Gifts in Wills FAQs

A Will remains one of the most important documents we make during our lifetimes, affecting the wellbeing of those closest to us and the values we care about.

While having a properly prepared Will is not a legal requirement, it is something that provides peace of mind for you and your family. Having an up-to-date Will helps ensure that your wishes can be carried out and money and belongings will go to the people and causes you support.

Yes - many people choose to leave a gift to charity after they’ve made arrangements for family, friends, and other financial commitments.

There are different ways you can do this, depending on what feels right for you:

• You might choose to leave a share of your estate (known as a residuary gift) after all other gifts and expenses have been taken care of.
• Or you may prefer to leave a specific amount of money, known as a pecuniary gift - similar to leaving a set sum to a loved one.
• Some people also choose to leave a particular item, such as property or shares.

Whatever you decide, it's important to seek advice from a solicitor or professional Will writer to ensure your wishes are clearly recorded and your estate is distributed as you intend.

Absolutely. Gifts in Wills of all sizes make a vital contribution to our work, and we’re incredibly grateful for every single one.

Whatever you choose to leave, your gift can help fund lifesaving stem cell transplants and support people with blood cancer now and in the future.

If you haven’t already written a Will, there’s no time better than now. If you already have a Will, you should review it regularly, particularly when your personal circumstances change. For example, if you get married or divorced, you have new children or grandchildren, or you move to a new home.

While Anthony Nolan’s Legacy Team can help with general questions about leaving a gift in your Will, we are not able to offer legal advice.

If you're looking to write or update your Will, you have a few options:

• You can use our free Will writing service as one way to create a simple Will at no cost to you. Find out more about our free Will writing service.

• Or you can choose your own solicitor or Will writer. To find a regulated legal professional near you, visit the Law Society website.

We always recommend speaking to a qualified solicitor to ensure your Will is legally valid and reflects your wishes.

Yes, it is possible to write your own Will. However, it's important to ensure that it is legally valid and accurately reflects your wishes. Even small errors can cause complications later on.

We recommend seeking advice from a qualified solicitor or using a Will writing service to ensure everything is completed correctly.

The cost of writing a Will can vary depending on how complex your circumstances are. Many solicitors will provide an estimate on request, and it’s a good idea to contact a few to compare services and fees.

As an alternative, you can also use our free Will writing service to create a simple Will at no cost to you. Find out more about our free Will service.

Whichever option you choose, we recommend seeking legal advice to ensure your Will is valid and reflects your wishes.

While we’re unable to recommend a specific solicitor, you can find a qualified professional through the Law Society website. It allows you to search by location and find solicitors who specialise in Wills and probate.

We always recommend having your Will drafted by a regulated legal professional, such as a solicitor, to ensure it’s valid and reflects your wishes.

Gifts left to registered charities in your Will are exempt from Inheritance Tax. In some cases, particularly for larger estates, leaving a charitable gift may also reduce the total amount of tax due on your estate.

As tax laws can change, we recommend visiting the UK Government website
for the most up-to-date information and speaking to a qualified adviser or solicitor for personalised guidance.

It’s a good idea to review your Will every few years, or after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or moving home. If you need to make small updates - such as adding a gift to charity - you may be able to do this with a document called a codicil, which acts as a supplement to your existing Will.

For significant changes, it’s usually best to write a new Will. We recommend speaking to a qualified solicitor to ensure your updated wishes are legally valid.