list of its will writers,

(b) give the Scottish Ministers a copy of the list whenever they request it.

(4) An approving body must give the Scottish Ministers such information about its will writers as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably request.

Ministerial functions

111 Ministerial intervention

(1) An approving body must—

(a) provide such information about its performance in relation to its regulatory scheme as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably request,

(b) do so within 21 days beginning with the date of the request (or such longer period as the Scottish Ministers may allow).

(2) An approving body—

(a) if directed to do so by the Scottish Ministers, must—

(i) review its regulatory scheme (or any relevant part of it), and

(ii) report to them its findings and (if appropriate) inform them of any proposed amendments to the scheme,

(b) may amend its regulatory scheme so as to give effect to the proposed amendment, but—

(i) any material amendment is invalid unless it has the prior approval of the Scottish Ministers,

(ii) the Scottish Ministers may not give their approval before they have consulted such person or body as they consider appropriate.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may—

(a) if, after consulting such person or body as they consider appropriate, they consider that an approving body’s regulatory scheme is not (or is no longer) adequate, direct the approving body to amend the regulatory scheme in such manner as they may specify,

(b) if they are satisfied that an approving body has not complied with a requirement imposed on it by or under this Chapter, direct the approving body to take specified remedial action (or refrain from doing something).

(4) An approving body must—

(a) review annually the performance of its will writers,

(b) prepare a report on the review,

(c) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision—

(a) about the review of will writers,

(b) so far as it appears to them to be necessary for safeguarding the interests of clients of will writers—

(i) concerning the functions of approving bodies,

(ii) relating to will writers.

112 Step-in by Ministers

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision which establishes a body with a view to its becoming an approving body.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision which allows them to act as an approving body in such circumstances as the regulations may prescribe.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may provide for this Chapter to apply with or subject to such modifications as the regulations may specify.

(4) No regulations are to be made under subsection (1) or (2) unless the Scottish Ministers believe that their intervention under this section is necessary, as a last resort, in order to ensure that the provision of will writing services by will writers is regulated effectively.

Chapter 3 Further provision

113 Regard to OFT input

(1) The Scottish Ministers, whenever consulting the OFT under section 92(4)(a) or 103(4)(a), must request the OFT—

(a) to give such advice as it considers appropriate in relation to the matter concerned,

(b) in considering what (if any) advice to give, to have particular regard to whether the matter concerned would have (or be likely to have) the effect of preventing, or significantly restricting or distorting, competition within the legal services market.

(2) The Scottish Ministers are to take account of any advice given by the OFT within—

(a) the relevant consultation period, or

(b) otherwise, the period of 90 days beginning with the day on which they request the advice.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may publish any advice duly given to them by the OFT.

114 Complaints about services

In the 2007 Act, after Part 2A (inserted by section 81) insert—

“Part 2B Special provision for confirmation agents and will writers

57H Complaints about agents and writers

(1) Parts 1 and 2 apply in relation to complaints made about confirmation agents and will writers as they apply in relation to complaints made about practitioners.

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to—

(a) subsection (3), and

(b) such further modification to the operation of Parts 1 and 2 as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations make for the purposes of subsection (1).

(3) In relation to a services or conduct complaint about a confirmation agent or will writer, the relevant approving body is to be regarded as the relevant professional organisation.

57I Handling complaints

(1) Parts 1 and 2 apply in relation to any complaint made about how an approving body has dealt with a conduct complaint as they apply in relation to a handling complaint (relating to a conduct complaint) made about a relevant professional organisation.

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to such modification to the operation of those Parts as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations make for the purposes of that subsection.

57J Levy payable

(1) A confirmation agent must pay to the Commission—

(a) the annual general levy, and

(b) the complaints levy (if arising),

in accordance with Part 1.

(2) A will writer must pay to the Commission—

(a) the annual general levy, and

(b) the complaints levy (if arising),

in accordance with Part 1.

(3) Section 29 applies for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) as it applies for the purposes of sections 27(1) and 28(1).

(4) For the application of sections 27(1), 28(1) and 29 by virtue of subsections (1) to (3)—

(a) an approving body is to be regarded as a relevant professional organisation whose members are its confirmation agents or (as the case may be) will writers,

(b) a confirmation agent or (as the case may be) will writer is to be regarded—

(i) in connection with the annual general levy, as an individual person falling within the relevant category,

(ii) in connection with the complaints levy, as an individual practitioner of the relevant type.

