A global wealth manager says the Coronavirus outbreak has fuelled a 76% rise in clients seeking will writing services.

deVere group, which has 80,000 clients around the world, says demand has risen particularly strongly over the past two weeks.

The company believes the increase in demand for its wills service has been driven by people’s minds being “more focused” on certain aspects of Financial Planning during the pandemic. 

The company has launched a free online will service for clients and a discounted service at £15 for non-clients for a month.

Storage costs in an insured facility, if required, are not included. 

deVere Group chief executive Nigel Green said: “Like too many aspects of Financial Planning, including retirement planning, drawing up a will is not something that most people rush to do.  It remains ‘on the back burner’ until something, such as an illness or a change of circumstances, focuses minds. 

“With frightening death tolls and confirmed cases, with more people than ever bravely risking their own health to help others, and with more people with more time on their hands due to social distancing measures and lockdowns, the Coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented, collective focusing-of-minds effect.”

He added: “We can expect the uptick in demand for wills to continue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, which has triggered a growing number of people to get their affairs in order.”

deVere group has 70 offices around the world and targets international, mass affluent and HNW clients. It has £9.7bn in assets under advice.