Five reasons to take advantage of our free Will writing partnerships

If you don’t have a Will or haven’t updated your Will for a while, here are five great reasons to change that!

Recent research from financial services Canada Life revealed that more than half (51%) of UK adults don’t currently have a Will.

Although there are many reasons that might put you off writing a Will, it’s important to make sure your affairs are in order. In fact, we think it’s so important that we’ve partnered with organisations to help our supporters write their Wills for free. 

Which leads us nicely into the first of our five reasons to take advantage of our free Will writing partnerships! 

1. It’s absolutely, completely, 100% free!

14% of people surveyed by Canada Life said they haven’t written a Will because they can’t afford one.  

This is completely understandable, especially for people that are struggling financially, which we know many people in the brain tumour community are. Our research shows that 8 in 10 people living with a brain tumour have to reduce their earnings or stop working completely.  

This is another reason we decided to develop partnerships that help our supporters write or update their Wills for free.  Whether you want to write your Will online or find a local solicitor to visit, our partners can help you get your affairs in order – without it costing you a single penny.  

2. A Will isn’t just for people with lots of cash!

26% of people surveyed by Canada Water said their reason for not making a Will is that they believed they didn’t have enough assets or wealth to warrant creating one. While “estate planning” might conjure up images of sprawling mansions, vast stock portfolios and vaults full of gold doubloons, the reality is that we all have an estate.

Your estate is simply the collection of all your assets, including money, property, investments (including pensions and life insurance) and physical possessions – which can be anything from vehicles and jewellery to record collections and gadgets.

However little you believe your estate to be, writing your Will and updating it regularly is the best way to make sure your loved ones are looked after financially as best as possible. It also means you’re able to leave the things that you treasure – even if they don’t have huge monetary value – to the people who’ll appreciate them most.

3. Wills aren’t just about wealth

Your Will should be more than just a list of what you want to be done with your estate. It can also be how you let your loved ones know what you want to happen after you die. 

This might include plans for your funeral, for example, whether you’d like to be buried or cremated, the music you’d like to be played, any flowers you want and whether you’d like there to be a collection for charity. 

Your Will is also a great way to make sure your family have access to your accounts after your death – from bank accounts, pensions and insurance plans to social media accounts. It’s also your chance to explain what you’d like your digital legacy to be.  

Finally, if you have children, making a Will ensures they will be cared for by your preferred guardian. Similarly, you can also set out who you’d like to care for your pets. 

4. It’s the best way to guarantee your wishes are honoured!

Unfortunately, even if you’ve made your wishes known to your loved ones, there are certain rules that will dictate how your estate is allocated if you die without a Will.  

This can be particularly troublesome if you’re in a relationship but not married because your partner isn’t legally entitled to your estate. This can cause serious financial strain for them after you die. 

But writing a Will isn’t just important because it gives you peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out. It also provides your loved ones with peace of mind that your wishes are being respected, as well as saving them the turmoil of deciding what should be done with your estate. 

5. It’s a great way to give back to causes you care about

Your Will sets out what your legacy will be, so it’s the perfect place to leave a gift to a charity or cause that you’re passionate about. According to Farewill’s Year in Will’s Report 2023, one in four people are now leaving a gift to charity in their Will. 

Despite what many people think, no gift is too small to leave a legacy of hope for the brain tumour community. Hope comes in all shapes and sizes, so every gift we receive – no matter the size – helps us move further, faster towards a world where everybody affected by a brain tumour lives a longer, better life. 

51% of adults in the UK haven’t written a Will!

If you’re one of them or haven’t updated your Will in a while, why not take advantage of our partnerships with the National Free Wills Network and Make a Will Online to help you get your affairs in order without it costing you a penny!

Find out more about making your Will for free by downloading our Gifts in Wills guide: