MP urges constituents to take full advantage of Will Aid this November
November 3, 2009 10:04 AM
Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, today called on constituents to take advantage of this November's Will Aid, a campaign that encourages people to make a Will with a participating solicitor and at the same time to raise vital funds to help 9 charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, Sightsavers International, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (N. Ireland).
Will Aid solicitors will draw up a basic Will free of charge. In return for this service, the solicitors hope clients will choose to donate to the Will Aid charities the fee they would normally charge. The suggested donation level is: £75 for a single Will, £110 for a pair of matching or 'mirror' Wills, or £40 for a codicil to an existing will.
Will Aid donations are distributed amongst the participating charities and go a long way to help transform the lives of children, elderly people, their families and whole communities in the UK and around the world.
According to latest research published by Will Aid, over 60% of British people do not have a Will. People most in need of a Will are the least likely to have one - including those with dependents, in particular children, stepchildren and children from previous relationships; those who are separated but not divorced and those who live together without being married or in a civil partnership.
Paul Keetch MP remarked, "It is quite alarming that so few people who really need to do so have not yet written a Will and so are risking their loved ones' financial security. It is important to write a Will and review it regularly as circumstances change. The powerful thing about Will Aid is that it also enables you, at no extra cost, to help improve the lives of many other people both here and overseas."
It appears that there is confusion about what actually happens when someone dies without a Will. The deceased's estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy, which may not deliver the outcome the deceased would have wished for. The same outcome applies if a Will cannot be found. According to Certainty, the national Will register, 67% of people do not know where their parent's Will is kept. (Source: Certainty consumer survey 2008)
Now, thanks to its partnership with Certainty, Will Aid is able to offer additional peace of mind with free Will registration (usual cost £28.75) for Will Aid clients during November. Will registration enables legitimate beneficiaries to find a Will when it is needed.
Those wishing to gain peace of mind and the assurance that their wishes are carried out after death should act now to take advantage of Will Aid and the free Certainty offer. The next step is to contact a convenient Will Aid solicitor and make an appointment for November. Participating solicitors can be found at www.willaid.org.uk or by calling the hotline 0300 0300 013.
ENDS
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats