Why make a will?

Why bother writing a will?

Life is chock full of things you have to do at any given point, the busy nature of work and home lives seemingly jostling for our attention on a day-to-day basis. Why would you spend some of that precious time thinking about something that is (hopefully) many years away?

The only way to guarantee that you have provided for the most important people and causes in your life, after your death, is to ensure your wishes are set out in a will. An up-to-date will written by a solicitor ensures your wishes are respected - and helps to prevent your loved ones facing difficult decisions or legal complications.

Despite this, a Remember a Charity survey in 2019 found 68 per cent of UK adults haven't made a will - equivalent to 27.8million people. As well as being costly, writing a will can seem like an overwhelming and scary task, which is likely why so many of us put it off as a job for another day.

October is Free Wills Month and now, for the first time, we have teamed up with the National Free Wills Network to give you the chance to write or amend your will for free with LionHeart.

The limited offer operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is available for 'simple' wills (those that do not deal with complex issues) which are written at a discounted rate through participating solicitors.

When you write or amend your will, whether using our free wills offer or not, you may wish to show your support for LionHeart by including a gift to us. Legacy gifts have historically been incredibly important to us, providing us with crucial income over our 120-year-plus history, and will continue to be absolutely vital as we work to ensure we're here for future generations of surveyors and their families - just as we are here for you today.

A gift of 1% of your estate could help future generations of surveyors like you, people needing help and support during difficult times or personal challenges. Including any gift to LionHeart in your will is a wonderful way to express gratitude and support for your profession, often in ways that you're unable to do during your lifetime.

Whilst including donations to your favourite causes in your will allows you to make a significant impact on the world long after you're gone, it also has tax advantages. Donations will be taken off the value of your estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated, or will reduce your Inheritance Tax rate, if 10% or more of your estate is left to charity.

To request a National Free Wills Network referral, or for a confidential, informal chat to find out more about the offer, please contact me on the details at the bottom of this blog and I'd be very happy to answer any questions.

You are under absolutely no obligation to include a gift to LionHeart; providing for your loved ones should always come first. But we do hope you will consider supporting us. By remembering LionHeart in your will you can ensure we're there for the surveyors of the future, and their families, in times of professional and personal difficulty.

Faye Smith is LionHeart's fundraiser, joining in March 2020 after a number of years in the charity sector. Her experience includes legacy giving, stewardship and all areas of individual giving.

Interested in making a free will? 
Contact Faye Smith on 0121 289 4696 or email fsmith@lionheart.org.uk to request your referral or ask any questions.

• You will be sent a Free Wills pack and a list of solicitors in your area.
• Simply choose a solicitor from the list and arrange an appointment. The National Free Wills Network is made up of over 900 local solicitors nationwide.
• After your meeting, you'll be asked to complete a Confidential Declaration Form where you can tell us if you've included a gift to LionHeart in your will.