Leave a Gift in your Will

Every gift is an investment in the health of future generations, and a positive and remarkable way to mark your life.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who remembers the Mary How Trust in their Will.

When you give, you are offering someone the chance to spot the early signs of cancer and other serious illnesses.

Writing your will has never been easier!

The Mary How Trust have teamed up with Britton & Time Solicitors to offer you a FREE will writing service.

A will is undoubtedly one of the most important documents you will ever create, as it essentially dictates what happens to your estate when you pass away. They are crucial for ensuring that the distribution of everything you have worked hard for in your lifetime is exactly how you wish. If you pass away without a will, the people you hold nearest and dearest may not be provided for at all, depending on your circumstances.

Wills help to:

  • Give you peace of mind that the distribution of your assets will be as you wish, helping to avoid family disputes or legal battles, as well as easing the stress or uncertainty of your loss.
  • Minimise the impact of taxes and legal costs on your loved ones.
  • Appoint someone you trust to execute your wishes.

The benefits of leaving gifts to charity

Legacy gifts (or a charitable gift) are a type of charitable contribution that you can make in your will. They allow you to make a lasting impact on a cause that you feel strongly about, even if you are no longer around and can even help to reduce your estate’s overall inheritance tax liabilities.

Many charities derive a significant portion of income from legacies, and the Mary How Trust are no different.

Legacy gifts can take many forms and can involve:

  • Leaving a percentage of your remaining estate, following fees, outstanding costs, and other gifts. Referred to as a residuary legacy.
  • Leaving a fixed sum of money. Referred to as a pecuniary gift, the value of which is often linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) so that it doesn’t lose value over time.
  • Leaving specific assets, such as property, stocks, or jewellery. Referred to as a specific legacy.

Writing a will is easier than you think

The Mary How Trust are offering supporters the opportunity to receive a free simple will or a heavily discounted complex will by working with their partner Britton & Time Solicitors.

Simple wills account for approximately 60% of all wills and generally involve a more straightforward distribution of assets to a smaller number of beneficiaries and therefore require less complex and specific legal advice.

Complex wills involve a more complex collection of assets or beneficiaries and may require special trusts or provisions, as well as potentially in-depth tax planning – they therefore require more detailed and specific legal advice.

Making a will ensures the following:

  • Your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. ✔ Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership can inherit from each other.
  • Step-children can inherit.
  • You can make provisions for your children in situations where one or both parents die. For example, appointing a guardian to raise your children.
  • You can gift to charity, whilst taking advantage of beneficial Inheritance Tax incentives.

There’s no set time in someone’s life to make a will. However, the sooner you make a will, the better, as you never know when the worst can happen. Furthermore, your first will may not be your only will. You can alter or write a new will at significant periods of your life. For example, if you get a divorce and no longer want your former partner to be a beneficiary.

Some key moments in someone’s life where it’s beneficial to get a will include:

  • Purchasing a substantial asset, for example, a house.
  • Becoming a parent.
  • You’re in a relationship but haven’t chosen to marry or enter a civil partnership.
  • You’re getting a divorce.

Our Will Writing Partners – Britton & Time Solicitors

With offices in Hove and Mayfair, Britton and Time Solicitors offer award-winning, personalised will writing services. Their Private Client team, led by STEP award winner Elisabeth Squires, guides you through every aspect of creating your will, including:

  • Professional drafting by experienced solicitors
  • Strategies to minimise potential contestation
  • Free secure storage of your will
  • Registration with the National Wills Register
  • Basic inheritance tax advice

Britton and Time Solicitors are committed to helping you make well-informed decisions, ensuring your wishes are clearly documented and legally sound.

A gift in your will has the power to save lives – the next steps?

If you need further information about leaving a gift to the Mary How Trust or our FREE wills service contact please contact Lynda, [email protected]. If you know you wish to leave a legacy in your will to us, you can call Britton & Time Solicitors directly to arrange an appointment. Their Customer Care Team will run through some questions with you, arrange an appointment* and send out some forms for your completion. Telephone 01273 726951

*Appointments are usually booked within 4 weeks of your enquiry. This gives you plenty of time to think about your will arrangements and complete the forms. If there are mitigating circumstances an earlier appointment may be arranged.

  1. Consultation. In this consultation, you will sit down with one of their will solicitors (face to face or online), who will listen to your wishes and go through your wills questionnaire with you.
  2. Draft your will. Once their solicitors understand your wishes, they will draft your will accordingly.
  3. Completion. Finally, once you’re happy with your will they will arrange signing and storage.
  4. Britton and Time will invoice The Mary How Trust for their services. Any additional fees for home visits, complex wills or Trusts and Deeds of Covenants will be invoiced and payable by you.

*Most people will be eligible for an entirely free will, but some people with more complex than average affairs may need to pay a discounted will writing fee. To determine this, we will ask you a few questions about your estate and circumstances. You will always be advised of any will writing fees applicable prior to deciding whether to get involved. The scheme has limited spaces, which are available on a first come, first served basis, so register your interest now to avoid missing out.

We always recommend you consult a solicitor or professional advisor when considering making a Will or changing an existing one. To make a Legacy Gift to The Mary How Trust you must detail this in a Will. While you are under no obligation to inform The Mary How Trust if you have included a provision for us in your Will, doing so is greatly appreciated and can be helpful.