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Age UK Wills and legacies services
There has been some negative media coverage about our Wills
Advice Service and legacies fundraising activities recently,
says Age UK.
"Age UK would like to reassure anyone considering contacting
us for advice about making a Will that we are here to help.
Legal Services Age Concern and Help the Aged merged in 2009.
Prior to the merger, Age Concern Legal Services - a commercial
service offering a variety of paid-for products specifically
tailored for older people - provided a Will writing service.
This service continues today.
"It is delivered in partnership with law firm Irwin
Mitchell. We encourage people to call us to discuss their
individual needs and get an accurate price for the service
that reflects their personal circumstances. Wills and Legacies
Separately to Age Concern Legal Services, the former Help
the Aged Wills and Legacies Department also continues to operate
in-house at Age UK.
"The Wills and Legacies Department offers free and impartial
advice on making a will through the Wills Advice Service.
No one is under any obligation to leave a legacy to the Charity,
and in fact 90% of people who use the service do not leave
a legacy. Information and advice offered through this service
is always free.
"If someone indicates that they wish to leave a legacy
to the Charity then, in certain circumstances, the Charity
may pay for their will to be written as a 'thank you'. The
Charity will, in certain circumstances, agree to be appointed
as Executor for a person's estate as a 'thank you' for a legacy.
In accepting such an appointment the Charity considers, among
other factors, whether the value of the legacy is likely to
cover the costs involved in the Estate's administration. This
is determined by assessing the complexity of the Estate and
the wishes the individual wants to have carried out.
"In cases where the Charity does pay for a Will to be
written as a 'thank you' for a legacy, Age UK takes instructions
and passes them on to solicitors to draw up the Will. In cases
where the Charity agrees to be appointed as Executor for a
person's estate as a 'thank you' for a legacy, Age UK will
again pass this information to solicitors who will write this
into the Will. These solicitors are never appointed as Executors
in these cases."
Maintaining the highest standards
"Help the Aged has now merged with Age Concern. Like
its predecessors, the new organisation will strive to be open,
transparent and accountable. We will ensure all our work continues
to be carried out with the utmost integrity, and we will take
any steps necessary now or in the future to uphold this. We
will review any such services in the light of any consumer
feedback or concerns expressed in order to maintain the highest
standards."
(For
details of UNISON's free Wills service click here)
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Digital Switchover
(I'm sure by now we're all fed up of hearing about the
digital switchover, but I thought Age UK's latest information
was worth looking at, just to make sure you know what's what.
Mae Stewart)
What is digital switchover?
The Government is changing the way the UK receives television
signals. Many people currently receive analogue signals to
view their television. These will be phased out and replaced
by digital signals by 2012. To carry on watching television,
you will need to choose a service provider. You may also need
new equipment to enable your television to receive digital
signals.
Will it be expensive?
Prices will vary depending on which service you choose but
there are two ways of going digital:
Retired Members
Information & Resources
As
part of the public launch of Age UK‚ they have started a new
TV advertising campaign. Find out how you can watch the new
advert featuring actor Brian Cox. They have launched a series
of TV adverts to raise public awareness of Age UK‚ what they
do‚ how you can support them‚ and how they can help you.