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Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 

As October approaches there is lots to look forward to, not least some leaf chasing when out on blustery dog walks!October is also ‘make a will’ month, where many solicitors and charities offer free will writing services. While writing a will often slips down the ‘to do’ list in favour of more pressing tasks, it is a really easy, affordable thing to do which brings great peace of mind. Making a will, or taking the time to make sure it is up to date, affords control over your estate,ensuring that your loved ones are properly looked after. As well as providing for your family or friends, a will also affords an opportunity to benefit charities close to your heart. North West English Springer Spaniel Rescue are grateful to all of those who have kindly remembered the charity in their will; their generous legacies have allowed us to rescue and rehabilitate many more dogs than we would otherwise have been in a position to help. A gift in a will (also sometimes referred to as a testamentary legacy) can take many forms, it may be a specific sum of money (either a fixed amount or a percentage of the total estate), it may be a specific item of property (for e.g. a particular painting) or it may be residuarylegacy, which means everything left in your estate once all other testamentary gifts have been administered. In addition tosupporting your favourite causes, gifts made to charity in your will may also reduce the inheritance tax incurred by the administration of your estate. As well as allocating your property, your will also represents an important opportunity to ensure that your beloved pets are well cared for if the need arises. Your will provides an opportunity to state who you wish to look after your pets upon your death. This may be a named individual, for example a family member or close friend, however this also may include organisations such as North West English Springer Spaniel Rescue. If you are considering leaving your dog in NWESSRs care in your will, please make sure you contact our Surrenders team (onhoming@englishspringerrescue.co.uk or 07884331017 ) so that we can get all the information we need to ensure that they are well looked after.

October is a great month to take organisations up on their offer of free will writing, however here are a few things to bear in mind when writing a will:

– NWESSR advise that you consult a Solicitors Regulatory Authority registered solicitor if you wish to make a new will or revise an existing one. For solicitors in your areaparticipating in “free wills month” see https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
 
– When making a will, it is important to be very clear as to what you wish to leave to whom. i.e., my home, 17 Coleridge Way, Ambridge, to my daughter, Emily Smith of 5 Davenham Close, Walford.
 
– a will must be signed and witnessed by two witnesses, neither of whom can benefit under the will.
 
– Should you wish to kindly remember a charity such as NWESSR in your will, again they need to be clearly identified with their full name, registered address and charity commission number, for e.g., North West English Springer Spaniel Rescue, 73 Elton Road Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 3NF, Charity Number 1076924.
 
– When writing your will, you must appoint an executor; this is the person who will administer your will after you pass. That could be a friend or family member, or a professional like a solicitor, although that will likely come at a cost.