Your questions about Wills answered

A Will is the only way to ensure your final wishes are carried out, and your estate is distributed as you would want. This includes making sure your loved ones are cared for and any gifts to charity can be used to perpetuate your support in the future.

A simple Will for one person costs about £100, but solicitors’ charges will vary, and a more complex Will costs more. You can make a Will for free with our partners, National Free Wills Network or Farewill.

This is not recommended. Mistakes in drafting the Will could invalidate it, effectively leaving you intestate. Please use a solicitor or a member of the Institute of Professional Will writers. You can also write your Will for free with our partners National Free Wills Network and Farewill.

As soon as possible (particularly if you have children, pets or own a house). Once made, review it regularly, and alter it promptly if your circumstances change. Remake it if you marry or divorce, retire, or to include children or grandchildren.

Gifts to charity can reduce your estate’s liability for Inheritance Tax (IHT) which is payable at 40% if your estate exceeds £350,000. Gifts to charity are exempt from IHT and their value is deducted from your estate before IHT is calculated, reducing the liability. Another IHT reduction is possible by leaving a gift amounting to 10% or more of your chargeable net estate to charity. This can reduce IHT payable from 40% to 36%. You should discuss this with your solicitor.

We’ll always follow your wishes, but in the future, the medical landscape may have changed in terms of equipment and treatments.  To ensure the charity will be able to benefit from your gift, it would be helpful if such requests are stated as a preference rather than a condition in your Will. You can make specific arrangements and get further information by contacting us.

If you decide to make a gift in your Will we’d be grateful if you could let us know. We’d like the opportunity to thank you and keep you up to date with what’s happening at the hospital. This is a very personal and often private decision and you’re under no obligation to let us know of your intentions. Telling us about the gift in your Will is not binding in any way and you can change your mind at any point.