Martin Lewis Crashes Wills Website After Urgent Financial Planning Advice
Consumer champion Martin Lewis caused a major website crash after urging the public to prioritise their financial affairs during his ITV programme on Tuesday night. The founder of Moneysavingexpert.com dedicated the majority of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live to the critical subjects of wills and lasting power of attorney.
Free Wills Month Initiative Overwhelmed
Part of the show focused on Free Wills Month, a nationwide initiative running throughout March. This programme brings together respected charities to offer people aged 55 and over the opportunity to have simple wills written or updated completely free of charge by participating solicitors across the UK.
However, after Lewis highlighted the service, the official website freewillsmonth.org.uk became temporarily unavailable due to overwhelming traffic. Appointments with solicitors must be booked by March 31st, although Lewis warned viewers not to delay.
"Don't leave it to the 31st, do it now because appointments get booked up," he advised, noting that while the booking deadline is end of March, actual appointments could be scheduled for later dates.
Why The Service Is Free
Lewis explained the reasoning behind the free service: "Because they hope you will leave a bequest to charity. That means you leave something in your will to charity, typically £300 to £1,000 or a percentage. It's not compulsory but it is for charity and if you can, hey, once you're gone you're gone and you may as well leave them something."
The Critical Importance of Power of Attorney
The consumer expert devoted significant time to explaining what lasting powers of attorney are and why they're essential. A poll conducted ahead of the show revealed that while 54% of people have an up-to-date will, only 24% have arranged power of attorney.
Lewis was unequivocal about which document takes precedence: "Power of attorney is the most important. Without it, if you lose mental capacity your family could be locked out of your finances, even if you're struggling to pay for your care or mortgage - a nightmare at the worst possible time."
He elaborated on the crucial distinction: "A will dictates what happens when you're dead. A lasting power of attorney is for when you're alive. If you lose mental capacity, don't assume relatives can access your bank, your insurance and whole host of other things."
"That can literally mean the money you need to pay for your care is locked away and inaccessible," Lewis continued. "The money needed to pay for your mortgage is locked away and inaccessible and someone else is going to have to find the cash in the meantime. That is why I say it is more important than a will."
Planning for Unexpected Circumstances
The consumer champion urged viewers to consider: "If you were to lose mental capacity, who would you like to look after you, who would you like to be able to access your funds to pay for things, who would you trust?"
He emphasised that losing mental faculties doesn't only affect the elderly: "Some people have severe strokes, have accidents, have early dementia. If you don't have one in place it can cause real difficulties."
Lewis warned about the alternative: "You would need to apply to be a deputy via the court of protection. I rarely get good feedback on that. It can be costly, it can be stressful for families and it can take months and months."
The overwhelming response to Lewis's advice demonstrates the public's growing awareness about the importance of proper financial planning and legal protection for unforeseen circumstances.
