An Aberdeen solicitors’ firm is showing that where there’s a will there’s a way to support charities across the country by its participation in a number of free will writing programmes.
Alex Hutcheon + Co has been supporting initiatives including the National Free Wills Network, Free Wills Month and Will Aid for several years, and in that time clients who have had wills drawn up through the various programmes have left legacies of well over half a million pounds to local and national charities.
In one of the largest programmes, the National Free Wills Network, solicitors across the country provide a will writing service for more than 260 charities. The cost is funded by charities who then offer this service to clients for free to encourage them to leave legacies in their wills. Clients who have drawn up wills with Alex Hutcheon + Co through this scheme have already committed charitable donations valued at £562,000.
The firm also supports Free Wills Months, a similar scheme which takes place in March and October.
Alex Hutcheon + Co is also one of the highest ranked solicitors in Scotland taking part in Will Aid, an initiative that sees solicitors waive their will writing fee in return for voluntary donations to the Will Aid charity.
The firm has supported the initiative for a number of years and last year raised more than £5,215 during Will Aid month in November, earning it a seventh place ranking in the league table for all solicitors in Scotland and bringing the total it has raised to £16,637 since first participating in the scheme.
“We are very pleased to be part of these fantastic programmes,” said Alex Hutcheon, senior partner and owner of the firm. “Initiatives such as these raise awareness of how important it is for people to have a properly drawn up will to ensure that their wishes regarding distribution of their assets and other factors are clearly set out.
“They also promote the importance of considering leaving a legacy in your will. Many charities rely very heavily on legacy donations to help them continue their valuable work and the gift of funding in this way can provide critical and often long-term support.
“Since the business was founded in 1999, we have regularly supported various charities over the years including regular donations to Diabetes UK thanks to the generosity of our clients.”
