We’ve partnered with expert estate planners, Octopus Legacy, so you can write or update your will for free*.
The cost of your will is covered by us up to £150 – so you can write or update a simple will for free or get a will with trust at a discounted rate. While many supporters choose to include a gift in their will to VSO, there’s no obligation to do so when using this service.
How to write or update your will:
Find the right will for you. You can write your will:
- Online
- Over the phone/video call
- In-person (At home or in-branch)
Or call Octopus Legacy directly on 020 4525 3605 and quote VSO
*Applies to simple wills only. Discounts are applicable for wills with trusts.
Download our guide to writing and updating your will (PDF, 10.7MB)
Five reasons to write your Will
1) If you live with a pet.
The love, loyalty and laughs brought to us by the animals in our lives is special. Writing a will and stipulating who you want to take care of them should the circumstance ever arrive is the only legally binding way of ensuring they are taken care of.
2) If you have children under the age of 18.
If you have children under the age of 18, writing a will allows you to appoint legal guardians for them to make sure, should anything happen to you, then they are kept safe, well and most importantly loved by someone you trust. Without this, if anything were to happen to both parents, it’s up to the courts as to who’ll look after them.
3) If you are a homeowner.
As soon as you buy a home you are the owner of a considerable asset. Your house, along with other assets, form what is known as your ‘estate’. A will allows you to keep a record of your ‘assets’ and choose exactly what you want to happen to it. Not only does this aid managing things like inheritance tax, but it also ensures harmonious relations when the time comes.
4) If you’ve had a change in circumstances.
It is a myth that a will is a ‘one-time only’ document. It can and should be updated during key life milestones for e.g., if you buy a new house or have a baby. In actual fact, it's recommended by the government that you review your will at least once every five years in order to keep it up to date.
5) If you want a way to give to a charity you love in the future.
Writing your will is a way to ensure – after taking care of loved ones – that the organisations you hold dear to your heart continue to do their amazing work in the future. A gift in your will is a committed pledge today, and a realised gift in the future.
Writing my will was something I considered daunting which is why I put it off for years. Writing my will online via Octopus Legacy was one of the least daunting online experiences I've ever had. It was not only simple, it was quick & very good value. I would recommend it to anyone reading this."Anne Groarke
★★★★★Trustpilot
If I use the Free Wills service, do I have to leave a gift to VSO in my Will?
After taking care of loved ones, many former volunteers and supporters do choose to leave a gift in their will to us.
Whilst many of you choose to leave a gift in your will to us, so that we can continue to back the volunteers for tomorrow and make this world fair for everyone, there is absolutely no obligation.
