Have you ever considered making a Will but never actually went through with it? Maybe you have considered making a Will but felt you didn’t really need one because your circumstances are straightforward. In light of Will Aid month, maybe you should consider making or updating your Will, and at the same time, be able to support a worthy cause!
Will Aid is an annual campaign which aims to raise funds for some of the UK’s leading charities. Since 1988, Will Aid have been raising money for charities such as Age UK, The British Red Cross and the NSPCC. Over £20 million has been donated to these causes via Will Aid.
Will Aid works by teaming up with solicitors who agree to waive their basic fee for a simple Will. Instead of clients paying this fee, they are invited to pay a donation to Will Aid. The suggested donation is £100 for a single Will or £180 for mirror Wills.
Jacksons Law Firm has teamed up with Will Aid again this year, so for the month of November we are allowing clients to make a donation to Will Aid, rather than paying our standard fee for a simple Will. This means that you will receive a Will and also donate to charity!
As a new paralegal on the Wills and Probate team, I have had the pleasure of dealing with Will Aid this year. One interesting thing I have found whilst working in conjunction with this scheme, is that a lot of younger clients are deciding to make Wills. This has been fascinating for me to see as there tends to be an assumption that you only need a Will if you are over a certain age, or if you have a lot of valuable and complex assets. This is not the case! Regardless of age or how much money you have, it is always sensible to ensure that your Estate is going to be distributed according to your wishes, not according to the intestacy rules. There is so much uncertainty in life but by having a Will in place you will be able to relax knowing that if anything was to happen, your money and belongings will be dealt with according to your wishes.
It is so important to have a Will in place, so this could be the perfect time to get it done! With the reduced cost and knowing you are giving money to charity, this is an opportunity you cannot pass up! It is also an opportunity for you to discuss other important things you may not be aware of, for example, Lasting Powers of Attorney and basic Estate planning. Whilst these are things we would usually charge for, you will have the chance to discuss them in your initial meeting.
There is still some availability for Will Aid appointments. For an appointment, please contact a member of our Private Client team. Call 01642 356 500 if you live in the Teesside area. Alternatively, if you live in Tyne and Wear call 0191 231 3921.
Chloe Million, Paralegal, Wills, Trusts & Probate
