Leave a legacy

If you have very straight forward circumstances, writing your own will using a will template available from stationery shops or online is a cheap option. However, it's important to be aware that if you make any mistakes, you won't have the protection you'd have if a solicitor wrote your will.

Will-writing services can be another low-cost alternative to using a solicitor. Prices start at under £100 and sometimes can be completely free. Again, this is more suitable if you have reasonably simple circumstances.

Many of these services enable you to complete your will online and some have specialist staff checking the wills they produce. However, will writers may not have any legal qualifications, and protections may be limited compared with using solicitor.

If you're considering using a will-writing service, it's worth checking whether it's a member of a recognised professional or trade body, such as the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Institute of Professional Will writers (IPW) or the Society of Will Writers (SWW).

It is possible for a will-writing service to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Some will-writing services also use in-house solicitors to review wills, meaning you might get SRA protection – if you're considering using a will-writing service, it's worth asking if an in-house solicitor will be reviewing your will.

We've partnered with FreeWills.co.uk to provide all our supporters with the opportunity to make their own fully comprehensive Will free of charge. You can make your personalised Will online in three simple steps, from the comfort of your own home and with live support from their Will specialists.

You can make a free, legally binding Will in just fifteen minutes. Each Will is checked by legal experts and your Will can be updated quickly and easily free of charge, as many times as needed. There’s no obligation to leave a gift to us in your Will, but we hope you do to enable us to continue our important work.

Unfortunately, with a current difference in Scottish law, this Free Will service is only available in England and Wales.

For complete peace of mind, you may choose to have your Will made out by a solicitor. It need not cost a great deal and you can obtain a quotation in advance. A solicitor will offer friendly advice and deal with any legal queries you may have. If you wish, he or she will be able to act as your executor along with a member of your family or trusted friend.

By whatever means you make your Will you must appoint executors to carry out your wishes. Two is the usual number but you can have up to four. You will also require two witnesses and you must all be together when your Will is signed.

It can be difficult to choose from the hundreds of solicitors available, particularly if you do not have a local contact. The Law Society can provide a list of local solicitors:

In England and Wales, go to lawsociety.org.uk

In Scotland, contact the Law Society of Scotland at lawscot.org.uk

In Northern Ireland, contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland at lawsoc-ni.org

Any gift you leave to a charity such as the BT Benevolent Fund will be exempt from Inheritance Tax and this could help to reduce or eliminate this tax liability on your estate if it exceeds the threshold. The tax threshold and rates of tax are generally changed in the Budget each year. Therefore, if you are concerned about the implications for your estate, you should consult your solicitor or an accountant.

• Pecuniary Legacy- which is a fixed sum of money
• Specific Bequest- which is a selected item(s) such as a painting, collection of books or house etc
• Residuary Bequest - which is the balance of your estate after all debts, taxes, expenses and other legacies have been paid

With the passage of time pecuniary legacies will lose value because of inflation and you may wish either to index-link your cash gifts to family, friends and charity or divide your whole estate into shares or percentages so that all of your beneficiaries will gain if the value of your estate increases between making your Will and your death.

If you do decide to support the Fund in your Will we suggest the following wording be used by you or your solicitor.

"l give, devise and bequeath to the BT Benevolent Fund, Charity Registration No.212565 the sum of £ . . . . . . ( . ‘in words’ . pounds) or the whole (or a . . . . share) of my residuary estate for its general charitable purposes and I declare that receipt of the Treasurer or other proper Officer of the Fund shall be a sufficient discharge therefore”

If you have already made a will

You may have already made a will but still wish to help our work. You can do this by adding a simple codicil to your will. Your signature must be witnessed by two people who must be present together and must sign the codicil in your presence. It is also important that you do not ask somebody to be a witness if they will also benefit from your will as this might invalidate the codicil.

Your solicitor is the best person to advise how the codicil should be precisely worded. When it is completed, a copy should be placed with your will so that they are both read at the same time.

Funeral expenses will be paid from your estate so it is sensible to allow a sum for this. Your solicitor will be able to advise you. You can also state if you wish to be buried or cremated, together with any other particulars of the kind of funeral you would wish.

The terms used for legacies and wills can be confusing so we've created a jargon-busting guide.