Click here to register for our Make a WIll Week 2023 Maggie Keane is the Legacy & In Memory Fundraiser at Wakefield Hospice. Below Maggie explains with us the importance of making a Will, answers some commonly asked questions and shares her personal experience of why making a Will is so important for everyone: “One of my many wishes is to remove the stigma of talking about Wills and planning for when we are no longer here. “Sadly, I lost my beloved Mum in 2006. We knew it was coming so my Mum planned everything. Mum updated her Will, planned her funeral with us and made us aware of all her wishes. The sense of pride myself, brothers and sisters felt after we had executed all her wishes was just wonderful. “We even got to invite her friends round to choose something from Mum’s belongings to remember her by, some of them chose things they had bought her as gifts which we were unaware of. Not everyone has that luxury. Making a Will is your way of letting your loved ones know what your wishes are (my daughter even has my funeral plan on her phone… and my Will was updated just recently). Don’t let it be a thing you put off; do it for you, and do it for your loved ones.” (Maggie and her Mum, Marie) Make a Will Week - FAQs What is Make a Will Week? A week where our local solicitors waive the usual fee of writing a simple Will in return for a donation to Wakefield Hospice (click here to read more of “What is a Simple Will?”) Who is Make a Will Week for? Anyone over the age of 18 who hasn’t got a Will or needs to make a new Will due to changes in circumstances How does Make a Will Week support Wakefield Hospice? The donations made help us fund the best care and support for our local patients and their families when they need it most. Also, supporters that remember us by leaving a Gift in their Will to Wakefield Hospice could potentially enjoy tax benefits by doing so and help us secure funding for generations to come. (Click here to read more about potential tax benefits) Why should I make a Will? Having an up to date Will is important because: if you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed. Having an up to date Will is the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out and makes it easier for your loved ones. This also provides peace of mind for you. How much does it cost to make a Will? The average cost of making a Will in the UK can vary, but a single simple Will is approx. £150 and simple joint mirror Will (for you and your partner) is approx. £250. If your Will is more complex, i.e. Trusts, Lasting Power of Attorney, multiple property estates etc., this would incur additional fees which your solicitor will be happy to discuss with you and provide quotes. Our suggested donation for using our Make A will Week solicitors would be £100 for a Single Will and £150 for a joint Will , however, this is entirely a suggestion and up to each individual. How long will it take to make a Will? Your appointment usually takes up to an hour of your time. The solicitor will then draw up your Will and you will then need to get it signed and witnessed. The more prepared you are the quicker it will be. Top preparation tips for Making a Will: - Policies – ensure you have a copy of your existing policies available (life insurance, mortgage, pensions, investments, second properties, holiday homes…) - Pre-discussions – make sure to speak with loved ones about your plans to make the process as simple and easy to follow as possible. How do I get involved? You can find details of our participating solicitors by clicking here, or please contact me on 01924 331400 or via email, legacies@wakefieldhospice.co.uk. I have nothing to leave in my Will, should I make a Will? I often hear “I don’t need a Will I have nothing to leave”. The reality is that everybody has something to leave, even if they do not consider it to be financially valuable. Here’s a couple of things to think about: - If you have young children then it is extremely important that you have a Will in place. It will allow you to nominate someone to act as the Guardian of your children when you are not around. - Due to the implementation of work place pension’s schemes, what will happen to your pension? - Do you get’ Death in Service Benefit’ in your current job? (Click here to find out more about Death in Service benefit) - And finally, who do you want to have your possessions, a special gift, a wedding ring, a favourite picture, it really could be anything. I’m not old enough to need a Will... Everyone over the age of 18 is eligible to make a Will and it really is as important, if not more so than, insuring your life, car and home. Click here to register for our Make a WIll Week 2023