Macmillan Free Will Service

Depending on where you live in the UK, you can write your will online through Co-op Legal Services, Farewill, Irwin Mitchell and Wilson Nesbitt. Once you register, you’ll be able to get started straight away by using the link on our registration page or your confirmation email. From there, you can fill out your instructions and our trusted will writing partners will handle the rest.

You can write your will via a home visit through Octopus Legacy (UK-wide) and Wilson Nesbitt (in Greater Belfast and North Down). Once you register, we’ll pass on your details on to your chosen will writing partner who will call you within 6 working days to arrange the best time to visit you. They will take your instructions when they visit you at home and then have your will written up before posting to you for signing.

Depending on where you live in the UK, you can write your will over the telephone with Co-op Legal Services, Farewill, Irwin Mitchell, Octopus Legacy and Wilson Nesbitt. Once you register, we’ll pass on your details or you can book your appointment directly with your chosen will writing partner. They will take down your instructions and have your will written up before sending the will to you for signing.

You can write your will over a video call with Irwin Mitchell and Wilson Nesbitt. Once you register, we’ll pass on your details or you can book your appointment directly with your chosen will writing partner. They will take down your instructions and have your will written up before sending the will to you for signing.

You can write your will through the post with Irwin Mitchell and Wilson Nesbitt. Once you register, we’ll pass on your details and Irwin Mitchell will send out their will writing pack to reach you within 5 working days (subject to postal delays). You can then fill out the forms and send back to Irwin Mitchell, who will have the will written before posting to you for signing.

You can write your will in branch with a solicitor through Octopus Legacy, Jones Whyte and Wilson Nesbitt. Once you register, we’ll pass on your details to the will writing partner who will call you within 5 working days to arrange the appointment at their offices. During the appointment they will take down your instructions. Then they will write up your will and send it to you for signing.

In branch locations include: Ashford, Bangor, Batley, Belfast, Birstall, Brighouse, Bristol, Cleckheaton, Conwy, Cornwall (Helstong & Three Burrows), Exeter, Glasgow, Glenrothes, Harrogate, Jersey, Kirkcaldy, Leeds, Leicester, Leven, London, Manchester, Merseyside, Monmouthshire, Morley, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Royston, St. Albans, St. Peter’s Port and Wrexham.

Irwin Mitchell solicitors provide online, postal, telephone and video wills. They won the Private Client Team of the Year award in 2022 and National Solicitor Firm of the Year award in 2018 at  The British Wills and Probate Awards.

If you register for a free online will with Irwin Mitchell, you can do this straight away. You will be sent a link to Irwin Mitchell’s website where you will be asked to submit your will instructions via a webform. If you register for a telephone or video will, you will be provided with a link to book your appointment directly with Irwin Mitchell at a time and date that best suits you. If you register for a postal will, Macmillan will pass on your contact details and Irwin Mitchell will send a will pack in the post within 5 working days for you to complete and return.

Your will must be completed within 6 months of registration. To be able to meet this deadline, you should submit your will instructions either online, through your appointment or postal pack within 2 months of registering. Once Irwin Mitchell have received your complete will instructions, they aim to send your will within 10 working days for your review. You can make any changes or ask final questions about the document you have received and once you're happy with the will, they will then send you a final version along with instructions for signing.

Please note, Irwin Mitchell may be able to provide urgent wills for health reasons but ask that you make them aware of this as soon as possible. If not urgent, the process typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Jones Whyte solicitors provide in-branch appointments available to those near their offices in Glasgow. They won Firm of the Year in 2021 at the Scottish Legal Awards and The Herald Law Awards of Scotland.

If you register for a free will with Jones Whyte, Macmillan will provide Jones Whyte with your contact details and within 2 working days they will contact you to arrange your in-branch will writing appointment.

Your will must be completed within 6 months of registration. To be able to meet this deadline, you should arrange your in-branch appointment within 2 months of registering. Once Jones Whyte have received your full will instructions following your appointment, they will send your draft will within 5 working days for your review. Once you're happy with the will, they will then send you a final version along with instructions for signing.
 
Please note, Jones Whyte may be able to provide urgent wills but ask that you make them aware of this as soon as possible. If not urgent, the process typically takes 4-6 weeks..

Expert will writers, Octopus Legacy, offer a full range of writing services including home visit, in branch (see local in branch will writing services above for locations), and telephone appointments. Rated excellent on Trustpilot, they’re a professional and friendly service trusted by people across the UK. Octopus Legacy provides a place to plan for death and find support after a loss.

