Write or update your Will this September or October with a local solicitor and support St Gemma’s Hospice
What is Make a Will Month?
We are working with local solicitors to give you the opportunity to have your Will written this September and October. Local solicitors are generously waiving their usual fees and donating their time and expertise to help raise funds for the Hospice. Every donation made to St Gemma’s as part of Make a Will Month will help ensure we continue to be here for local patients and their families when they need us most.
Why write a Will?
At St Gemma’s we understand that it is comforting to know that you have provided for your family and made sure that your wishes are known.
Having an up-to-date Will ensures that your money, property and possessions go to the people and causes you care about. Putting your affairs in order now can make life much easier for your loved ones later.
Our dad was cared for as an in-patient at the Hospice for two months. In our opinion the Hospice is run top to bottom by the most caring, awesome, selfless group of people we have ever met.
Make a Will Month with St Gemma’s was just one of the many ways we could give back to this truly amazing Hospice, as well as us having peace of mind by planning ahead. The whole process went very smoothly with thanks to our chosen local firm of solicitors.
Mark
FAQs
How do I take part?
Step 1: Complete the registration form. We will send you confirmation of your registration along with a Make a Will Month pack and a voucher to show to your solicitor.
Step 2: Choose a solicitor from the list provided and contact them to make an appointment in September or October, quoting “St Gemma’s Make a Will Month”.
Step 3: Attend your Will writing appointment with your chosen solicitor. Make sure to take your voucher with you as proof of registration.
We suggest a minimum donation of £125 for a basic Will (for a single person) or £175 for Mirror Wills (for a couple).
- £125 could provide a specialist bereavement support session for someone struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one
- £175 could help keep a patient mobile and independent by providing physiotherapy support
- £250 could cover the cost of a visit from our community team to a patient in their own home to provide clinical advice and support
- £500 per day could fund care for one patient staying at the Hospice, covering everything from expert care, to pain relief and meals
How do I book an appointment?
To make an appointment, choose a solicitor from the list provided. Call your chosen solicitor and quote ‘St Gemma’s Make a Will Month’. Each firm is providing a limited number of places, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
What types of appointments and Wills are available?
Different firms may provide office appointments, home visits, video calls or telephone appointments. Please ask your chosen solicitor what type is available. If you need a home visit there may be an extra charge for this.
You can have a Simple Will (for a single person) or Mirror Wills (for a couple) written, or update a current Will.
A Simple Will typically covers straightforward estates and essentials such as naming beneficiaries and their gifts, appointing executors, and naming guardians for any children. Simple Wills do not usually cover establishing a trust.
If your Will is more complex, you may still take part in Make a Will Month, but your chosen solicitor will advise you of any fees which may be incurred before they proceed.
Are there any extra costs?
All the solicitors taking part in the scheme are waiving their fees for Simple Wills.
A Simple Will typically covers straightforward estates and essentials such as naming beneficiaries and their gifts, appointing executors, and naming guardians for any children. Simple Wills do not usually cover establishing a trust.
If your Will is more complex there may be an additional fee to pay.
Please discuss your requirements with your solicitor when you make your appointment. Before they start the work, they will let you know if there will be any additional costs.
*Some participating solicitors charge a small fee for identity checking.
Do I need to include a gift for St Gemma’s in my Will?
Leaving a gift to St Gemma’s is easy and anyone can do it. If you take part in Make a Will Month there’s no obligation to leave the Hospice a gift. However, once you’ve provided for your loved ones, any gift you leave – even a small percentage – will help us to continue caring for the patients and families who need us in our local community.
If you’d like to leave a gift to St Gemma’s, tell your solicitor at your appointment or for more information about leaving a gift to help local people living with life-threating illnesses, find out how on our Gifts in Wills page.
Do I need to take anything to my appointment?
Please take your voucher as proof of registration. At the time of making the appointment, your solicitor will let you know any other documents you will need to bring with you.
Participating Solicitors
Find out which of your local solicitors are participating in St Gemma’s Make a Will Month.
Leave St Gemma's a gift in your Will
Help hospice care to live on with a gift in your Will.