Martin Lewis is urging people to check now if they qualify for a free support package worth "hundreds of pounds," and has highlighted a £300 figure worth bearing in mind.
October is Free Wills Month, a chance for anyone aged 55 or older to get a basic will written for free. Lewis previously discussed the event on ITV's This Morning, telling viewers that many solicitors are "doing it for free" under the scheme.
How Free Wills Month works
"The way that Free Wills Month works is there are two Free Wills Months: October and March, and different locations in the UK are on in each one," the consumer expert said.
Events are taking place across England and Wales. For example, the mental health charity Mind says on its website that it is taking part in these areas: Birmingham, Chester, Cornwall, Cumbria and Lancaster, East Cheshire, Exeter, Huddersfield, Leeds, Leicestershire, Mid and West Wales, Milton Keynes, North Wales, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Plymouth, Preston, Shropshire, Torquay and Wakefield.
Leave a gift to charity
People can visit the Free Wills Month website to check if a local solicitor is participating in their area. While the service is free, people are encouraged to leave a gift to express their gratitude.
"They would like you to leave a bequest in your will," Lewis explained. "That's a donation for the charity when you die, so you don't have to pay it now."
He went on: "So, what they normally suggest is about £300 in your will when you die or a small percentage of your assets. And that again is working with a whole range of charities, that's who you're leaving it to."
Will Aid in November
A similar project called Will Aid runs across the UK throughout November. In this event, participating solicitors donate their time and waive their standard fees to help people write a basic will.
Instead of paying a fee, clients are asked to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid. The suggested donation is £120 for a single basic will and £200 for a pair of basic "mirror" wills for a couple.
But there is no pressure to commit to this amount. "It is a requested donation, if you can't afford it, you don't need to pay the full amount or anything at all," Lewis said.
He encouraged everyone to look into these options, regardless of their background or age. "It's a win-win all round. So if you don't have a will, take advantage, especially if you're not married," he said. "People always think this is just for old people. But if you're 30 and you've got kids and you've got a house and you've got assets, do it."
