From your initial enquiry all the way through to your final signature, this guide will explain all there is to know about Free Wills Month, how it could save you hundreds of pounds and how making a will helps secure the long-term financial security of your loved ones and your hard-earned estate in the process.
What is 'Free Wills Month'?
As also reported on by Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert - Free Wills Month is now open! Free Wills Month is a campaign designed to raise money for various participating charities, where Will writers across England, Scotland and Wales come together to offer individuals over the age of 55 a free Will-writing service.
Customers can choose to either write a Will or update an existing one at no cost, in the hope that a small gift (typically around £300 from your estate upon death) will be written in the Will as a gift to charity.
The donation is by no means obligatory and can be opted against; however, it is sincerely hoped that those benefiting from the free Will service will make a donation.
Who is Free Wills Month for?
The Free Wills Month campaign is available for anybody over the age of 55. If you’re looking to write or update a joint Will, only one of the individuals needs to be over 55.
When is Free Wills Month 2024?
Free Wills Month comes around twice every single year: in March and October. The next campaign begins 1st March 2024.
Appointments for free Wills in March and October are limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis – in some cases, the campaign will reach completion before the end of the month, so be sure to make a start as soon as possible.
Do I need a Will?
While a Will is not a legal requirement, it is highly advised that everybody should have one.
Whether you own a small selection of assets or a multi-million pound estate, writing a Will can significantly reduce the chance of your loved ones experiencing complications during the probate process after death, while it also helps to ensure that loved ones receive the inheritance that they deserve.
While you can write a Will for free during Free Wills Month, you can also utilise our online Will making service at any time and on any device, with access to our helpful team of advisors in case you need any guidance.
READ MORE: Top 5 Ways to Cut Your Inheritance Tax
Free Wills Month – Participating solicitors - March & October 2024
There are only a select few towns and cities which participate in Free Wills Month each campaign and not every Will writing solicitor or online service takes part.
The towns and cities offering the service during the Free Wills Month (2024) include:
- Bolton
- Bournemouth
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Chelmsford
- Cheltenham/Gloucester
- Chester/North Wales
- Colchester
- Cornwall
- Derby
- Exeter
- Huddersfield
- Ipswich
- Lancaster
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Lincolnshire
- Milton Keynes
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Plymouth
- Preston
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Shropshire
- Stockport
- Swansea
- Torquay
- Wakefield
Will writing solicitors/services near me
To find out exactly where your closest Will writing solicitor/service is located, enter your details into the Free Wills Month website.
You can also get in touch with us to see how we can help you with your Will during free Wills month.
Which charities can I donate to?
The charities supported by Free Wills Month vary with every campaign, and most charities in the UK are dependent on receiving gifts in Wills as they make up to 50% of their income.
Some of the charities which are frequently featured during Free Wills Month campaigns include:
- ActionAid
- Age UK
- Alzheimer's Research UK
- Breast Cancer Now
- British Heart Foundation
- British Red Cross
- Christian Aid
- Diabetes UK
- Dogs Trust
- Guide Dogs
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Marie Curie
- Mencap
- Mind
- National Trust
- NSPCC
- Prostate Cancer UK
- RNLI
- Royal British Legion
- The Salvation Army
- Samaritans
- Save the Children
- Stroke Association
- Tenovus Cancer Care
How much does it cost to make a Will normally?
Outside of Free Wills Month, the price of making a Will can often cost in excess of £150 elsewhere.
If you’re wondering where to get a Will outside of Free Wills Month, it is easier than you think. Outside of Free Wills Month our single Wills start at only £29.99, we are an affordable Will writing service that allows you to make a Will online with the help and support of trained legal experts.
You can find our standard fees and online Will pricing here.
How to get involved with Free Wills Month
Arranging to write a Will during Free Wills Month is easy – either use 'FREE24' at the checkout during March or October to make your free basic Will with us or simply visit the Free Wills Month website and enter your details (name, postcode and email address) to find your closest participating solicitor. You will then be provided with the relevant contact details which can be used to get in touch and arrange an appointment.
Is there a catch to Free Wills Month?
There is no ‘catch’ as such, but it is clearly stated that both the participating solicitor and non-profit organization hope that you will leave a gift to charity in your Will. This gift is not obligatory and, if you decide to donate, doesn’t have to be significant – many solicitors and online Will writing services usually charge around £150 for their services, so you might decide to match this fee as a donation.
Any donation you make is not paid when you write your Will, but is deducted from your estate after you have passed away.
Complex Wills
If, after a discussion, your estate is deemed to be particularly complicated, you might be charged a fee for the additional time taken to plan and write your Will.
Free Wills in the UK are only available for ‘simple’ or 'basic' Wwills, which, for most people, will be enough. However, for those wishing to leave a gift to step-children or an unmarried partner, a ‘simple’ Will might not suffice. If this is the case for you, it may be worth using a more cost-effective Will making service such as Wills.Services and avoid those hefty solicitors fees.
Affordable Will writing and legacy planning with Wills.Services
Whether you are looking to create a basic Will for free during March/October or a paid-for service that covers your needs and situation, at some point in your life, there will come a time when you need to begin planning for what will happen when you pass away.
From writing your Will to choosing an executor, the professional and experienced team at Wills.Services can help you prepare for the future of your estate and loved ones at an affordable price, including how to avoid Inheritance Tax and much more.
