Free Wills Available Through Open Law

If you’ve taken so much as a cursory glance at our social media over the past few months, you’ll know that we are very passionate about Wills and believe that every adult should write one.

Shockingly, less than half of all adults in the UK have actually written a Will, which means their property and their finances will be left to the rules of intestacy after they die.

In other words, their wishes and instructions will not be taken into account, and their estate will be distributed according to predetermined rules set by the government.

Not only that, but if the person who dies also has children, then they will have no say over who will raise them.

Barriers to Will Writing

Many of the barriers to writing a Will come down to myths and misconceptions about who should write one.

Some think that you need to be wealthy. Others think you need to be of a certain age, usually over 50. You can write your Will from any age over 18, and you do not need to have millions in the bank to do so.

Sometimes the concerns comes down to cost.

Will Writing Services are charged at vastly different rates depending on the firm you to decide to go with. At Open Law, we charge just £100 + VAT, because we want our services to be accessible to all.

Will Writers and DIY Wills

A cheaper alternative to using a solicitor to write your Will is to write one yourself, or enlist the help of a Will writer, but these options are fraught with risk.

Wills are legal documents which must be written in a manner that is clear and free from ambiguity so there is no confusion as to your intentions.

Often, DIY Wills are not written clearly enough, resulting in confusion and delays for families later down the line, and in some cases, instructions being disregarded altogether.

Likewise, Will Writers are not regulated in the same way solicitors are, leaving the door open to sales tactics and hidden fees that can often result in clients paying more than they initially thought.

Using a solicitor remains the best option for writing your Will as they provide a level of legal expertise and transparency that is simply unmatched by other options.

Because of this, solicitors remain the most expensive option on average, but there are a number of initiatives that run throughout the year that enable consumers to write their Will with the help of a solicitor completely free of charge.

At Open Law, we take part in two of them.

Free Wills Month

Aimed at members of the public aged 55 and over, Free Wills Month, is a national scheme that runs in March and October, providing simple Wills.

Appointments are limited and they are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free Wills Month works by the organisation requesting – but not requiring – clients to leave a charitable donation in their will for one of a number of listed charities.

It’s a great way to help older generations write their Will whilst raising vital funds for fantastic causes but without costing clients anything during their lifetime.

Open Law have taken part in Free Wills Month since 2024. This year’s runs until Saturday 31st October.

To request one of the Free Wills Month appointments, simply get in touch.

Will Aid

Running every November, Will Aid is a national free Will writing campaign open to anybody over the age of 18.

Backed by money saving expert, Martin Lewis, the campaign has been running since 1988.

Open Law have been taking part since 2019, and we’ve raised a staggering £26,820 for their various partner charities during that time.

There is no limit to the number of Will Aid appointments that can be booked, and we aim to help as many clients in the local area of Huddersfield and West Yorkshire as we can.

The next Will Aid campaign kicks off on Sunday 1^st November 2026 and runs until Monday 30^th November.

To book your free Will Aid appointment, give us a call any time after 9AM on Monday 2^nd November.

I’ll get around to it…

In the legal world, we hear the phrase ‘I’ll get around to it,’ all too often.

Writing your Will may not seem like a high priority right now, particularly if you’re young, fit and healthy, but the reality is that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

By preparing your Will now, you’ll be able to stay in control and rest in the knowledge that your money and your possessions will be distributed the way you’d like them to be after you’re gone, no matter the ‘what if’ scenarios that come your way.

But perhaps more importantly, the real value of writing your will isn’t actually for you, it’s for your family – whether it’s appointing the right guardians for your children or simply providing much needed clarity and guidance in what is bound to be a difficult and emotional time.

The best time to take control of your future is today.