When there's a will, there's a way: How to write a will for free with St John's

Following on from the exciting “This is Hospice Care” national campaign that we were so proud to be a part of, we want to ensure that our supporters know the value of having a will and the support we can provide to create one for free.

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Having a will is the only way to ensure that your loved ones and the causes that you care about are supported in the way that you want. A will specifies how you would like your estate (property and money) to be distributed after you die.

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If you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how your money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be distributed in the way that you would have wished. This could mean that your estate passes to individuals you had not intended to benefit, or that a person you wanted to support received nothing. A will can also specify any wishes about the future care and guardians of your children or pets.

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There’s no specific age that you should make a will. Any adult over the age of 18 should start to consider the benefits as having a Will isn’t just for people with a lot of money and assets.

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Creating a will can be quite a daunting task, so a good first step could be joining one of our upcoming free will events where you can make a will completely free of charge. Ensuring that your wishes will be carried out after your death and that your assets go to the people, organisations and charities that matter most to you. The events are the perfect opportunity to learn more about creating a will, how to use our free will service run in partnership with Bequeathed, and to receive advice from local solicitors.

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Holly, a solicitor from Prime Wills says “I’m delighted to be part of St John’s Hospice’s Free Will events this March. These events are a great opportunity to learn about the importance of having a Will in place. I’ll be attending all the events, giving talks, and explaining how creating a Will doesn’t have to be daunting, as well as sharing how my services as a Will and Estate Planning solicitor can support you.”

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These events will be taking place on:

• Tuesday 25th March at 11 am online
• Wednesday 26th March 11 am in The St John’s Hospice Wellbeing Centre
• Thursday 27th March at 6 pm online

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By attending one of these events, or creating a free will, there is no obligation to leave a gift to St John’s Hospice. However, any gift will enable us to provide care and comfort to our community, now and in the future.  

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To find out more and sign up, please visit www.stjohnshospice.org.uk/gifts-in-wills/events. If you’re unable to join one of these events, but still have questions, we have a list of FAQs on our gifts in wills page or you can reach out to our friendly team of fundraisers at 0207 806 4011 or fundraising@hje.org.uk. They’ll be happy to provide you with guidance and answer any questions you may have. We’ll be hosting more free will events in October so look out for the save the date!