In return, they hope you’ll make a donation or leave a ‘bequest’ in your will (leaving them something when you die) – though you’re not obliged to.
Martin Lewis will be discussing the scheme on his show tonight, and as he says on his website, Money Saving Expert: “Do remember it is a charity paying for your will, and it may be shelling out £100s, so please seriously consider leaving a bequest.”
What is Free Wills Month?
Free Wills Month has run, with success, since 2005.
Each year it raises £30 million in future income and now the campaign is running in:
- Aberdeen
- Barry
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Birmingham
- Blackpool
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cardiff
- Chesterfield
- Chichester
- Coventry
- Crawley
- Darlington
- Dundee
- Eastbourne
- Edinburgh
- Essex
- Fife
- Glasgow
- Harrogate
- Hastings
- Hertfordshire
- Horsham
- Inverness
- Kent
- Kilmarnock
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Mid Wales
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Wales
- Northamptonshire
- Norwich
- Perth
- Peterborough
- Sheffield
- Sunderland
- Surrey
- Swansea
- Wirral
- Wolverhampton
- Worthing
The charities are paying for a limited number of Wills to encourage more people to leave charitable gifts in their wills (legacies), although there is no obligation for people using the service to leave a gift to the charity.
The Free Wills Month charities this March are:
- Age UK
- Alzheimer’s Research UK
- British Heart Foundation
- Guide Dogs
- Marie Curie
- Mencap
- NSPCC
- Oxfam
- The Royal British Legion
- The Salvation Army
- Stroke Association
- Versus Arthritis
- RNID
- RNLI
- Breast Cancer Now
- Mind
- PDSA
- Children’s Hospices Across Scotland
- Dogs Trust
- Help for Heroes
They all depend on legacies for a huge part of their income – which means their vital work is only made possible by the gifts left in wills.
Who can apply for a free will?
The campaign is open to anyone aged 55 or over (in the case of a couple making mirror wills it is sufficient if one has reached 55).
Appointments are limited and can fill up quickly, so they recommend calling to book your free wills appointment sooner rather than later.
All people have to do is call one of the participating solicitors shown in adverts in the local press or listed on www.freewillsmonth.org.uk.
If you want to take part, you’ll need to sort your booking by 5pm on Monday 31 March, though do note the appointment itself can take place into April or beyond if necessary.
Recommended reading:
How much money should I leave to a charity in my will?
You’ll be asked to leave money to a charity in your will (‘a bequest’). According to Money Saving Expert, typically people leave between £300 and £500, or you could leave a small percentage of your estate instead – but the decision is yours.
You don’t have to leave anything if you don’t want to.
Why do I need to make a will or update my will?
There are many reasons for writing a will. One of the main ones is if you have children, as well as financially providing for children after your death, if they’re under 18 you should consider who’d look after them by nominating a legal guardian or guardians in your will.
If you aren’t married to your partner. If you aren’t married or in a civil partnership, then don’t expect anything to go to your partner if you don’t make a will.
Also, you should write or update your will when you marry, re-marry, divorce or have kids to ensure the right people stand to benefit. Note that in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (but not Scotland) an existing will is automatically cancelled – ‘revoked’ – when you get married.
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