Charities who write your Will for free, any experience?

[TeapotCollection]

Just wondering if anyone has done this. We need to write our Wills, we’re seriously considering (and it is only considering at this stage) leaving a big chunk to charity so we’re thinking that if we do decide to do that and we can get it done for free we may as well save ourselves some money

My husband is worried that they’re not legally binding but this surely can’t be the case, can it?

I have.

Your affairs need to be fairly simple. The company I used can do more complicated wills but they take longer so they advise you if this is the case as there is then an extra charge.

You answer a list of questions in advance of your appointment (mine was on zoom) and then the will writer goes through everything with you. I was asked things like whether our house was tenants in common or joint, if there was anyone I was leaving out of the will who might reasonably expect to be left something (checking I wasn't disinheriting a dependent for example), trusts for children, what did I want to happen in the event of my heirs dying before me etc.

You are then sent a draft to check over. It is your responsibility to sign and get it witnessed.

Yes it has got to be a fairly simple will - but you also have to be over 55. The next free will week is in March:

https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/#:~:text=Free%20Wills%20Month%20is%20back%20in%20March%202024&text=An%20up%20to%20date%20Will,to%20your%20chosen%20charities%20too.

There is another scheme where I think its reduced cost and that runs all year for all ages, Macmillan cancer charity also offer a year round free will service if look on their website. And its exactly the same as any other will, whether free or not, as long as its fairly simple as PP says.

Thanks both that’s really helpful I’ll have a look when I’ve got more time

Another question though please if anyone knows: do we both have to be over 55? Husband is but I’ve got 3 years to go

I am under 50

https://www.bequeathed.org/

Thanks again that’s great

So they just write it and we’d have to get it witnessed ourselves, have I read that right?

We can make our minds up before March

Yes

👍

Such wills are of course legally binding. Why does your DH think they are not?

I suspect its because there are some unscrupulous will writing firms who provide wills that are too ambiguous so they can be challenged. For example the reason I was asked about anyone being left out of a will was so that if that was the case the will could be written in a certain way and I could be advised about the laws regarding not disinheriting dependents.

Spot on Comefromaway. We’ve heard so many awful stories