Throughout November, Royal Surrey Charity has partnered with solicitors in the area to give you the chance to write your Will for free.

Why write a Will?

A Will is the only way to make sure everything you've worked hard for is passed on to the people you care about. Writing a Will allows you to make important decisions after you've gone: for example, how your loved ones are taken care of, or whether you want to support a charity that's close to your heart. 

Having a Will in place ensures that your wishes are followed and your assets distributed as intended, giving you and your loved ones peace of mind and security.

If you’re still in two minds about whether or not to write a Will, here are 10 reasons that might help you decide.

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“You can’t take away the pain. You can’t take away the worry. But you can help make it a more pleasant environment for someone having treatment. That’s why I’m leaving a legacy to Royal Surrey Charity.”

- Karen West, supporter 

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When should you consider writing a Will?

For most adults, the answer is as soon as possible. More often than not, the best time to write a Will depends on your life circumstances. There are many occasions in life when it's a good time to consider writing or updating your Will. These key life milestones might include: 

• Having a child, as you may want to add them to your Will or name an appointed guardian in your Will
• When you get married, as any existing Wills before marriage can be rendered invalid
• When there's a large financial change affecting your estate
• When you are in an unmarried relationship and decide you want your partner to inherit your estate
• If you get a divorce, as your previous Will may not be up to date to represent your current situation
• When you buy a house or property
• When someone included as a beneficiary in your Will has died. You should amend your Will to reflect this.

How can I write or amend my Will for free?

To write your Will for free with us this November, please send us an email and we will put you in touch with one of our supporting solicitors. 

Please note:

• This offer includes basic single and joint Wills only*. 
• If you require a more complex Will to be drawn up, this is at the discretion of the solicitor and they may require a small surcharge for the extra work needed.

*The average cost of a basic joint Will is £500 and a single Will costs £200. Your Will is free through our supporting solicitors during November, but if you would like to donate part or all of the cost of your Will to Royal Surrey Charity, please speak to your solicitor during the meeting, or get in touch. 

Thanks to our participating solicitors:

Cheney Goulding LLP

Kiran Bharj

Thank you to our supporting solicitors for providing their services free of charge during our Make a Will month - we are incredibly grateful to have their support. If you are a solicitor and would like to offer your services, please email Celine Gale. 

Want to know more?

Come along to one of our support solicitor’s workshops in October to find out more. We’ll be sharing more details soon so let us know if you would like to attend.

Sign up for online seminar 

Did you know you can leave as little as 1% in your Will to Royal Surrey Charity?

Leaving a gift in your will, however big or small, can make a lasting difference to patients, families and staff – helping fund extraordinary care at the Royal Surrey and St Luke’s Cancer Centre in Guildford, and our community hospitals in Haslemere, Cranleigh and Milford, and ensuring local people have access to world class care for years to come.

As well as providing vital equipment, Royal Surrey Charity supports the redevelopment and refurbishment of wards to make the hospitals welcoming and comfortable for patients, funds ground-breaking research, and invests in staff wellbeing and development.

A gift in your Will can also allow you to minimise inheritance tax. As well as the gift itself being tax-free, charitable gifts can also reduce the amount of inheritance tax that the rest of your estate will pay. Speak to your solicitor to find out more.

There is no obligation to include Royal Surrey Charity in your Will. However, once you have provided for those closest to you, we hope you will consider supporting your local hospital in this way. Whether you choose to leave a fixed sum or a percentage of your estate, your help will make a huge difference.

By remembering Royal Surrey Charity in your Will, you can help transform care where you live.

Contact us

Want to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to Royal Surrey Charity, or want to talk to someone about our Make a Will month? Please get in touch.