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Free Wills Month is offering people aged over 55 a free simple will through participating solicitors until October 31, while appointments remain available. The campaign says participants do not have to leave a gift to charity, but complex wills may incur a charge and availability may end early.
Free Wills Month is offering people aged over 55 a free simple will through participating solicitors across the UK until October 31, but appointments are limited and may be gone before the campaign’s stated end date. The offer is part of a charity-linked campaign involving 150 charity partners; people do not have to leave a gift to a charity to use the service.
To take part, eligible people can visit the Free Wills Month website, select a participating solicitor and request an appointment. The campaign says wills are prepared by a qualified professional. Most appointments are face-to-face, so anyone seeking a remote consultation or home visit should check availability directly with the firm they choose.
The offer covers simple wills only. The solicitor will assess whether a person’s circumstances fit that category. If a will is considered complicated, the client may be asked to pay the difference, according to the report. The campaign does not require a charitable bequest, although participating charities hope people will choose to support a cause.
Free Wills Month is intended for individuals or couples over 55. For mirror wills—matching wills commonly made by partners—one partner must have reached 55, according to the report. Places are allocated first come, first served; the scheme may stop accepting appointments once its available slots are booked.
How a Will Affects Inheritance
A will records how someone wants their estate handled and can name the people who will carry out those instructions. The estate can include property, savings, investments and possessions. A will can also name guardians for children under 18 and identify beneficiaries, helping make a person’s wishes clearer to those dealing with their affairs.
Without a valid will, inheritance is governed by intestacy rules, rather than a person’s stated preferences. Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct Advice and Guidance, said those rules determine who inherits and in what order, and that intestacy can make an estate harder and more expensive to administer. The outcome depends on family circumstances and the rules applying in the relevant jurisdiction.
Caplan warned that unmarried partners do not automatically inherit under intestacy rules, a fact that can surprise couples. Having a will may help reduce uncertainty for relatives, though it does not remove every potential dispute or administrative step. The free offer may make professional help more accessible for eligible people whose needs fit the campaign’s simple-will limit.
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What the Free Service Covers
A will is a legal document setting out instructions for what should happen to an estate after death. The basic information usually includes the person making it, the assets it covers, details of a spouse or partner, chosen executors, beneficiaries and, where relevant, guardians for under-18s. Executors administer the will and deal with probate; the report advises agreeing to take on the role with them in advance.
People can arrange a will through a solicitor, a will writer or an online service, and some write one themselves. The report says a will must be witnessed while the person making it is present by two people over 18 who are of sound mind, have no personal interest in the will and are not related to the person. Anyone choosing professional help should ask about fees, particularly where a professional executor may charge a percentage of the estate.
For comparison, the report cites Co-op prices starting at £149 for a single will, £249 for mirror wills and £449 for trust wills. Those figures are provider prices, not a universal tariff, and more complicated circumstances can cost more. The Free Wills Month offer is limited to qualifying simple wills rather than every type of estate-planning work.
“Who inherits, and in what order, is determined by the rules of intestacy and may not follow your wishes.”
— Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct Advice and Guidance
Eligibility and Appointment Limits
The campaign’s total number of appointments, participating firms’ remaining capacity and availability by location are not specified in the source material. Although the stated campaign period ends October 31, appointments may close earlier once the available slots are filled. Readers should confirm current availability with the campaign or a participating solicitor before relying on the offer.
The source does not set out a detailed test for what counts as a “simple” will. That decision rests with the solicitor assessing the person’s circumstances, and the report says a client whose will is deemed complicated may have to pay a balance. The cost of any such work, and whether remote or home appointments are available, will depend on the firm.
The intestacy examples in the source refer to England and Wales; inheritance rules and procedures can differ elsewhere in the UK. The material also does not give a full account of how every asset, family arrangement or legal jurisdiction affects an estate. People with complex circumstances may need to ask a qualified professional what service and costs apply.
How to Request an Appointment
People interested in the offer can check the Free Wills Month website for a participating solicitor near them and ask whether appointments are still available. They should confirm that they meet the age criteria, whether the firm can offer the preferred appointment format and whether their needs fall within the simple-will service.
Before the appointment, prospective clients can consider who they want to name as executors, guardians and beneficiaries, and discuss the executor role with anyone they plan to appoint. The report also recommends telling relevant people where the will is stored and keeping an accessible list of where executors can find important documents and information about assets.
Appointments remain subject to local availability and the solicitor’s assessment. The campaign is scheduled to run through October 31, but readers should not assume that date guarantees an appointment will remain open until then.
Key Questions
Who can get a free will through Free Wills Month?
The campaign is intended for individuals or couples over 55. For mirror wills, the report says one partner must be at least 55. Applicants should confirm eligibility with the participating solicitor.
Do I have to leave money to a charity?
No. The report says there is no obligation to leave a gift to a participating charity, although the charities hope users will choose to support a good cause.
What if my will is considered complicated?
The offer covers simple wills. If the solicitor decides a will is complicated, the client may be asked to pay a balance. The amount and scope of any extra work are not stated in the source and should be confirmed with the firm.
How do I book, and will appointments be available until October 31?
Visit the Free Wills Month website and choose a participating solicitor. Places are first come, first served, and the campaign may close before October 31 if appointments are filled.
What happens if I die without a will?
Your estate is generally distributed under the applicable intestacy rules, which may not match your wishes. The source notes that unmarried partners do not automatically inherit under the rules and that the details depend on family circumstances and jurisdiction.
Source: rss
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