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Legal, pensions and money

Has anyone used the Cancer Research UKs free will service that gransnet advertisers.

(9 Posts)
bikergran Sat 27-May-23 22:52:17

I have not yet made a will but really need to get it done .Was just looking at the service offered ( I understand that they of course like you to leave a donation when the time comes) which is fine with me.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 28-May-23 00:23:14

It’s probably ok if your will is straightforward, ours aren’t so we had to go to a specialist Solicitor and have ours done.

Cheeseplantmad Sun 28-May-23 06:31:16

I think the free wills services you often see advertised like this one for a small donation are fine if it’s a straightforward will , but not if it’s a bit more complicated as would need a solicitor . I’d asked Citizens Advice and that’s what they advised me to to .

Whiff Sun 28-May-23 07:40:42

I used my own solicitor for my will and did both powers of attorney at the same time as it was cheaper. I would be very suspicious of a free service especially anything legal.

Siope Sun 28-May-23 07:41:56

Assuming it’s one where you can use a solicitor, it’s fine. I did mine via the RNLI. Had it been a ‘simple’ will it would have been free. Because mine wasn’t, I had to pay, but the solicitor reduced the cost by the amount the RNLI pay.

This (from a random solicitor/Google search) explains what a ‘simple’ will is www.averywalters.com/services-for-you/wills-probate-trusts/simple-wills/

bikergran Sun 28-May-23 08:57:54

Hmm, yes after some careful thought and it being "free" I have decided against possibly going for it. I have heard of the co op one that is mentioned but never heard of the other two that it recommends.

Ok back to the drawing board.

Siope Sun 28-May-23 09:50:50

There are at least 150 charities who do this. It’s entirely legitimate. They pay solicitors (or will making companies) to do this, in the hopes that donations will be larger than the cost. The Free Wills Network - where you check out all the charities that are registered with it - suggest a minimum of £180 if you want to cover the charity’s costs, although the charities themselves have no minimum requirement.

Even Money Saving Expert/Martin Lewis suggest making Wills this way, if you want to save money and if your Will is suitable.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills/

Free wills network list of charities registered with them www.nationalfreewills.net/charity-logos/ - if you click on a logo, it will take you to the relevant page of the charity’s website, and you can see which offer access to local solicitors.

Siope Sun 28-May-23 09:56:52

And to reiterate: it isn’t ‘free’. The charity is paying the solicitor, and those of us who use the system are paying the charities back, overall, more than it costs them.

It is, after all, a fundraising activity, although there is also charitable benefit (reduced cost Wills) for some users.

bikergran Sun 28-May-23 18:55:14

Ok thankyou all for any info.