57K Recovery of levy

(1) An approving body must—

(a) secure the collection by it, from its confirmation agents or (as the case may be) will writers, of the annual general levy due by them, and

(b) pay to the Commission a sum representing the total amount which falls to be collected by it under paragraph (a) in respect of each financial year.

(2) Subsection (3) of section 27 applies in relation to any sum due under subsection (1)(b) (including interest) as its applies in relation to any sum due under subsection (2)(b) of section 27.

(3) Subsection (4) of section 27 applies in relation to any sum due under section 57J(1)(a) and (2)(a) (including interest) as its applies in relation to any sum due under subsection (1) of section 27.

(4) Subsection (3) of section 28 applies in relation to any sum due under section 57J(1)(b) and (2)(b) (including interest) as its applies in relation to any sum due under subsection (1) of section 28.

(5) For the application of sections 27(3) and (4) and 28(3) by virtue of subsections (2) to (4)—

(a) the approving body is to be regarded as the relevant professional organisation,

(b) each of its confirmation agents or (as the case may be) will writers is to be regarded—

(i) in relation to section 27(4), as an individual person falling within the relevant category,

(ii) in relation to section 28(3), as an individual practitioner of the relevant type.

(6) Section 57J(1) and (2) is subject to subsection (1).

57L Interpretation of Part 2B

For the purposes of this Part—

• “approving body”,

• “confirmation agent”,

• “will writer”,

are to be construed in accordance with Part 3 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010.”.

115 Privilege and immunity

(1) For the purposes of the law on defamation, the publication under this Part of any material is privileged unless it is proved that the publication was made with malice.

(2) Neither an approving body nor any of its officers, members or employees is liable in damages for any act or omission occurring in the exercise (or purported exercise) of its functions under this Part unless it is shown that the act or omission was in bad faith.

116 Appeal procedure

(1) This section applies in relation to an appeal to the sheriff under this Part.

(2) The appeal is to be made by way of summary application.

(3) In the appeal, the sheriff may—

(a) uphold, vary or quash the decision that is the subject of the appeal,

(b) make such further order (including for the expenses of the parties) as is necessary in the interests of justice.

(4) The sheriff’s determination in the appeal is final.

117 Corporate offences

(1) Subsection (2) applies where—

(a) an offence under this Part is committed by a relevant organisation, and

(b) the commission of the offence—

(i) involves the connivance or consent of, or

(ii) is attributable to the neglect of,

a responsible official of the organisation.

(2) The official (as well as the organisation) commits the offence.

(3) For the purpose of this section—

(a) a “relevant organisation” is—

(i) a company,

(ii) a limited liability partnership,

(iii) an ordinary partnership, or

(iv) any other body or association,

(b) a “responsible official” is—

(i) in the case of a company, a director, secretary, manager or other similar officer,

(ii) in the case of a limited liability partnership, a member,

(iii) in the case of an ordinary partnership, a partner,

(iv) in the case of another body or association, a person who is concerned in the management or control of its affairs,

but in each case also extends to a person purporting to act in such a capacity.

118 Consequential modification

(1) In the Confirmation of Executors (Scotland) Act 1858, in section 2 (petition to commissary), after “1990” insert “or by a confirmation agent within the meaning of Part 3 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010”.

(2) In the 1980 Act—

(a) in section 32 (offence for unqualified persons to prepare certain documents)—

(i) in subsection (1), after paragraph (c) insert “or

(d) any will or other testamentary writing,”,

(ii) in subsection (2)(a), for “or papers” substitute “, papers, will or testamentary writing”,

(iii) in subsection (2C), after “1990” insert “or to a confirmation agent within the meaning of Part 3 of the 2010 Act”,

(iv) after subsection (2C) insert—

“(2D) Subsection (1)(d) does not apply to a will writer within the meaning of Part 3 of the 2010 Act.”,

(b) in paragraph 1A of Schedule 4 (constitution, procedure and powers of Tribunal), after head (b)(ii) insert—

“(iia) confirmation agents or will writers within the meaning of Part 3 of the 2010 Act;”.

(3) In section 12A (register of advice organisations) of the 1986 Act, after subsection (2)(b) insert—

“(ba) is a confirmation agent or will writer within the meaning of Part 3 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010;”.

(4) In paragraph 2 of schedule 1 (the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission) to the 2007 Act, after sub-paragraph (6)(b) insert—

“(ba) confirmation agents or will writers within the meaning of Part 3 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010;”.