Frequently asked questions and contact details

Making a Will is much more straightforward than you may think. For a simple Will, you may be able to get everything arranged in a single solicitor’s appointment. All you’ll need to take is a rough list of what you own and who you would like to benefit, plus the addresses of those people. You can download our Will planner to help you prepare.

There are a number of options when it comes to writing your Will. The costs vary, but you should be able to agree the fee in advance.

• Solicitors – Solicitors are qualified, accredited and are regulated.  Look for a solicitor who specialises in Wills & Probate, as they will have the relevant skills and experience to guide you through the process. If you’re not sure where to begin, we have a list of solicitors who have experience of helping people affected by dementia.
• Charities – many charities offer Will writing schemes either for free or at a discounted rate. We are partnered with the National Free Wills Network and The Goodwill Partnership, and there is no obligation to include a gift in your Will if you take up one of these offers. Find more information about our Will writing offers.
• Professional Will writers – you can choose to use a professional Will writer. However, they are not regulated in the same way as a solicitor, so you may not  be covered if anything goes wrong. If you do choose to use one, check that they are a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers, which is a self-regulatory body that aims to protect you against unqualified practitioners and unethical practices.
• Banks and Insurance providers – These often offer Will writing services with either your account, mortgage or life insurance and may be discount for their customers.
• Make your own Will – Solicitors and Will writing professionals do not recommend that Wills are written without some support from a professional. This is because if a Will is not written correctly it can be deemed void, which means your wishes won’t necessarily be carried out.

It’s sensible to review your Will every five years, or after any major life event, such as the birth of children or buying a new house. Marriage invalidates any previous Will, so you will need to write a new one if you marry or re-marry.

Our guide to making your Will provides more helpful information about Wills and leaving a gift to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Anyone aged 18 or over can be an executor, even if they benefit from your Will. You can have up to four executors, but that can be quite hard to co-ordinate – two, the recommended minimum, is more manageable. It’s best to choose people you trust, who are competent with paperwork. You can appoint a professional, but they will usually charge for the service. Alzheimer’s Research UK isn’t able to act as executor of your Will.

Thank you very much for considering a gift in your Will to Alzheimer’s Research UK. Alzheimer’s Research UK can be included like any other beneficiary. You should include our name, address and registered charity number. Your solicitor might like to use this wording:

I leave ____________ to Alzheimer’s Research UK, of 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6AD; registered charity number 1077089 and SC042474, for its general charitable purposes absolutely.

You can make small changes to your Will without re-writing it, by using a codicil. This is a document used to amend a Will. It needs to be witnessed in the same way but can be a cheaper and quicker way of doing it. Download our codicil form (PDF).

There’s more than one way to leave a gift in your Will. The following explanations can help you decide which is best for you.

A residuary gift is the remainder of your estate, after all specific gifts and expenses have been paid, including inheritance tax. A residuary gift is a percentage or share of what remain. This type of gift makes sure everyone gets something, even if the value of your estate is lower than you expect.

A pecuniary gift is a cash gift – an amount specified by you, such as £500, £5,000 or £50,000. It’s important to bear in mind that the value of a pecuniary gift is affected by inflation.

A specific gift is a particular item, such as a house, jewellery or stocks and shares.

A conditional gift is a clause you could include to allow for unforeseen circumstances. For example, if the person you intend to leave your estate to dies before you do.

If you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, inheritance tax is paid at a reduced rate of 36%. For more information, see our inheritance tax information.

Thank you for your help; we know that this can be quite a complex undertaking. To find resources and support available to you, you can visit our dedicated webpage.