How to get a free will in March – and the common mistakes to avoid

If your will is out of date or you haven’t made one at all, you’re not alone. Nearly a third of over-55s don't have a will, according to Canada Life, often because they think they don’t own enough or assume there’s plenty of time. 

But without a will, your estate will be distributed according to intestacy rules, which means some people you want to inherit your assets may get nothing, while others benefit by default. 

Free Wills Month is running this March, offering a good opportunity to get your will sorted. Here we explain what the scheme offers, how to book an appointment and the mistakes to avoid when writing your will.

How Free Wills Month works

Free Wills Month runs twice a year in March and October. It is supported by charities and gives people aged over 55 the chance to have a 'simple' will drawn up or an existing will updated by a solicitor for free. 

As well as simple wills for individuals, Free Wills Month covers couples making ‘mirror’ wills. Mirror wills are near-identical wills created by married couples or partners.

If you benefit from Free Wills Month, you are under no obligation to leave a donation, but the charities taking part will hope you do, as many depend on legacies for up to half of their income.

Whatever you do donate will remain confidential, and the charity will not get a copy of your will.

Some of the national charities taking part include Age UK, British Heart Foundation, Dogs Trust, Guide Dogs, Help for Heroes, Marie Curie, Mencap, Mind, NSPCC, Oxfam and the Royal British Legion. A full list can be found on the Free Wills Month website.

• Find out more: reasons to make a will

Which areas are included?

Hundreds of solicitors and charities take part in Free Wills Month, but different areas participate during different months. 

In March, the following areas will take part: 

Aberdeen, Barry, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Chichester, Coventry, Crawley, Darlington, Dundee, Eastbourne, Edinburgh, Essex, Fife, Glasgow, Harrogate, Hastings, Hertfordshire, Horsham, Inverness, Kent, Kilmarnock, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Mid Wales, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Wales, Northamptonshire, Norwich, Perth, Peterborough, Sheffield, Sunderland, Surrey, Swansea, Wirral, Wolverhampton and Worthing.

• Find out more: what to put in your will

How to book an appointment

Appointments with participating solicitors are limited and are arranged on a first-come, first-served basis from Monday 3 March. 

Once all the available appointments are booked, the campaign will close. This may be before the end of the month.

To sign up, you'll need to enter your postcode on the Free Wills Month website to find your nearest participating solicitor. 

You'll then need to contact the solicitor to arrange the appointment and mention the Free Wills Month scheme. 

The solicitor will define whether your will is considered 'simple' based on your requirements. 

If your will is considered to be more complex, the solicitor may ask you to pay the difference yourself. It's a good idea to seek a few quotes to compare prices.

• Find out more: how to make a will

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Alternatives to Free Wills Month

If you’re not eligible for Free Wills Month or can’t get an appointment, there are other ways to write a will for free or at a lower cost. 

Many charities, such as Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, offer free will writing services year-round in the hope that you’ll consider leaving them a gift. 

Some unions and professional organisations also provide free will writing as a membership benefit.

Another option is Will Aid, which runs every November. Instead of offering a free will, participating solicitors waive their usual fee in exchange for a voluntary donation to charity. 

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, online will writing services can be a cheaper alternative to using a solicitor. These may be suitable for simple estates, but it’s important to check whether legal advice is included, as some online services may not cover more complex situations.

• Find out more: how to make a will for free 

5 mistakes to avoid when making your will

Even if you’re using a solicitor through Free Wills Month, there are still key decisions to get right. Avoiding these common mistakes can help ensure your will reflects your wishes and prevents problems for your loved ones.

1. Choosing the wrong executor

Your executor is responsible for managing your estate, so it’s important to choose someone you trust who is organised and willing to take on the role. 

Many people appoint a spouse, partner or adult child, but if your estate is complex, you may want to consider a solicitor or professional executor. However, this can be expensive, with fees often charged as a percentage of your estate.

It’s also sensible to name at least one co-executor in case your first choice is unable to act.

• Find out more: how to choose the right executor

2. Not telling anyone about it

A will is only effective if it can be found when it’s needed. Yet 10% of people who have made a will haven’t told anyone it exists, according to the National Will Register. 

Even among those who have discussed their will, nearly a third aren’t certain where it’s stored.

To avoid this, make sure your executor knows where to find your will and how to access it. 

You don’t need to share the details, but letting a trusted family member or friend know the location can help prevent unnecessary delays or legal issues.

A will should be stored somewhere safe but accessible, such as with a solicitor, a will storage service or in a safe place at home.

3. Not updating it

A will should reflect your current circumstances, but many people forget to update it after major life events. 

Research on behalf of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers found that almost half of UK wills could be out of date due to changes such as marriage, divorce or the death of a beneficiary.

For example, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, getting married or forming a civil partnership automatically revokes a pre-existing will unless it was written in anticipation of the marriage. 

It’s recommended to review your will every three years or after any major life change.

A will can’t be amended once signed and witnessed, but small changes, such as updating an executor, can be made using a codicil.

For anything more significant, such as adding or removing a beneficiary, it’s best to write a new will to avoid confusion.

• Find out more: 6 mistakes that could invalidate your will

4. Being too vague with your wishes

A will should be clear and unambiguous, but vague or overly rigid wording can create problems. 

Using broad terms like 'my spouse’ or ‘my children’ may seem sensible, but if your circumstances change, such as divorce or estrangement, it could mean your assets don’t go where you intended. Naming individuals ensures there’s no confusion.

At the same time, being too specific can also cause issues. If you leave a named asset, such as a car or property, but later sell or replace it, your will may not account for the change. 

Similarly, listing specific grandchildren could unintentionally exclude any born after your will was written.

• Find out more: 5 things to know before using a will writing service

5. Failing to take tax into account

Free Wills Month is designed for simple wills, which suit most people. But if you have a larger or more complex estate, it’s worth taking financial advice or using a will writing service that includes tax planning.

Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on anything above £325,000. If you leave your home to a direct descendant, you can qualify for the residence nil-rate band, increasing your tax-free threshold to £500,000. 

Married couples and civil partners can combine their allowances, allowing up to £1 million to be passed on tax-free.

From April 2027, defined contribution pensions will be included in IHT calculations, meaning more estates could exceed the threshold. 

Estate planning can help reduce the amount of tax owed, for example by gifting money during your lifetime, setting up trusts or leaving 10% of your estate to charity to lower the tax rate

• Find out more: will trusts and lifetime trusts

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