Free Wills’ Month March 2022
We are pleased to be participating in Free Wills’ Month and help some great charities including charities on behalf of Guide dogs in the process, available throughout March 2022.
If you are 55 or over this March why not take this opportunity to have a free simple Will or update by our professional private client services team.
For your free simple will call Bowcock Cuerden today!
Call us from March 1st 2022 for your free simple or update will and ask for Sarah Evans 01270 611106 or email SEvans@bowcockcuerden.co.uk
Here are all the Terms and Conditions. Only Limited slots available.
A. MANAGEMENT
Free Wills Month is managed by Capacity Marketing for Charities on behalf of Guide Dogs. All questions regarding Free Wills Month should be addressed to Claire Pugh at the Free Wills Month office – telephone 0333 022 0396, email: claire@freewillsmonth.org.uk
B. OUTLINE TERMS
The public phase of Free Wills Month runs between 1st and 31st March 2022. Guide Dogs will direct members of the public to solicitors participating in the campaign. Solicitors will be issued with Declaration Forms (one per client, counting couples as one client). The Free Wills office will pay the solicitor’s fee (see F below) for drawing up the Will/s on receipt of an invoice and completed Declaration Form/s. The firm will endeavour to make safe appointments available in line with government restrictions and guidance. Free Wills Month only works with registered solicitors and law firms.
C. AGE QUALIFICATION
The campaign is intended for those aged 55 and over. In the case of couples making mirror Wills it is sufficient for one person to have reached 55. The Free Wills Month website, leaflet and all advertisements contain details of the age qualification.
All sections of the Declaration Form should be completed, and signed by the client. Solicitor-client confidentiality is paramount: no information will be sought from solicitors by the charities beyond that included on the Declaration Form. In accordance with guidance from the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission, inclusion of a legacy to the charity in a Will paid for by the charity is not a condition of the payment being made. However, the charity hopes that the strength of their cause and their provision of the campaign will encourage users to remember them in their Will. The Declaration Form enables the charity to assess the results of the campaign and to account to their Trustees.
D. DISTRIBUTION OF DECLARATION FORMS
Each firm will be issued with a set number of Declaration Forms initially. The response from members of the public for appointments will vary across firms. The campaign’s target is to generate 300 Wills. If a solicitor is happy to continue writing Wills after the initial allocation, further forms may be available on request. The Free Wills office will contact law firms during the campaign to assess the number of appointments being made.
E. MARKETING AND PROMOTION OF THE CAMPAIGN
Free Wills Month will be publicised via advertisements and PR initiatives in local newspapers, leaflets, social media and a dedicated website. Participating solicitors will be supplied with leaflets and posters for reception areas.
F. PAYMENT OF FEES
The Free Wills Month office* will pay £50 for a single Will and £100 for mirror Wills plus VAT in both cases, on presentation of a valid invoice and Confidential Declaration Form signed by the client/s. These fees are for simple Wills. Payments for Wills will be made regardless of whether or not the Wills include a legacy to Mind. Invoices should be addressed to Ashton Maund Associates: related payments will refer to Ashton Maund Associates on your bank statement.
G. WILLS COVERED BY THE CAMPAIGN
The fees stated under F are for simple Wills. The definition of ‘simple Will’ lies with the solicitor concerned. Should a solicitor find, during the actual drawing up of a Will (or mirror Wills), that the task is more complicated than expected, the solicitor may ask the client to pay the difference between the solicitor’s rate for a simple Will and the actual fee required. The simple element of the Will, will still be paid for by the Free Wills Month office.
H. MODERN SLAVERY
All participating firms must agree to comply with all applicable anti-slavery and human trafficking laws, statutes, regulations and codes, particularly, but not strictly limited to, the Modern Slavery Act 2015; and will make the organisers of this campaign aware if the firm has reason to believe that it, or any of its officers, employees, agents or subcontractors have breached or potentially breached any of the obligations under this act.
for more information about the process and the charities involved go to their website
