KEETCH URGES WILL MAKING IN NOVEMBER

9.38.24am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Oct 2008

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford and Ross-on-Wye today called for local people to take advantage of this November's Will Aid, a campaign that encourages people to make a Will with a participating solicitor and at the same time to raise vital funds to help 9 charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, Sight Savers International, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (N. Ireland).

Will Aid solicitors will draw up a basic Will free of charge. In return for this service, the solicitors hope clients will choose to donate to the Will Aid charities the fee they would normally charge. The suggested donation level is: £75 for a single Will, £110 for a pair of matching or 'mirror' Wills, or £40 for a codicil to an existing will.

Will Aid donations are distributed amongst the participating charities and go a long way to help transform the lives of children, elderly people, their families and whole communities in the UK and around the world.

The latest Will Aid survey into Wills and inheritance issues reveals that only 40% have written a Will at all, and of these 25% have not reviewed their Will for 5 years or more. Most people say they simply have not got around to writing one. Whilst the tendency to have written a Will rises with age, still 30% of those aged 55 and over have not written a Will, increasing the chances of them dying intestate and leaving their loved ones with a good deal of problems to sort out at a time when they are grieving. These problems may take months or years to resolve and could incur expensive legal fees, considerably reducing the estate's value.

Paul Keetch MP remarked, "It is quite alarming that so few people have an up-to-date Will and so are risking their loved ones' financial security. Every adult should write their Will and review it regularly as circumstances change. People who live together without being married have no automatic right to inherit if there is no Will, no matter how long or stable the relationship. Even married people and civil partners can only automatically inherit up to certain financial limits laid down in law, and may end up having to sell off the family home to pay off other relatives. It's also very important to make provision for the financial security and guardianship of any children."

The MP added, "The powerful thing about Will Aid is that it also enables you, at no extra cost, to help improve the lives of many other people both here and overseas."

Will Aid solicitors will be very busy during November, so it is important to act now and make an appointment for next month. So phone the hotline on 0300 0300 013, or visit www.willaid.org.uk today to find a convenient participating solicitor, and take advantage of this great opportunity to get your financial affairs in order and help others at the same time.

ENDS