So what exactly is the National Free Wills Network? The National Free Wills Network is an initiative designed to benefit both charity supporters and solicitors, making Will writing accessible and meaningful.
Here we will explore the ins and outs of the Free Wills Network, its operations, and its impact on the lives of thousands of people and charitable organisations. So let's dive in and discover how this service works for UK charities and their warmest supporters.
The Free Wills Network is a collaboration between charities and law firms providing free Will writing services to individuals who support a charity.
The network has enabled thousands of legacies for member charities while raising many millions of pounds in pledges in the past 10 years.
It provides an invaluable legacy fundraising tool that strengthens connections between supporters and their favourite causes by creating lasting legacies.
The National Free Wills Network advertises itself as providing free Will writing services to individuals who support a charity, through a selection of participating local law firms. This means that the national free wills network is a collaboration between charities and law firms, offering free Wills to charity supporters while providing new clients for the solicitors. Operating under the regulations of The Law Society of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as the Charity Commission, the Free Wills Network maintains a strong regional focus on participating law firms.
However, it is important to note that in order to benefit from the free wills network, one must use a participating solicitor. This means that using your local solicitor might not be an option if they're not part of the network, and the overwhleming majority of solictitors are not part of the network.
The Free Wills Network operates by connecting charity supporters with participating law firms to create simple basic Wills. This is a valuable client acquisition opportunity for the solicitors involved in the scheme. The charities pay for the Will writing services provided by the participating law firms, ensuring that their supporters can create or update their Wills at no cost to them. This not only helps the supporters properly plan their estate, but also encourages them to include their preferred charity in their Will, furthering the reach and impact of these organisations.
It's essential to recognise that the Free Wills Network is designed for basic Wills, so if you have more complex needs, you should look for alternative solutions. However, for a straightforward Will, the Free Wills Network offers an opportunity to create a legally binding document and leave a lasting legacy for your preferred charity.
It is the responsibility of charities to cover the expenses of the free Will writing services provided by the Network, which encompass the cost of the will writing service and any relevant legal fees. By taking on this financial burden, charities can offer a valuable and appealing service to their supporters, ultimately leading to increased legacy donations.
Legacy donations are an important source of income for charities, and providing a free Will writing service is an important source of income for charities.
The Free Wills Network consists of a diverse group of UK charities and solicitors, providing both advantages and disadvantages for participants. These charities range from household names to more regional causes with a local focus, ensuring that supporters can find a charity they feel passionate about supporting. Local law firms offering free Will writing services are part of the network, making it possible for both charities and solicitors to benefit from this unique collaboration.
As a result of this partnership, the network has the potential to generate increased legacy donations for charities while offering a steady stream of referrals for participating solicitors. However, there are some potential drawbacks that participants should be aware of, as we will explore in the next sections.
The Free Wills Network represents a valuable client acquisition opportunity for solicitors. In addition to the fees paid by the charity, any additional work carried out above and beyond a simple Will can be charged to the client.
The participating solicitor is normally a local solicitor as visits to the participating solicitor are often necessaey.
Among the advantages of the Free Wills Network for solicitors are:
Reliable influx of charity referrals
Potential to generate revenue from additional services beyond the drafting of a basic Will
Expansion of client base
Enhancement of reputation in the local community.
For charities, the Free Wills Network presents an opportunity to raise much-needed funds through increased legacy donations and a steady stream of referrals for solicitors. By offering this free service to their supporters, charities can cultivate warm donors into dedicated pledgers, ultimately increasing their donations and making a more significant impact on the causes they support.
As with any service, there can be potential downsides. In the case of the Free Wills Network, some potential downsides include:
Conflicts of interest may arise when solicitors are incentivised to suggest particular products or services to clients.
The network may not be able to offer the same degree of customisation and counsel as a paid solicitor.
The network may not be able to provide the same level of accessibility for complex Wills.
A local solicitor is often not available.
Availiablity of local solicitors is variable.
The application process is cumbersome, and no online option is available which is crazy when you consider that so many people want to write their Wills online.
Participating solicitors often encourage individaula to choose them to be the executors of the will, even though this may not be in the individual's best interests.
While the National Free Wills Network provides a valuable service to charities and their supporters, it is not without its flaws. Here are some reasons why the network may not be the perfect solution for everyone:
Limited Solicitor Choices: The network only includes participating solicitors, which means you might not be able to use your preferred local solicitor if they're not part of the network. This can limit the choices available to you in terms of who you can trust to handle your will.
