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Charity Wills at Thorntons Solicitors

All of our Charity Will appointments for 2023 have now been allocated to clients.

Thank you to all of our generous clients who took part and supported Cash for Kids this year. If you would like to discuss your Will needs with one of our team we have our usual Will appointments available from 1 October. To book an appointment please contact our team on 03330 430150.

At Thorntons, we have been running an annual Charity Wills campaign since 1997. In that time we have drafted over 3,500 Wills and our clients have donated £600,000 to Cash for Kids.

The idea is simple, if you make a new Will or update an existing Will with us during the month of September we won't charge you a fee, instead we ask that you make an equivalent donation to children's charity, Cash for Kids.

It’s so important to have a Will or keep your existing one up to date. If you own property, have savings, children or other dependents, you should have a Will.  You might assume that you don't need a Will, that your affairs are simple and that your spouse or partner will inherit everything. Unfortunately this is a common misconception and in many cases it isn’t what actually happens. If you cohabit but aren't married your partner will also have no automatic rights when you pass away, and they will need to make a formal claim through the court if they wish to inherit anything.

If you have children, a professionally drafted Will can set out who will be your children’s guardian(s) if you unexpectedly pass away before they reach they age of sixteen.

When you have a Will in place your wishes are made clear and dealing with your affairs is made much easier and is less expensive for your family.

What is the process?

Making a new Will or updating an existing Will during Charity Wills month is easy.

Step 1: Request an appointment

Complete the form below or call us on 03301 757177 to request a Charity Wills appointment. A member of our team will contact you to arrange a convenient time for an appointment, talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. They will also send you some information to help you prepare for your first virtual meeting along with a secure video link for the meeting.

Step 2: First appointment

Join your virtual appointment on a PC, tablet or mobile using the secure video link provided. This meeting will be with one of our Private Client Solicitors who will gather all of the information they need to prepare a draft Will and to ensure all of your wishes are documented.

Step 3: Review your draft Will.

Once your draft Will has been completed a copy will be sent to you to review. Please take time to read the Will and any additional information we have provided. Don't worry if any changes are needed. We can discuss any changes with you before the final Will is prepared for you to sign.

At this time we will arrange a convenient time for a signing meeting. This is also done virtually by secure video link. 

Step 4: Sign your Will and make your donation

Once you are happy with your final Will, it is ready to sign. You will need to sign the Will during the virtual meeting so your Solicitor can witness it being signed by you. You then return the signed Will to us for safe keeping. We can safely store your Will until it is needed. 

Finally, we will send you a link to make your donation online using our secure donation portal. This link is unique to you.

Remember, if your circumstances change at any time, you should review your Will to ensure it still meets your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the questions we are asked by clients about Charity Wills month.

When making a Will during Charity Wills month we don't charge you a fee. Instead we ask that you make an equivalent donation to children's charity, Cash for Kids.   The suggested donation is £250 for a single Will and £400 for a couple making Wills together.* 

*Applies to simple Wills only. If your needs are more complex your Solicitor will discuss this with you.

All Charity Wills appointments are carried out using secure video technology so you won’t need to visit our offices to take part. Your Solicitor will set everything up for you and they will talk you through the process.

There are a set number of appointments available during September, so we advise you to book early to ensure you don’t miss out.

All donations made during Charity Wills month are donated to Cash for Kids. The Radio Tay and Forth Radio listeners’ charity help many disadvantaged children and young people across Scotland. 

In 2022, Radio Tay’s Cash for kids supported over 10,000 children. Children who have been affected by poverty or who are living with a life limiting illness or disability. All of the money raised from the Charity Wills campaign allows Cash for Kids to ensure they make a difference. From funding school holiday provisions to a specialised piece of equipment which allows a child to have the same opportunities as their peers. 

Read more about how Charity Wills donations have been used to support children across Scotland by Radio Tay Cash for Kids and Forth Radio Cash for Kids.

Writing or updating a Will during Charity Wills normally involves two virtual meetings and any necessary correspondence outside of the meetings. The length of time to complete the work may be affected by the time taken by correspondence, as well as how quickly we receive your instructions.

Many Wills can be completed within a month or less.

Once you have completed your Will, you will receive confirmation from your Solicitor of your donation. You can make your donation by visiting our secure donation page here>>

Me and my husband have been talking about making a Will since we had our first daughter, 5 years ago. We have since moved home and had out second daughter and thought we must get it sorted. When we heard about Thorntons donating the fees to Cash for Kids it gave us the push we needed.

Mr & Mrs G

We were very pleased with our experience. Audrey Dishington was very helpful, and our business was conducted in a very efficient manner considering the difficult circumstances.

Mr & Mrs M, St Andrews

My existing Will was out of date. I had been dealing with some legal matters for my parents and saw that it was Charity Wills month at Thorntons, so I thought why not support a great cause and get my Will updated at the same time.

Mrs JR.

Much easier than expected! It was great having the video calling facility and I actually found that easier than coming to the office.

Mr S, Dundee

We had always thought we should make Wills and then we heard about Thorntons Charity Wills month. Our main reason for making a Will was to provide for our son should anything happen to us. Lynne put us at ease with her friendly but professional manner and efficiently guided us through making our Wills.
Job done for us and in return a worthwhile donation made to cash for kids

Mrs R

We made our Wills to ensure our financial affairs were in order and our final instructions would be legally applied. From our initial contact with Thorntons Solicitors we found the practice to be very friendly, helpful and professional in dealing with our requirements. Rachel was very clear and precise with her advice, especially overcoming the problems caused by a previous firm. This gave us confidence and peace of mind for which we thank her and the company, we would definitely recommend them

Mr R.

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