Be remembered for Kindness.

It really doesn’t take long to make a Will.

You can do it in person with a solicitor or you can now do it online.

You will need to think about the things you own and who you would like to leave them to. You also need to think about who you’d like to act as your executors (these are the people who will make sure your wishes are carried out).

In your Will you can also do important things like include specific funeral arrangements and appoint legal guardians for your children.

If you fail to make a Will the law will decide how your estate will be distributed, which might not match your wishes and a large amount could be lost in Inheritance Tax.

To ensure your Will is valid you will need expert advice.

Do-It-Yourself Wills may save a little on fees, but without expert advice, they are often invalid or at best unclear and this can cause problems for your loved ones later.

It is easy to leave a gift in your Will to charity. Many people who give to charity throughout their lives also choose to make a gift to their chosen charities in their Will. For some, a gift in their Will may be the largest donation they ever give to charity. A gift, whether small or large, always makes a big difference to the charity concerned. In most cases, gifts to charity are free of tax.

It is easy to leave a gift in your Will to charity.

Many people who give to charity throughout their lives also choose to make a gift to their chosen charities in their Will.

For some, a gift in their Will may be the largest donation they ever give to charity. A gift, whether small or large, always makes a big difference to the charity concerned.

The fact that no Inheritance Tax is payable on gifts to charities made during your lifetime or through your Will means your donation can have much more impact.

You can give:

• The remainder of your estate after your other wishes have been fulfilled
• A proportion or percentage of what you own
• A specific amount of money, large or small
• Property or possessions that would be valuable to your chosen charity

Will to Give represents a group of local charities. You may wish to consider leaving a gift to one of our member charities or you can leave a gift to any registered charity.

It is often useful to inform the charity or charities you intend to leave a gift to so that they can keep you updated about the work they are carrying out.

You have lots of options when it comes to writing a Will.

Speaking to a local solicitor is always advisable if you’re considering making or updating a Will.

There are a number of good online Will writing services, however we do encourage you to get expert advice when preparing your Will especially if you would like to leave a gift in your Will to charity.

Solicitors are the experts, they will ask you probing questions to ensure that you have the right type of Will to suit your circumstances.

Although this is a slightly more expensive option than a DIY Will, it will give you peace of mind that your Will is exactly what you need it to be and perhaps even prevent costly errors in the future.

If you need information on finding or choosing a solicitor to make or amend your Will, contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland by phone on 028 9023 1614 or visit www.lawsoc-ni.org.