York solicitor Lynsey Bashforth believes making a Will is being pushed onto the “back burner” despite the Covid-19 pandemic focussing attention on the pressing need for future planning as figures show 57% of people in the UK still do not have a Will.
Latest research reveals 57% of people in the UK are leaving their family finances open to challenge when they pass away and of those that do have a Will, the majority (53%) have not updated it within the last five years, with a further 14% never having updated it at all. ¹
In a bid to address these worrying figures, Lynsey, a member of the award winning team at Roche Legal based in York, is running free clinics for organisations, including the West and North Yorkshire Police Federations, to highlight the benefits of putting your wishes into a Will.
Lynsey said: “When the pandemic hit people were thinking more about their mortality, but life has just got in the way again and making a Will has been put on the back burner. We all think we are invincible, but unfortunately we are not.
“That’s why It is important to push forward with our campaigns at Roche Legal to build awareness and working with the police federations is an integral part of that strategy. If it can work for the police then it can work for other employers and that is message we want to get out.
“Our free clinics are held at workplaces and is an excellent way for employers to add additional value to their employees and to encourage them to get their affairs in order.
“In terms of the large number of people without a Will, it does come down to educating about the ramifications of not having a Will when you die(intestate). If there is no will then you do not know exactly what their wishes were. With a Will in place there is a voice saying what they wanted to happen when they are not here. It is also vital to update your Will to take into consideration changes to circumstances.”
The police federation clinics have not only attracted officers coming to the end of their careers but young families who want to ensure their wishes for their children are put into a Will.
Lynsey added: “Making a Will is an individual decision and the clinics and presentations are about educating police officers about the benefits and explaining the process. After the impact of Covid-19 we are building up the in-person presentations and clinics again.
“Organising your affairs is not morbid and we make it clear that in effect what you are doing with a Will is putting an insurance policy in place that looks after your loved ones and it is about getting that message across. Some people genuinely can’t face those emotional conversations and that is why it is so important to discuss making a Will- it is about protecting your family.
“We also offer a Powers of Attorney facility to ensure that if you become poorly or unable to manage your affairs for any reason (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Dementia), the person or people you have nominated can step in for you, rather than leaving it to chance. We also offer a digital appointment service as part of the forward thinking and new technology that is at the heart of Roche Legal.”
¹ Wealth Transfer | Kings Court Trust (kctrust.co.uk)
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- Trusts and Estate Planning
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Note to editors:
Rachel is available for interview and can be contacted on 01904 866139 or through Chris Jones Media on 07774 772820/ 07738 005133.
