Make a Will Month

It’s March, and for many fundraising calendars that means one thing – Make a Will Month!

Make a Will Month is intended to encourage individuals to make or review their Will, whilst making a donation to the charity, or charities, they support.

However, it’s very expensive to sign up to the scheme and really only appropriate for much larger charities than Remus Horse Sanctuary – and for those with greater funds at their disposal. Furthermore, the recommended donation is £175, which is still a sizeable amount for an individual to find during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. So at Remus we like to do things differently, and instead choose to promote ‘FreeWills’ which is available all year round and is, quite literally, free of charge.

What is FreeWills?

FreeWills.co.uk is an award-winning online service, where you can make a legally-binding free Will, typically in around fifteen minutes or so. Each Will is checked by legal experts and your Will can be updated quickly and easily for free, forever. It’s a free service for you and a free service for Remus. You do not need a solicitor to make a Will and, all we politely request, is that you include a donation (or legacy) in your Will for Remus Horse Sanctuary.

Visit our webpage to learn more, where we explain how FreeWills works and address the questions you might have such as:

• Is FreeWills really free of charge?
• Is a free Will, that I’ve created myself, actually legal?’
• Don’t I need a solicitor to create a Will?

FreeWills provides is a guided step-by-step process and supplies lots of information along the way, including what key terms mean, such as ‘executors’ and ‘beneficiaries’.

So why is it such a big deal to have a Will anyway? Below we look at why it makes sense to have a Will in place, regardless of age, and explain what can happen if you don’t have a Will before you die.

Why is it Important to Make a Will?

Creating a Will is a fundamental step in estate planning offering you, as individuals, the opportunity to dictate how your assets, including property, finances, personal belongings – and your beloved pets and their welfare – should be managed when you die.

Of course, we all hope that we’ll live a long and healthy life, but sadly bad things happen. It could be a simple accident with catastrophic results or sudden diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. And these things can befall us at any age.

By clearly outlining your wishes in a legally binding document, you gain control over the destiny of your estate, ensuring that it is distributed in accordance with your preferences. A well-drafted Will not only provides peace of mind but also serves to minimise the potential for family disputes and legal complexities after your passing.

It allows you to appoint executors, designate beneficiaries, and make specific bequests, offering a comprehensive strategy to protect your legacy and provide for loved ones in a manner which reflects your intentions.

It’s important to note that a Will does not have to be drafted by a solicitor in order to be legally-binding document.

What Happens if I don’t make a Will?

The absence of a Will or dying ‘intestate,’ which is the legal term, can lead to a myriad of complications. Without clear instructions, the legal process of distributing your estate upon your death becomes subject to the laws of intestacy, which may not align with your wishes. This can result in delays, increased administrative costs, and potential disputes among family members – at an already very difficult time.

Moreover, the rules of intestacy may not adequately address the needs of unmarried partners, stepchildren, friends and potentially leaving them without any inheritance. Or in the instance of your pets, leaving them without provision of care.

Without a Will, the distribution of your assets follows a predefined hierarchy, often overlooking individuals outside the immediate family. Creating a Will is, therefore, essential to avoid the uncertainties and hardships that can arise when one passes away without a clear and legally binding estate plan in the UK.

So, if you have you been putting off making your Will maybe due to time, or cost, we believe that FreeWills offers a viable alternative.

Thank you for supporting Remus Horse Sanctuary by leaving a legacy in your Will.

Remus is a registered charity founded in 1983 and FreeWills is rated 4.9 on Trust Pilot with over 4,300 reviews.