People aged 55 and over are being urged to do one thing in October

Martin Lewis issues 'act fast' warning to everyone aged 55 and over

You should 'book an appointment' as soon as possible

by · Birmingham Live

Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert (MSE) has warned people over the age of 55 to 'act fast' and do one thing this month. The MSE team is urging people aged 55 who do not have will to 'book an appointment'.

It comes as part of Free Wills Month, which takes place in October and March. The scheme allows people to get a solicitor-drafted or updated will for free.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday (October 9), MSE said: "It's FREE WILLS month. So if you're 55+ and don't have a will, book an appointment before the end of October - they're filling up fast! Each time it's in different locations (next one's in March), so if where you are isn't listed, it may be next time".

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As part of the scheme, a solicitor will draft the will for free. It covers a single will for anyone aged 55 and over or a 'mirror will' for couples where the wills are near-identical, as long as one is over 55.

Appointments need to be booked by the end of the October - but they can take place after that. In its latest newsletter, MSE said: "It's organised on behalf of Age UK, Alzheimer's Research, British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie, Mind, Samaritans and more, in the hope you'll leave a bequest (money in your will) of typically £300 to £500 - it's not compulsory, but it is a charity scheme, so do it if you can."

You can also book now for November's Will Aid month if you are 18 and over. With this scheme, you are asked to make a suggested donation to charity for the will - £100 for a single will and £180 for a mirror will.

The donation is spread across Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF & Trocaire. MSE added: "Sorting a will is crucial if you've got a house, savings, a business, or people you'd like to look after when you're gone.

"It means you get to decide who gets what. Without one, rigid intestacy rules dictate it and you don't have a say.

"Plus as solicitors tell us, die will-less and it may complicate dealing with the estate. The wills gold standard is for a solicitor to draft it, which normally costs £100s.

"Yet currently two charity schemes provide them for cheap or free (as long as your circumstances are relatively simple). Each works slightly differently, there are far more options in our Cheap & free wills guide."

MSE said these are the areas which are taking part in Free Wills Months this October:

  • Birmingham
  • Bolton
  • Bournemouth
  • Bristol
  • Cardiff
  • Chester
  • Chesterfield
  • Cornwall
  • Cumbria
  • Derbyshire
  • East Cheshire
  • Essex
  • Exeter
  • Glasgow
  • Gloucestershire
  • Hampshire
  • Huddersfield
  • Hull
  • Ipswich
  • Kent
  • Lancaster
  • Leeds
  • Leicestershire
  • Lincolnshire
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester
  • Mid Wales
  • Middlesbrough
  • Milton Keynes
  • Newcastle
  • North Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • Norwich
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Oxfordshire
  • Plymouth
  • Portsmouth
  • Preston
  • Scarborough
  • Sheffield
  • Shropshire
  • Southampton
  • Stockport
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Swansea
  • Torquay
  • Wakefield
  • West Wales
  • Wirral
  • Wolverhampton
  • York