Today’s the day, says Macmillan, to start sorting it out...

Not having a will can lead to chaos, confusion and distress for family members says Craig Fordham, Macmillan’s director of legacies

More than 3 in 5 (62%) adults in the North West (more than 3.5 million people) say they haven’t got around to making a will.

If this pattern is repeated in Rochdale, it would mean that around 103,000 people in the area don’t have a will.

Excuses such as ‘I’ll do it later’, ‘I can’t afford it’ or ‘I don’t know how to go about it’ are often quoted, but people can run some serious risks by not having a will says Macmillan Cancer Support.

The charity says this can lead to chaos, confusion and distress for those, usually family members, who then have to sort out their estate and second guess their wishes.

Macmillan’s campaign, ‘Today’s the Day’, aims to overcome these excuses, relieve the stress on everyone and encourage people to make a start, today, by offering UK adults a free will. The charity hopes people signing up for its free will service will also choose to leave a gift in their will to Macmillan, but it’s not a condition of taking up the offer.

Craig Fordham, Macmillan’s director of legacies said: “We’ve made making a simple, standard will free, easy and quick for most people by using one of our highly-regarded will-writing partners..

“This will help people make sure their family and friends, and the charities they care about, receive what they want to give them. There is no obligation to leave a gift in your will to Macmillan, but we do hope that after looking after your loved ones, you’ll consider leaving a percentage to Macmillan as well.”

Without a will, the laws of intestacy decide what happens to your money and possessions, including who becomes the guardian of children aged under 18. A will is a way of looking after the people, causes and charities that you care about after you’ve died; it’s the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Macmillan relies on gifts in wills for more than a third of the charity’s income each year and its experience shows that, when asked, people often want to leave a gift in their will to a cause close to their heart.

“With nearly 1 in 2 people likely to receive a cancer diagnosis at some time in their lives, the number of people living with cancer will increase, leading to more demand for our support,” adds Craig.

“Leaving a gift in your will is one of the biggest differences you can make to help people with cancer live life as fully as they can.”

You can register for your free will on Macmillan’s website, or call their supporter care hub on 0300 1000 200 (lines open Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm). The website also has helpful information and you can order a free guide to leaving a gift in your will.

• www.macmillan.org.uk