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Free Wills Month - October 2020

We’ve joined together with other UK charities to give you the opportunity to make or update a simple will - or simple joint wills with a partner - with a solicitor for free this October.

Find out how you can take part below.

October Free Wills Month is open

If you’re aged 55 or over, you can make or update your will with a local solicitor for free from 1 October. Simply visit the Free Wills Month website and enter your postcode to view details of participating solicitors. Book your appointment directly with your chosen solicitor, mentioning ‘Free Wills Month’. Appointments are limited, so book early to avoid missing out.

There’s no obligation to make a gift to Mind in your will, but by choosing to support our work in this way you can help create a better future for everyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Book your free will appointment

Free Wills and Coronavirus: FAQs

Given the changing government guidance on coronavirus, we've put together some helpful FAQs about Free Wills Month below:

Firms are still accepting appointments, and will explore with you the best way possible to have your will written. Some may suggest using the phone or technology, depending on government guidelines where you live.

If you're self-isolating or government restrictions where you live are making it hard for you to attend your appointment, please contact the solicitor and they'll be happy to talk through your will-making options. That might mean using the phone, or technology to help you make your will.

Yes, please email [email protected] or call 0208 215 2243

Free Wills Month is now closed

While October Free Wills Month is now closed, you can still use our Free Will Offer, which is available year-round. A gift in your will to Mind is a gift to anyone with a mental health problem, and we're very grateful to you for considering remembering us in this way.

Once you've registered, we'll send you a pack in the post that contains a list of participating solicitors near you to choose from. Simply book your appointment directly with your chosen solicitor and they will work with you to prepare a will according to your wishes. There's no obligation to leave us a gift in order to take part.

We're also pleased to be able to offer you the chance to have your will made for free from the comfort of your own home online and over the phone.

Register for our Free Will offer   Make your free will online and over the phone

A gift to Mind is a gift for everyone with a mental health problem

There is no obligation to make a gift to Mind in your will when taking part in Free Wills Month or our Free Will offer, but a gift – however big or small – will help us make a difference to the lives of those of us living with a mental health problem.

We believe no-one should have to face a mental health problem alone. If you share our vision of a world where everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect, please consider making a gift to Mind in your will. Thank you. 

Register for our Free Will offer

Pete's story

Pete experienced a panic attack, on his way to a work conference. He didn't feel safe, so contacted our Infoline for support. Watch Pete tell his story, and find out how we helped him when he needed support.  

How does Free Wills Month work?

Free Wills Month is intended for those aged 55 and over. If you and a partner are making or updating joint simple wills, only one of you needs to be 55 or over.

This October, Mind is taking part in Free Wills Month in Bristol, Cardiff, Cornwall, Exeter, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Plymouth, Swansea, Torquay, Birmingham, Derbyshire, Ipswich, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Nottinghamshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

We're also taking part in a special Mind Free Wills Month with our local Minds in Coventry, North Warwickshire, Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Sheffield, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Harrogate, Chichester, Worthing, Haywards Heath, Crawley, Arunde and Horsham.

If you live in one of the areas listed above, you'll find details of participating solicitors on the Free Wills Month website  from 1 October 2020.

Simply contact your chosen solicitor during the month of October and request an appointment as part of Free Wills Month.

Once you’ve booked your appointment, the solicitor will help you draw up a will according to your wishes. You remain in control throughout.

Appointments are limited, and once all available appointments are booked, the campaign will close. We’d recommend contacting your chosen solicitor as soon as possible to avoid missing out. You can find full details and conditions on the Free Wills Month website or in our FAQs section.

If you live outside the regions listed above, you can visit the Free Wills Month website to check if a similar offer is available in your local area.

You can also register for Mind’s ongoing Free Will offer.

Types of gift you could make in your will

After taking care of loved ones, you may choose to include a gift in your will to a cause you care about - like Mind. There are three main types of gift that you can include in your will. These are:

Cash gift

A cash gift, known as a pecuniary gift is a fixed sum of money, for example £5000. These gifts are paid out of your estate first, and then what is left is divided up as per your instructions in you will.

Residuary gift

This type of gift is a share of your estate, for example 5%. Many people divide their estate into 100 equal units, and after giving to family and loved ones, they gift a number of units to Mind.

Speak to your solicitor about how this can also help reduce your inheritance tax.

Specific gift

A specific gift is a nominated object, for example artwork, a collection of records, or an antique. If you want to keep a particular item in your family, then this could be a good way to pass the item on.

Making a gift to a local Mind

We work together in partnership with our network of local Minds. Each local Mind is an independent charity and is responsible for their own funding and services. In 2018-19 over 390,000 people were supported by local Mind services. Local Minds understand the needs of their community and they tailor their services to match. Services include talking therapies, peer support, advocacy, crisis care, employment and housing support.

If you would like your gift to fund a local Mind  please contact that charity directly.

For more information

Terms and conditions apply. Full details can be found on the Free Wills Month website.

Any questions? Email our Wills Team at [email protected] or call us on 020 8215 2243.

Register for our Free Will offer

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