Writing a will: your questions answered
Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about wills and trusts.
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Everyone should have a will, as it allows you to decide how your estate is distributed, and reflects your wishes and values. However, there are some circumstances where it is even more important to have a will, such as if you have young children, are not married to your partner, are in the process of going through a divorce or wish to benefit people who are vulnerable.
By writing a will you can ensure that your estate passes to the people or charities that are important to you, you can choose the right people to care for your children if something happens to you as well as sensible people to look after the money for them.
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There is no requirement to have any legal qualifications or knowledge to be able to write a will, for example you can buy kits to make them at home. Unfortunately, if the will is not properly written (and this is often not found out until after your death) it can cause enormous problems.
We would always recommend taking advice from a qualified legal adviser. They can walk you through the process, step-by step. One way to guarantee your will is written with a qualified legal adviser is through our free wills offer.
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Most qualified legal advisers offer fixed rates for preparing or updating a will so that you know exactly where you stand from the outset and they try to keep the costs as affordable as possible. Current rates for writing a simple will can be around £250-£350 (as of 2026).
We know that this could be a costly expense, but the peace of mind a professionally written will can provide for you and your loved ones is invaluable. That’s why we have a free wills offer that allows you to do this completely free of charge.
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A will is a document that directs how your affairs and assets should be dealt with on your death and only comes into force at the time. A trust is a legal arrangement that allows a person or organisation to look after someone else’s money.
A trust can be included in a will, where it comes into effect on your death or, during your lifetime, by a separate document called a Deed. It will depend on your personal circumstances as to which would be most appropriate.
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Setting up a trust requires detailed knowledge of different trust laws and taxation rules. It is best to speak to a specialist legal adviser, so that the trust can be tailored to your personal circumstances.
For initial advice and guidance on trusts, please look into our Wills and Trusts Service.
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Gifts in wills can go towards any part of the National Autistic Society's work: making a long-term difference to autistic people by providing information, advice and support services; funding awareness-raising campaigns; and many other crucial projects.
As the National Autistic Society grows and changes in the years ahead it needs sustainable funds to support its ambitious projects, all of which aim to improve the lives of autistic people and their families.
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A gift in a will is commonly called a legacy, and there are various types:
- Pecuniary – this is a gift of a specified sum of money.
- Residuary – this is a gift of a percentage/share of whatever you have left after paying all debts and costs from your estate.
- Specific – this is a gift of a particular item, such as a painting or a piece of jewellery.
The residuary legacy can be divided between as many individuals or organisations as you wish, in varying proportions and can also be put into an appropriate trust to protect any vulnerable beneficiaries. Residuary legacies also aren’t affected by long-term economic inflation as they are not a specific amount, unlike pecuniary legacies, which can become less valuable in real terms over time. This is why we would always recommend leaving a residuary gift rather than pecuniary.
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We would rather you didn’t specify a project or area of work that you would like your gift to benefit. This is because the services we provide may have to change and develop to meet the needs of autistic people.
However, if you do have particular wishes, you can specify this when writing the gift in the will.
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Yes! Any gift you choose to give to The National Autistic Society will always be gratefully received and will enable us to continue supporting autistic people and their families, long into the future.
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We would be delighted to know this and to have an opportunity to thank you, but we understand that your will and its contents are a personal and sensitive matter and that you may not wish to share this information. If you’d like to let us know that you’ve left a gift in your will, please email the Legacy Team at LegacyTeam@nas.org.uk.
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The following wording can be used to include a pecuniary legacy of a specific sum of money:
a. I GIVE the sum of £xxxx (amount written in words in brackets) to National Autistic Society, 2nd Floor, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH, registered charity number 269425 (England and Wales) or SC039427 (in Scotland) for its general charitable purposes absolutely
b. I DECLARE that the receipt of the Chief Executive or other proper officer of The National Autistic Society shall be a sufficient discharge for the executors of my estate
Your Legal Adviser can adapt the above wording if you wish to include a gift of a share of the residue of your estate, especially if you wish to take advantage of the discounted Inheritance Tax rate.
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Your legal adviser will need basic information about you and your children such as full names, address, dates of birth and contact details, so make a note of these. It is useful for you to note down who you may want to appoint as executors/trustees and guardians and, in general terms, who you want to benefit as well as to what extent, including their full names and addresses.
It is also useful for you to review your finances so you can tell your legal adviser the extent of your estate, including life policies and pensions.
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The general rule of thumb is every five to ten years, or whenever your personal circumstances change. It is also sensible to ask your legal adviser to review your will and/or trust if you have included provisions to protect a vulnerable person in case there have been changes to rules or legislation.
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Yes, any gift to charity is exempt from Inheritance Tax. In addition if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity the Inheritance Tax rate at which you are taxed reduces from 40% to 36%.
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Unfortunately, we cannot act as executor to your will. Most people generally appoint a friend, a family member or a professional. It is a good idea to have more than one executor.
If you do appoint a professional, your estate will need to pay their fees. A beneficiary can also act as executor.
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Yes. It is a really good way to remember and pay tribute to someone close to you. By making a donation in their memory, you are making sure that their memory lives on through the vital work that the National Autistic Society does for autistic people.
For more information on this type of gift, please visit our Give In Memory page.