Will Aid is a charity will-writing scheme designed to reinforce the need for everyone to have a professionally drawn-up will

Will (law)

A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...

 and to raise funds for the participating charities.

Will Aid was originally founded in 1988 following the example set by Band Aid

Band Aid

Band Aid may refer to:* Band Aid , a musical ensemble raising money for famine relief* "Band Aid", a song on Pixie Lott's album Turn It Up* Band-Aid, a brand of adhesive bandage** Adhesive bandage, a genericised trademark...

 and Live Aid

Live Aid

Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...

 and continues to run each November.

Scheme Operation

Will Aid recruits solicitors all over the UK who agree to waive their usual fee for writing basic Wills during 'Make a Will Month' (November). In return, the client is invited to donate to the Will Aid group of charities the fee that the solicitor would usually charge.

The suggested minimum donations are £85 for a single will, or £125 for a pair of mirror wills.

Supported Charities

Will Aid is a partnership of nine charities: ActionAid

ActionAid

ActionAid was founded in 1972 as a child sponsorship charity when 88 UK supporters sponsored 88 children in India and Kenya, the focus primarily being to provide children with an education. Global accounts are now reported in Euros and in 2007 and 2008 turnover was close to 180m Euros...

, Age UK , the British Red Cross

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...

 , Christian Aid

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...

 , NSPCC

NSPCC

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a United Kingdom charity campaigning and working in child protection.-History:...

, Save the Children

Save the Children

Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...

 , SCIAF

SCIAF

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, better known by its acronym SCIAF, is the official aid and development agency of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland...

 , Sightsavers

Sightsavers

Sightsavers is a large international charity that works to combat blindness in developing countries...

  and Trócaire

Trócaire

Trócaire is an Irish non governmental organization development agency. The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No...

.

All the funds raised by Will Aid are shared between these charities and used to support their projects helping vulnerable people in the UK around the world.

Fundraising

Will Aid has raised over £10m since its launch and many tens of million more has been pledged as legacies by people making their Will through the scheme. The 2010 campaign raised £1.6m in donations and Gift Aid.

Will Aid and the legal profession

Will Aid is the largest scheme of its kind in the UK and is a major charitable contribution from legal profession. Over 1,400 solicitors firms take part each year. Since the scheme was launched, participating solicitors have drawn up wills for over 150,000 people.

Will Aid is endorsed by the Probate Section of the Law Society

Law Society of England and Wales

The Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...

who encourage their members to participate. The scheme is run entirely through solicitors firms.