Complex Wills: The Free Wills Network is designed for simple Wills. If you have a more complex situation, such as owning a business or having a large estate, you might need to look for alternative solutions. The network may not be equipped to handle more complicated cases.
Potential Conflicts of Interest: Solicitors in the network might be incentivised to suggest specific products or services to clients, which could lead to potential conflicts of interest.
Limited Customisation and Counsel: The network may not be able to offer the same degree of customisation and advice as a paid solicitor. This could be a disadvantage for individuals who need more personalised advice and guidance.
Limited Accessibility: For individuals in remote locations, finding a local participating solicitor might be challenging. This could limit the accessibility of the service for some people.
These limitations should be considered when deciding whether to use the National Free Wills Network for creating or updating your will.
Over the past 10 years, the Free Wills Network has helped generate a large number of legacies for member charities. This underscores the tangible impact of the network on both charities and their supporters, helping to create a more sustainable future for a multitude of causes.
By offering free Will writing services, the network has empowered individuals to make a lasting difference in the lives of others while ensuring their own wishes are properly documented.
Charities pay a fee to the will writing company for the services rendered. This financial commitment helps ensure that their supporters can access professional Will writing services, furthering the charity's mission and fostering a lasting connection with its supporters.
The Free Wills Network offers unique benefits to both charities and solicitors, serving as a one-of-a-kind legacy fundraising tool with measurable results. By participating in the network, charities can gauge the effectiveness of their efforts, including tracking the number of Wills created and the amount of money donated to their cause. This insight helps charities refine their strategies and achieve reliable results in their fundraising efforts.
Moreover, the Free Wills Network presents a cost-efficient means for charities to reach out to potential benefactors. By offering free Will writing services, charities can:
Engage with supporters
Encourage them to leave a lasting legacy
Ultimately increase their donations
Ensure a brighter future for the causes they support.
Through its own channels. Will writing services, the Free Wills Network has raised an incredible sum of money for charities, demonstrating the immense value of the network as a unique legacy fundraising tool, allowing charities to generate much-needed funds while providing a valuable service to their supporters.
It's important to note that there are alternative options available to people who want to write a Will. For example, you might consider working with a local solicitor who specialises in estate planning. Alternatively, you might consider using an online will writing service, which can be a convenient and affordable option, and online will writing is becoming more and more acceptable, and more common, such that it will soon be the most popular way to write a Will. Yes, visiting a solicitor to get a Will written will become a thing of the past. Just think how so many other industries have changed and you will soon agree that online Wills are the way forward.
Creating a will is an important part of ensuring your final wishes are carried out after you pass away. In the UK, there are many options available to individuals when it comes to writing their will. While the national free wills network may seem like an attractive option, there are other alternatives that may better suit your needs. For instance, many law firms and charities offer affordable or even free will writing services. Some companies also offer template wills or online will writing services. The key is to do your research and find an option that fits your budget and needs. Don't assume that the national free wills network is your only choice - explore your options and find the one that works best for you.
The success stories and impact of the Free Wills Network are not only measured in the funds raised for charities but also in the lives touched by the service. By facilitating many matches between individuals and local solicitors who participate in the network, the Free Wills Network has enabled countless people to create or update their Wills at no cost, ensuring their wishes are properly documented and their loved ones are provided for.
Furthermore, the network has been an essential source of funding for charities, with gifts in wills accounting for more than one third of their work. For solicitors, the Free Wills Network has provided an opportunity to offer a beneficial service with a local focus to their area while aiding them in cultivating their standing and clientele, as well as ensuring network control in managing the process.
The collaborative nature of the network and its impact on the lives of individuals, charities, and solicitors speaks to its undeniable success and value.
In conclusion, the Free Wills Network is a valuable resource for UK charities and solicitors, providing free Will writing services to charity supporters and generating significant funds for participating organisations. By offering this innovative service, the network has not only made the process of creating or updating a Will more accessible, but also strengthened the connection between charities and their supporters.
The Free Wills Network has had a profound impact on a number of charitable organisations, making it a useful tool for legacy fundraising and providing a lasting legacy for those who choose to support their favourite causes through this service.
To sum up, the Free Wills Network is an initiative that benefits both charities and solicitors by offering free Will writing services to charity supporters. With its legacy fundraising tool, measurable results, and significant impact on the lives of individuals and charitable organisations, the Free Wills Network has proven to be an invaluable resource in shaping the future for UK charities and their warmest supporters. Together, we can make a difference and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
If you have any other questions about the free wills network, please contact us and we will do our best to help you.
