Make a Will For Barnado's
Last year a YouGov survey conducted by Barnardo’s found nearly 60 per cent of people admitted they did not have a will.
Making a will is up there with many other sincerely meant but rarely followed through resolutions. It is something we all know we have to do but, as the survey results show, many of us do not.
Private client solicitors at Stones Solicitors LLP are hoping to encourage more people to make a will by joining a scheme offering a free will writing service to those aged 55 years and over, in aid of children’s charity Barnardo’s.
Although there is no legal obligation to do so, it is hoped that those people taking up the service will remember the charity in their will.
Donations in wills are vital to the future of Barnardo’s – over half of the charity’s income from the general public is donated through wills. Any gift, large or small, can make a difference. For example: £105 provides one night’s respite care for a child with a terminal illness; £500 covers the weekly cost of running 10 community youth groups for children living in disadvantaged areas; £1,000 provides the extra support to keep a child with special needs in mainstream education for six months.
Amanda Rainford, from Stones Solicitors LLP commented: “We are delighted to support this scheme and we hope it will provide the added impetus needed to encourage more people to make a will. Not only might this contribute to a very worthy cause, but it will also benefit them by specifying exactly what they want to happen to their assets when they die. The alternative of not making a will can see assets divided up in a strict order and, if no one comes forward to claim their estate, the whole lot goes to the Crown. The situation for those left behind can also be stressful if there is no will in place.”
Clare McCulloch, Barnardo’s Gifts in Wills marketing manager, added: “Dying without a will can cause many problems for those you leave behind. It is not always right to just assume that everything will go smoothly. And making a will is also an opportunity to make a donation to causes that matter to you. Those donations are our lifeblood and make a huge difference to the vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people we work with.”
Amanda and her colleagues at Stones Solicitors LLP can be contacted on either 01392 666777 for the Exeter office or 01837 650200 for Okehampton.