Your gift is an investment in accessible Justice & Equality
Norfolk Community Law Service has been providing free legal services for anyone who needs it for over 40 years. With the aim of changing lives, asserting rights, and eliminating inequality, we help with issues around debt management, domestic abuse support, welfare benefit appeals, family law tribunal hearings, immigration status applications and decisions, and general civil matters. We continue to support anyone in Norfolk, particularly the most vulnerable in society.
A gift in your will can help us to continue to provide that support, and to secure the vital work that we do for our future.
Across the third sector, about a third of all income comes from gifts in wills. Any amount that is given to a charity in a will can help to make a real difference in their ongoing work.
In 2023, we helped over 4,500 people to access fair and equal justice – a 38% increase since 2021. The need for our services continues to grow. Our support, advice and help makes a real difference to people’s lives.
“I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that you did for me. Thanks to you, I feel like myself again after being in a very dark situation where I was scared, lonely and very depressed. For months I thought that the only way out for me was to stop existing. Honestly, you helped me become the best version of myself. I started believing in me again… now the world doesn’t seem so dark anymore.”
You can read more about the impact our work makes by clicking here.
Thinking of leaving a gift in your will? We have a free will writing service.
Writing a will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your loved ones and the causes you care about. To make the process as simple as possible, we have partnered with Simper Law to offer a free will writing service.
Whether you are making a will for the first time, or updating an existing one, their expert team will guide you through every step.
How it works:
This service covers a standard simple will and mirror wills (for a couple).
It does not include estate planning, but Simper Law can advise on this and discuss any additional costs.
Appointments must be in person, in one of their four offices – Norwich, Loddon, Gt Yarmouth or Halesworth
Home visits are available for an additional fee of £50 + VAT. This is a 50% reduction from the normal rate of a home visit cost.
Please contact us to discuss or to arrange a free will writing appointment.
Telephone: 01603 496623 and ask to speak to Heidi
Email: heidi@ncls.co.uk
Simper Law is a local firm with offices across Norfolk and north Suffolk. They specialise in private client law, such as wills, probate and estate administration, with experienced solicitors to help you every step of the way.
Find out more on their website: https://simperlaw.com/
What you need to know
We know that writing or changing a will can feel like a daunting task. But with the right help and support, it does not have to be. We have put together this handy guide to breaking down some of the jargon, and give you some of the important information when it comes to will writing.
Types of gifts that you can leave are:
Percuniary – This is a fixed sum of money.
Residuary – An amount that is left after debts, taxes and other gifts have been paid.
Specific – This is a gift or item(s) that can be given instead of money.
You can choose to leave any of these types of gifts, specifying the amount, percentage, or specific gift in your will.
You can leave any amount that you like – there is no minimum gift amount.
A will is a complex legal document, and the services of a professional, such as a solicitor, should be sought. You can also use a free wills service.
A gift in your will is not subject to inheritance tax. For rules on inheritance tax, look on the HMRC website: How Inheritance Tax works: thresholds, rules and allowances: Overview – GOV.UK
Step by Step Guide to leaving a gift in your will:
Wills are legal documents, and need to be signed and witnessed in the right way to ensure they meet the legal requirements. Unless you have engaged a free wills service, you should use the services of a professional such as a solicitor.
Name the people who will be beneficiaries of your will. This is usually your family, loved ones, and any charities you would like to give a legacy to.
Decide on what types of gifts you would like to leave to a charity e.g. A fixed sum of money, a percentage, or a specific gift
Name your executors. Executors are those who will carry out your wishes. Usually, two or more executors are chosen. These can be your loved ones, or also include a solicitor.
You will need to calculate the value to be left in your will. This includes money in all bank accounts, the values of all of your property including personal possessions, and any stocks and shares. You can deduct any debts and invoices from this total.
You can let us know if you have left a gift in your will to us (but you don’t have to). Keeping us informed allows us to thank you, and to give you the opportunity to stay up to date with our reports, work and events.