Once you register, we’ll pass on your details to Octopus Legacy who will call you within 5 working days to arrange your will writing appointment. During the appointment, you will be guided through the will writing process by their expert will writers allowing you to lay out your personal wishes and your draft will is sent to you within 20 working days of your appointment. Once you’re happy with it, they’ll send you the final version along with instructions on how to sign it and make it legally binding.

Please note, Octopus Legacy may be able to provide urgent wills for health reasons but ask you make them aware of this as soon as possible.  

Farewill provide simple online wills in England & Wales as well as telephone wills in Scotland. They have won the National Will Writing Firm of the Year at The British Wills and Probate Awards from 2019-2022. If you register for a free online will with Farewill, you can start writing your will straight away. If you register for a telephone will you can call Farewill directly to book your appointment or arrange a call back at a time and date that is convenient for you. Please note, there is a cancellation fee of £20 for unattended telephone appointments if Farewill do not receive at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation.

Throughout the process, you can contact Farewill's Customer Support team via telephone or email. They are available Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00. There is also a 24-hour support line that can take messages which the Customer Support team will respond to the following day. They can also give support with urgent funeral requirements.

Your will must be completed within 6 months of registration. Farewill may be in touch with you to remind you to write your will during this period. Once you have submitted your instructions, Farewill will check these within 5 working days and contact you if they have any questions. Once your will is ready, you can download a copy, print it and sign and witness it.

When submitting your instructions, you will have the option to opt-in to Farewill's Update Service. This costs £10 a year (the first year is free) and gives you the option to update your will at any time without incurring further charges. If you do opt to join the service, you will be asked for payment details at check out.

Farewill may be able to provide urgent wills but ask that you make them aware of this as soon as possible.

Co-op Legal Services is trusted by tens of thousands of people every year to support them with writing their will.  They’re rated ‘excellent’ by their customers on Trustpilot and they’re regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), affording supporters of Macmillan Cancer Support additional protection. 

Co-op Legal Services provide online and telephone will writing services in England and Wales. Once you have registered, you can start making your will online or book a telephone appointment (daytime and evening appointments available). Regardless of which option you choose, the service includes a phone call with a will writing specialist who will discuss your needs and help ensure your wishes are upheld in the future. They can also securely store your will for your lifetime, for free.

Co-op Legal Services is part of the Co-op Group, which is member owned and community focused. Their values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others is core to the service they provide.

Your will must be completed within 6 months of registration. To be able to meet this deadline, you should submit your will instructions either online or through your appointment within 2 months of registering. 

Please note, Co-op Legal Services may be able to provide an urgent will service but ask that you make them aware of this as soon as possible. If not urgent, the process typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Wilson Nesbitt solicitors provide online, postal, telephone and video wills in Northern Ireland. They also provide in-branch appointments at their offices in Belfast and Bangor as well as home visits in Greater Belfast and North Down. They won Professional Services Firm of the Year 2023 at the Northern Ireland AIB Business Eye Awards.

If you register for a free online will with Wilson Nesbitt, you can do this straight away. You will be sent a link to Wilson Nesbitt website where you will be asked to submit your will instructions via a webform. If you register for a home visit, in branch appointment, postal, telephone or video will, Macmillan will provide Wilson Nesbitt with your contact details. They will then contact you within 5 working days to either arrange your appointment or send a will pack in the post for you to complete and return.

Your will must be completed within 6 months of registration. To be able to meet this deadline, you should submit your will instructions either online, through your appointment or postal pack within 2 months of registering. Once Wilson Nesbitt have received your complete will instructions, they aim to send your will within 10 working days for your approval. You can make any changes or ask final questions about the document you have received and once you're happy with the will, they will then send you a final version along with instructions for signing or you can sign by attending one of their offices.

Please note, Wilson Nesbitt may be able to provide urgent wills for health reasons but ask that you make them aware of this as soon as possible. Wilson Nesbitt also offer home, hospice or hospital visits for those who may not be able to attend one of their offices for an appointment.

To leave a gift to Macmillan in your will, you need to include the name of our charity, our address and registered charity number, all of which you can find below. It is then as simple as writing:
• ‘I leave £5,000 to…’
• ‘I leave 20% of my residual estate to…’
• ‘I leave my valuable collection of teddy bears to…’

Macmillan Cancer Support
89 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7UQ
Registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). For other regions of the UK, we do not have a registered charity number but you can use any of the above to identify us.

