Will Aid 2017: get a cheap will and donate to charity

Throughout November solicitors across the UK will write your will in exchange for a donation to charity.

Millions of people across the UK do not have a will, meaning they have no say over where their money goes after they die.

Thankfully though November marks the start of the month-long Will Aid campaign, which offers you the chance to get a will written by a solicitor for a fraction of the usual price.

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What is Will Aid?

Many of us put off getting a will written because we think it will be expensive. But during November each year, thousands of solicitors across the country lend their will writing services in exchange for a donation to charity, waiving their usual fee.

Participating solicitors suggest you book an appointment as soon as possible as they tend to get busy.

You get a free appointment, but are asked to donate £95 for a single will or £150 if you and your partner or spouse opt for mirror wills.

These are when two identical wills are drawn up just with the beneficiaries names swapped, so you inherit everything from your partner and they inherit everything from you.

That is a huge discount on the usual fees of up to £200 for a single will or £300 for mirror wills.

The money raised goes to nine different charities: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Sightsavers, Save the Children, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (N. Ireland).

You can find a local participating solicitor by the Will Aid website or calling 0300 0309 558.

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Why you need a will

If you die without a will then the Government gets to decide who inherits your belongings. What's more, you could also end up handing over far more in Inheritance Tax than if you had taken the time to do some estate planning.

Dying without a will is known as dying intestate.

Under these rules, if you are married with an estate worth less than £250,000 then it all goes to your spouse.

But if your estate is worth over £250,000 and you have children then your spouse only gets the first £250,000. The rest is split with 50% going to your spouse and the remainder divided between your children.

If the bulk of your estate is your home, this could mean your husband or wife would have to sell the house in order to settle your children’s claims on the estate.

If you are unmarried then things get really complicated. If you have a partner, they would get nothing. Instead, your estate would pass to any children you have, if you have no children then it goes to either your parents, your siblings, your grandparents or your aunts or uncles.

As a result, your partner could end up out on their ear, while your great uncle Bert who you haven’t seen in 20 years inherits your house.

To learn more about making a will, head this way.

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