Campaign stresses the benefits of will registration [DURING MAY the National Will Register ran its annual Free Will Registration Month, which promotes the benefits of registering wills to both legal professionals and the general public. In 2020 the legal profession saw a sharp increase in the number of wills being made. One of the many effects that the outbreak of COVID-19 had was that many members of the public were faced with addressing their mortality and the issue of who they would wish to inherit their estate after they had passed away. For law firms, registering their clients’ wills on the National Will Register ensures that they can be quickly and easily located by the testator’s named executors and beneficiaries. For over a decade, the organisation has built up a significant national register of wills and will search service that protects law firms, testators, executors and beneficiaries every day. Those who use the register range from sole practitioners to over 50% of the Legal 500 and the majority of the most respected firms in the country. There are now over 8.9 million registrations on the system and that number continues to rise on a daily basis. Moreover, it is not unusual for a testator to use different law firms and will writers to update their existing will without notifying the named executors, beneficiaries or the professional who drafted the previous will.
Registering a client’s will not only protects against the incorrect distribution of an estate, and the issues that surround an unknown will coming to light, but also the loss of probate work that can occur because the will and the law firm that wrote and stored it are unknown to the executors and beneficiaries. The National Will Register is the Law Society of England and Wales’s trusted partner. It is used by the public, the legal profession, law firms, PI insurers, government agencies, charities and other associated sectors and organisations to register and search for wills. The National Will Register’s Vicky Box commented: “The National Will Register's annual Free Will Registration Month is going really well. We have been inundated from members of the public and law firms who wish to contribute to the campaign. Overall, there has been an 88% increase in will registrations in the past six months in comparison to previous years. It's fantastic to see such a positive response and as a team, we are here to assist everybody who wishes to take advantage of the incentive until 4 June.” To express their interest and to begin registering their clients’ wills, firms can call 0330 100 3660 or email enquiries@certainty.co.uk. For members of the public to register their will they should visit www.nationalwillregister.co.uk and click on ‘REGISTER A WILL’. They do not need a copy of their will to register it and the register does not need to see their will. q
Legacies – the gift of life [
ANIMAL CHARITY Wild Futures rescues and offers sanctuary to monkeys who have suffered abuse and neglect. They are dedicated to protecting primates and their habitats worldwide – primates are endangered due to climate change, habitat destruction and the bush-meat and pet trades. For some species, it is too late. The future of all that remains lies in our hands, so leaving a legacy to Wild Futures is the gift of life and a future for primates and our wonderful planet. Wild Futures’ holistic approach makes them unique – providing sanctuary to rescued
12 12
monkeys, supporting projects overseas, campaigning for primate welfare, educating to protect primates worldwide and promoting a sustainability and ethical ethos. They receive no government funding, so the generosity of those that remember Wild Futures is essential to enable them to continue their work. A legacy can be the gift of a life worth living and a wild and safe future for all. q • For more information call 01503 262532, email giving@wildfutures.org or visit the webiste at www.wildfutures.org.
