Writing your will

Upcoming training on writing your will:

We have sessions coming up with training on how to write your will for free through the National Church:

Tuesday 19th November; 12.30-1.30 - register here

Below are four videos covering the importance of running a legacy campaign, writing a will, planning your funeral and leaving a legacy.

Write your will for free

The Church of England has partnered with Farewill in order to allow individuals to write their will for free. (There is a charge if you want to be able to amend your will in the future and the offer only includes one person in a couple.)

To access your free will through Farewill, please click here.

Christian Aid have also partnered with Farewill, and also the National Free Wills Service, which partners with solicitors around the country. To request an in-person meeting with a solicitor through Christian Aid, please click here.

There is no obligation to leave a gift to your church, and loved ones should always come first. However, we hope you will consider remembering a church you care about, as every gift makes a real difference to that church, its mission and its ministry for future generations.

Why every Christian should have a will

One of the greatest gifts we can give our family and friends is the space to grieve when we die, however, this can be difficult if we do not plan ahead. Throughout history, Christians have said how important it is to prepare for our own deaths, from St Francis, warning those not prepared in his Canticle of the Creatures to the Book of Common Prayer admonishing us to make our will in the Visitation to the Sick.

Making a will is the only way to ensure your wishes are fulfilled, giving you peace of mind that you will be able to continue to support the family, friends and causes you love.

Why now?

Everyone knows it’s a good idea to write their will, but many of us put it off for another day. Here are some reasons to write your will now:

You choose what happens

If you do not make a will, the law decides who receives your assets, which might not coincide with your wishes and will ignore any charities you might want to give to.

You can take care of your children

If you have children under the age of 18 appointing guardians to look after them in the event of both parents’ death will give you further peace of mind.

To include a charitable gift

You may wish to include a gift in your will to your local church or another charity close to your heart. Your gift could make a difference in the life and ministry of the church, and your legacy will live on in that place.

Funeral Plans

You can include instructions for your funeral. While your family are not obliged to follow these, it helps let them know what you would like.

For peace of mind

Once you’ve made your will, you will know that if the unthinkable happens, your loved ones will be cared for. A weight off your mind.

Writing your Will

For most people it is neither difficult nor complicated to write their will, and the Church of England have partnered with Farewill to offer free wills. Going through Farewill can take as little as 15 minutes and helps you to know that your wishes will be carried out.

You may also want to seek additional professional advice and speak to a solicitor when making or revising your will. Help on this can be found on the Church of England's website.