Jasmine Birtles
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How to save money and gain peace of mind by getting a will written professionally
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis is a post from Will Aid
A will is one of the most important documents you’ll sign in your lifetime – but 59% of people in the UK don’t have one, according to new research by Will Aid.
Simply put, a will is a legal document that states the people and organisations such as charities which you want your money and possessions to go to when you die.
If you don’t make a will, your wishes may well not be met, for example if you’re cohabiting your partner won’t automatically get your money or property.
- A special partnership
- Why do I need a will?
- How Will Aid works
- Seven simple steps
- What has Will Aid achieved?
A special partnership
It is best to have your will drawn up by a solicitor who will help make sure that it is legally valid and that your wishes can be carried out.
That’s why so many people choose to have their will written with Will Aid – a special partnership between the legal profession and nine of the UK’s best-loved charities: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF and Trócaire.
Every November, participating solicitors volunteer their time and waive their fee for writing a basic Will. Instead, they invite clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid – a suggested £100 for a single basic Will and £180 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ wills.
Everyone benefits – you get a professionally drawn-up Will and peace of mind, while the charities receive much-needed donations for their vital work.
Why do I need a will?
Writing a valid will is the best way to be sure that your wishes are carried out and your loved ones provided for after your death.
Dying without one may cause your family the distress of resolving legal problems on top of losing a loved one.
Many people believe that their possessions would automatically go to their partner.
Without a will, though, that is not necessarily the case. And if they are not married, their partner could receive nothing.
Peter de Vena Franks, Will Aid Campaign Director, said: “Regardless of the amount of money someone leaves behind after their death, a will is the best way to ensure your assets are distributed in accordance with your personal wishes.
“This means that family and loved ones are looked after, and other beneficiaries including charities can benefit from the individual’s legacy.”
How Will Aid works
Writing a will through Will Aid is easy. From September onwards, you can use an online solicitor search or call 0300 0300 013 to find your Will Aid solicitor.
You can then contact your chosen solicitor via the Will Aid website to arrange your Will Aid appointment for November.
Participating solicitors draw up a basic will for clients without charging their usual fee. Instead, they invite their clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid.
Donations support the vital work of the nine Will Aid charities to help people in need in the UK and around the world.
And As Will Aid works only through registered or authorised legal firms or solicitors, you have the protection of the Law Society complaints procedure.
Seven simple steps
- Choose a solicitor – Select a solicitor from the list of participating firms and contact them to make an appointment.
- Plan your will – Use the online Will Planner to prepare for your meeting. https://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers/will-planner The Jargon Buster explains some legal terms you might need to know. https://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers/jargon-buster
- Leave a gift to charity in your will – Have you considered leaving a gift in your will? Once family and friends have been taken care of, many people consider leaving gifts to causes close to their hearts in their wills as well. Gifts in wills are an incredibly important source of income for charities. Also if your estate is liable to inheritance tax, your donation to charity will be 100% tax-free and could even reduce your inheritance tax liability.
- Meet your solicitor – Your chosen solicitor will talk you through the process and advise on how to best ensure your wishes are met. If you need additional services, such as advice on tax planning or the creation of trusts for instance, your solicitor will inform you of the costs of this additional work and you can decide whether you wish to proceed.
- Consider your donation – Your solicitor will waive their normal fee for writing your basic will or pair of mirror wills and invite you to make a donation to Will Aid instead. You can make a cheque out to Will Aid and give it to your solicitor to pass on, or donate safely online. The suggested voluntary donation is £100 for a single will or £180 for a pair of mirror wills.
- Approve your will – Your solicitor will send you the will to approve and any changes can be made at this point. Once you are happy with the document, you will need to sign it in the presence of two witnesses.
- Keep it safe! Your will should be kept safely at home, or your solicitor may offer to hold it in their strong room. Most importantly, don’t forget to tell your family where it is. Will Aid clients can register their will for free with the Certainty National Wills Register. This ensures that when the time comes, your beneficiaries can find out where your will has been kept. For more information and to register a will, visit nationalwillregister.co.uk
Getting your will written through Will Aid is a safe, easy process with support every step of the way.
“Will Aid is a brilliant way to tick writing your will off your to-do-list, whilst also knowing you are helping your loved ones and supporting charity,” said Peter.
“We would also suggest that having a conversation with your family so they understand your future intentions and know where your Will is stored, is usually a good thing to do.”
What has Will Aid achieved?
Since 1988, Will Aid has enabled the legal profession to raise over £24 million for good causes.
The Will Aid charities all work with the most vulnerable people in the UK and around the world, so that sum of money will have improved countless lives.
Over those years, Will Aid has encouraged and helped more than 310,000 people to make their wills. By writing their wills, these people may have spared their family the distress of coping with legal complications as well as losing a loved one.
To find out more, visit www.willaid.org.uk
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
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