Everyone should have an up to date will. 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. If someone dies without having a will, they are said to have died 'intestate'. This can make the process of dealing with your estate more complicated. It can cause added stress for your loved ones and may come at a financial cost.

The Macmillan Free Will Service is open to UK adults (18+).

The Macmillan Free Will Service is available in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. However, some of our will writing partners are unable to offer their services in every location. We will endeavour to match you with a suitable partner through our online form or over the telephone. If you are a resident of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, please register with our partner: Octopus Legacy. 

For a will to be valid, there are certain conditions that must be met.

• The will must be made by a person who is 18 years old or over.
• Your will must be made voluntarily and without pressure from any other person.
• Your will must be on paper, a ‘soft’ copy on a computer is not valid.
• Your will must be signed by you, in the presence of two witnesses and signed by the two witnesses, in your presence.
• Witnesses can be anyone over 18. They cannot be a beneficiary of your will (someone who receives money or other benefits as a result of your will), nor can they be the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary of your will.
• Witnesses do not need to read your will or be aware of its contents.

More information on ensuring that your will is valid can be found on the Citizens Advice website.

We understand that wills cannot always be written within a short timeframe. In order to benefit from the free will offer, your will must be completed six months after you register for the service.

To meet this deadline, we highly recommend that you book your appointment or submit your will instructions within two months of registering for the service, but sooner than this if possible.

Macmillan may have to refuse payment for wills completed after the six-month deadline.

Macmillan covers the cost of simple standard wills sold as part of the Macmillan Free Will Service. If your needs are complex, please read the 'What if my needs are complex and unsuitable for a standard will?' FAQ.

We rely on gifts in wills for over a third of our income. While there is no obligation to include a gift in your Macmillan free will, we do hope that you will consider leaving a percentage of your estate to Macmillan, after taking care of loved ones. All gifts left to us will help fund Macmillan's services in years to come. We're very grateful for every gift that we receive, no matter its size.

If you need a will urgently, please contact your chosen partner as soon as possible to discuss the options available to you.  

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that any of our partners will be able to complete a will in exceptionally urgent circumstances. In these instances, we recommend you get in touch with a local solicitor through the Law Society (England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland).

The Macmillan Free Will Service covers the cost of simple joint wills. Please let your chosen will writing partner know at first contact or when providing your will instructions. If you choose to write your will with Farewill, please read and follow their advice on wills for couples.

Absolutely. While it is important that Macmillan can invest in areas of greatest need while innovating and responding to the changing needs of people living with cancer, we understand you may want to fund a specific Macmillan service. If you want to specify how Macmillan should use your gift, please express this clearly alongside the gift in your will.

Where your gift is for a specific purpose, we are bound to use the funds exactly as specified. This can sometimes present a challenge where a hospital or hospice has closed or moved, or if we are not funding a service at the specified location at the time of receiving the gift. In situations like these we would have to apply to the Charity Commission to be able to use the funds as closely as possible to the original purpose and in the spirit of the gift.

To avoid these complications, we recommend you express your wishes in the form of a non-binding wish and be more general rather than specific:
• “It is my wish but without creating any legally binding obligation that my gift is used to fund Macmillan Cancer Support’s clinical services in Yorkshire”.
Macmillan will always aim to comply with your wishes but in the event of being unable to do so, we can use the gift as closely as possible to your wishes meaning your gift can be put to more immediate use to helping people living with cancer.
If you would like more information on restricting your gift, please contact our supporter care team on 0300 1000 200.

Macmillan does not receive a copy of the will.

During the will writing process, you will be asked whether you are happy for your chosen partner to share certain information with Macmillan. This includes whether you have left Macmillan a gift in your will and the value of this gift. Having this information helps us to plan for a future where more people than ever are living with cancer.

Several of our partners offer will storage facilities and you may choose to store your will free of charge with Irwin Mitchell, Jones Whyte and Wilson Nesbitt.

Leaving a gift in your will to Macmillan is one of the biggest differences you can make to help people with cancer live life as fully as they can. Any gift, however large or small, helps our Macmillan nurses deliver expert care to those who need it the most.

Gifts in wills bring in over one third of our income and help to fund nearly a third of our vital services.

Find out more about the impact you can make by leaving a gift in your will to Macmillan.

Whatever cancer throws your way, Macmillan can be right there with you. If you're living with the financial consequences of cancer, find out more about the ways we can support you on our Making money one less worry page.

Read the Macmillan Free Will Service terms and conditions.