Take time this September to write your Will

Worcestershire residents are being encouraged to write their Wills with a campaign launched by St Richard’s Hospice.

During September, the Worcester hospice will be running its annual Write a Will month. Participating solicitors across the county will offer local people the opportunity to write a simple Will for £90, or £140 for a double Will, with 100% of the fees being donated to the hospice.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of writing a Will, which sets out how people want their money, property and possessions to be distributed after their death. In situations when a person dies without a Will, rules dictate how the individual’s estate is allocated, which may not be as they would wish. It is also important to update a Will if personal circumstances have changed, for example if someone marries, divorces or adopts a child.

Rachel Jones, Fundraising Manager at St Richard’s Hospice, explains why the campaign is important: “We know that writing a Will is something many people don’t like to think about. We are encouraging people to make an appointment with one of the campaign’s participating solicitors so they know that if they died, everything would be organised for their loved ones left behind.

“We are very grateful to anyone who takes part in Write a Will month, and also to all the participating solicitors who are giving their time for free to help the hospice. We would particularly like to welcome QualitySolicitors Paytons of Malvern Link who are taking part in the scheme for the first time this year.”

David Kitcat, Solicitor at QualitySolicitors Paytons, said; “We are very pleased to be able to support St Richard’s Hospice in their Write a Will for September 2015. Time and again we hear glowing reports from clients of the care and support that their family members or relatives have received at St Richard’s Hospice and so we are delighted that we can make a contribution to the charity.”

St Richard’s Hospice is also encouraging people to consider leaving a gift in their Will, after they have provided for family and friends, although there is no obligation to do so.

Gifts from Wills to St Richard’s ensure that the charity can continue to care for patients and family members in the future. Including a gift to St Richard’s in your Will is easy. There are a number of options when it comes to writing your Will, but St Richard’s always recommends consulting a solicitor. If you already have a Will and wish to add a gift to the hospice, your solicitor will advise on the best way to do this.

To make a Will, simply call your preferred solicitor and make an appointment quoting the “St Richard’s Hospice September Write a Will Scheme”.

Find out more about the campaign and the participating solicitors at www.strichards.org.uk/writeawill or call the Fundraising Team on 01905 763963.

Participating Solicitors:

QualitySolicitors Paytons

• Malvern: David Kitcat, Kirsty Dance and Kim Wadham-Smith – 01684 563318

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

• Worcester:  Amanda Smith – 01905 746451

Hines Solicitors

• Worcester: Edward James – 01905 26496
• Cheltenham: Edward James – 01242 256686

QualitySolicitors Parkinson Wright

• Worcester, Hilda Edge and Lucy Bluck – 01905 721600
• Droitwich: Karen Billington – 01905 775533
• Evesham: Laura Redding – 01386 761176

Painters Solicitors

• Kidderminster: Lee Baron and Paul Rowley – 01562 822295
• Stourport on Severn: Rebecca Randle – 01299 822033

Waldrons Solicitors

• Worcester: Dawn Cash – 01905 900900
• Kingswinford: Dawn Cash – 01384 811811
• Cheltenham: Dawn Cash – 01242 375100
• Brierley Hill – Claire Elliott – 01384 811811