Write your will for free today
We all know that it’s important to write a will, but sometimes it’s difficult to get round to it. That is why we are giving you the opportunity to write your will for free from your laptop.
We are offering a limited number of FREE wills to our members and supporters in England, Scotland and Wales through a partnership with Farewill, the UK’s leading provider of online wills.
Support the next generation of ecologists
After looking after your loved ones, we hope that you will consider remembering ecology in your will.
Any gift that you do make to the BES, large or small, will make a big difference in inspiring the next generation of ecologists in the UK and the developing world. Gifts will help us secure the future of initiatives such as our 16–18 Summer School which takes 30 young ecologists from schools serving some of the most deprived parts of the UK on their first residential field trip.
Making your free online will in England and Wales
You can write your will online in 20 minutes, with live expert help and the option to update it at any time without ever setting foot in a solicitor’s office.
Visit https://farewill.com/beswhat and follow the instructions. Enter the voucher code BESWHAT at checkout and you will receive your online will free of charge. Please note, there is an annual charge of £10 which gives allows you to update your will at any time, but you can cancel this at any time. If you tick the box during the will writing process that gives us permission to get in contact we will send you a confirmation email and message of thanks from our CEO. We will also update you new developments on our work no more than twice a year. We will never ask you to change your will.
If you need help or have any questions, please call the Farewill Hotline on 020 8050 2686, Monday – Sunday 09:00 to 19:00. If the nature of your affairs – such as adult dependents or property outside the UK – rules out making an online will, please contact BES Paul Bower paul@bes.brightminded.com He will refer you to the free phone only service where you can discuss your affairs with a trained legal adviser.
Making your free will in Scotland and NI
To accommodate the differences in Scottish law we have developed and tested a service which offers a mixture of an online form and a telephone interview. This is delivered by Farewill’s legal partner in Scotland. The free will offer applies to simple wills for one person. We cannot offer free online or phone wills to our supporters in Northern Ireland at the moment. We expect to be able to be able to provide that service in May 2021. So, please get in touch with us then if you are based in Northern Ireland.
‘I have just completed my first ever will through the BES, and it couldn’t have been easier. Friendly, professional contact who took me through a simple process that took up very little time. I now have peace of mind that I have a professionally drafted and legal will without ever setting foot in a solicitor’s office. It is also a perfect opportunity to leave a gift to support ecology.”
Hannah Grist, Knowledge Manager, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban
Please contact our Development Manager Paul Bower at paul@bes.brightminded.com for details about how to write your will in Scotland.
Contact Paul about Scottish wills
You can also contact Paul if you have any question about how best support ecology through leaving a gift in your will. All calls are confidential. We will never call you unless you ask us to. We will never ask how much you intend to leave to BES.
The impact of gifts in wills
In the past, gifts to the BES have made a significant impact.
The Jackson Legacy helped build accommodation in the Serengeti National Park for African ecologists undertaking long-term field work.
The Parkyn Legacy paid the travel expenses of 42 early-career ecologists from the developing world to attend the INTECOL conference in London, present their research and further their careers.
Our promise to you
Making a will is a critical step in ensuring your legacy. We understand that if you decide to remember BES in your will that your privacy must be respected at all times in a process that you control. We will never call you unless you request it. We will never ask you about your private affairs. We do not employ the services of external fundraising agencies.
No part of any gift you make to the BES will ever be paid in commission to a fundraiser.
Like what we stand for?
Support our mission and help develop the next generation of ecologists by donating to the British Ecological Society.