Download: legacies guide
What is a Will?

A Will is a legally binding written document that specifies what happens to a person’s belongings once they have died.

Why should I make a Will?

Although no one likes to think about death, if you die without making a Will, all or part of your possessions may go to the taxman – not necessarily to your partner or next of kin.

When should I make a Will?

No matter who you are or what stage of your life you are in, it is important that you make a Will. Whether you are married or not, by making a Will now and reviewing it regularly, you can make sure your possessions go to those who you care about the most. Even if you don’t own your own home, you are likely to have valuable possessions – like jewellery and savings.

Do I need a solicitor to draw up my Will?

We strongly advise you to seek professional help when creating a Will. We have 100 free simple Wills to give away with Farewill.

We have also partnered with Shakespeare Martineau Solicitors for those who know they need a more bespoke service. Contact our fundraising team for more information at Fundraising@UnitedResponse.org.uk.

What is a legacy?

A legacy is a donation to a chosen charity – such as United Response. A legacy – or gift in your will – can be as big or as small as you like. Every gift, however small, makes a real difference to our work in helping to transform people’s lives.

Can I specify how I’d like my gift to be spent?

To continue to provide the best possible support to people with disabilities, autism or mental health needs, we are constantly adapting the support that we provide to meet individual needs.

This means our priorities or work in certain areas can change. But we always make sure that the people we support come first in any decisions that we make.

We promise to you that we will keep our administration costs to a minimum and will spend any money that you donate to us in area(s) where it is needed the most and can make the most difference.

Do I need to tell United Response that I’ve included them in my Will?

It isn’t essential, but we would be delighted if you did. We would want to thank you for your generous donation and keep you up-to-date with all the progress we are making.

You can email our Fundraising team. Please be assured that any information that you give to United Response will be treated as strictly confidential.