Why should I write a will?
If you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed.
If you’re a parent…
Writing a will is the best way to have a say over what happens when you die. This is incredibly important if you have children under 18, as it allows you to state who you want to be their legal guardian if anything happens to you. Without a will, the courts could be left to decide who looks after them.
If you’re a homeowner…
Writing a will also allows you to set out how you want to divide up your estate, including any property or accounts you own. You can make an inventory of your assets and choose exactly how much you want people to inherit, helping to prevent any family disputes when you’re gone.
Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner.
Do I have to leave money to CoppaFeel! if I use your will writing service?
Not at all. There is no obligation to leave a gift to CoppaFeel! in your will. This service is here to help you. However, if you are able to leave a small share of whatever’s left, after supporting friends and family, to the causes you are passionate about, this is one of the biggest differences you can make to help ensure all breast cancer in young people are diagnosed accurately and early. We view that as a pretty powerful legacy to leave for future generations.
Is there a minimum amount I can leave?
You can choose to leave a gift of any financial value to CoppaFeel! The most common gift types are referred to as pecuniary gifts or residuary gifts. Pecuniary gifts are a set amount, eg, £1,000 and this will not take into account inflation, or the total value of your estate. Residuary gifts are a percentage of your estate, eg, 5% of your total estate. If you’re not sure of what your total estate value might be we would recommend leaving a residuary gift as this is future proofed to any changes in your estate value throughout your life.
Can I leave money to multiple charities?
Of course! You are welcome to support as many causes as you are passionate about. Your estate is exactly that, yours. You have total control on how you choose to divide your assets. This is entirely about sharing your wishes.
Can I write a joint will with my partner?
Yes. Our free-will provision enables you to create a joint will.
Can I update my will?
Yes. It is important to ensure that you update your will to reflect any big changes to your wishes or estate, for example you have a new child, you get engaged, married or divorced or you buy or sell a property. Farewill offer unlimited free changes to your will. After writing a will with Farewill, you can log back into your account at any time to update your will. Simply navigate to the section you want to update and make your changes. Then, when you’re done, click the button on the summary page to send your will for checking.
Why is this for free/ what’s the catch?
Let’s face it we’ve all been taught that there is no such thing as a free lunch. However there really is no catch or hidden agenda to using our free will writing service. Here at CoppaFeel! we are incredibly passionate about the importance of sharing your wishes to give you peace of mind for the future. However, if you do choose to leave a gift to CoppaFeel! in your will you will be building the legacy of our work and making sure that we can continue to stamp out the late detection of breast cancer for years to come.
What kind of gift can I leave to CoppaFeel!
The most common gift types are referred to as pecuniary gifts or residuary gifts. Pecuniary gifts are a set amount, eg, £1,000 and this will not take into account inflation, or the total value of your estate. Residuary gifts are a percentage of your estate, eg, 5% of your total estate. If you’re not sure of what your total estate value might be we would recommend leaving a residuary gift as this is future proofed.
Are wills just about financial wishes?
No, a will also allows you to set out your wishes for guardianship of any dependents, this is not just children but also beloved pets!
Our online will writing service also lets you include funeral wishes in your will. This step is completely optional, but it can really help to prevent family disputes over your funeral when you’re gone.
You can choose your final resting place, set out what kind of funeral you want, and you can even select songs for the ceremony. And while these wishes aren’t legally binding like other parts of your will, they can really help your family know that they’re making the right decisions when you’re gone.
Is there a minimum age?
You need to be 18 years old or older to make a legally valid will. You can of course document your wishes yourself before this age but unfortunately you cannot use our online will writing service until you are 18 years old.
Do I need to have a connection with Breast Cancer to write a will with CoppaFeel!?
No. Our free will provision is for all of our supporters, regardless of your personal connection to breast cancer. The chances are if you are reading this information you are someone who is passionate about stamping out the late detection of breast cancer and changing the story of a young person facing a breast cancer diagnosis. We do not believe that you should have to wait for cancer to affect your personal sphere before you decide to take action and create positive change.
Get in touch about leaving a gift in your will
If you have any questions at all or just want to chat through your options do get in touch with Ellie, our Head of Individual Giving. Ellie would love to hear about your legacy and support of CoppaFeel! (but won’t be able to offer any legal advice.)
ellieb@coppafeel.org / 07769212875
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