Writing a Will may initially seem daunting or complex, however it is far easier than you might think. That said, still over half of us in the UK (31 million people) are yet to write their Will, and while most of us intend to write one, many of us are still to do so. 

At Wycliffe, we believe that Wills are important as they express your wishes for loved ones and for the causes you hold dear. We want to help you to get started and to receive the support you need as you begin this process.

Take a look at some helpful resources to get you started:

  • Will checklist – we have put together a helpful list (download as either a pdf or as an editable version) to help you think through your personal wishes regarding your estate, belongings and relationships before writing your Will.
  • Wycliffe wording – when planning to give a gift in your Will to Wycliffe, download here is the wording you will need to present to your legal professional.
  • Codicil – a codicil is used to make an amendment to your existing Will. If you are planning to do this, please download a Codicil form to complete and present to your solicitor.

FAQs about writing a Will

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about writing a Will. We hope you find them helpful.

Q: What are the benefits of writing a Will?

Read more about Q: What are the benefits of writing a Will?

A: There are three very good reasons for writing your Will:

  • You provide for your loved ones after you have gone by making your wishes about your children, your assets, your funeral plans and your lasting power of attorney clear and legal.
  • You can decide which causes you care about are supported after you have gone.
  • You can pay less tax and protect your family from paying significant costs (eg leaving 10% of your estate to charity can benefit the remainder of your estate with a tax reduction).

Q: What does Wycliffe do with a gift given in my Will?

Read more about Q: What does Wycliffe do with a gift given in my Will?

A: Around 10% of our income comes to Wycliffe through gifts in Wills. This income is vital for our ongoing work in Bible translation around the world and you can see how it is spent here. When you decide to give in your Will to Wycliffe, most of our supporters decide to give to ‘where most needed’ to ensure their gift will impact our most prioritised projects. If you would like to discuss how to allocate your gift to Wycliffe differently, please get in touch with us.

Q: What types of gifts in my Will should I consider?

Read more about Q: What types of gifts in my Will should I consider?

A: When writing your Will, you will need to think about your assets. These can include property, shares and investments, physical items or cash. When allocating gifts to loved ones or to charities you may wish to decide on whether to allocate this as a residuary gift (a percentage share of your whole estate) or a pecuniary gift (a fixed cash amount). To help you prepare for writing a Will please download our Will Checklist as either a pdf or as a Word document. Once completed, we recommend you take this with you when speaking with a solicitor about your Will.

Q: Who can help me to get started?

Read more about Q: Who can help me to get started?

A: At Wycliffe, we have designated legacy staff who are happy to help you to get started and offer confidential support. Whether you have questions about the process of writing your Will or you would like to find out how you might access discounted or Free Will writing services, please get in touch with us.

For further information about Wills you can also visit: https://www.gov.uk/make-will.

Q: How much does a Will cost?

Read more about Q: How much does a Will cost?

A: A Will often costs in the range of £90–£550 (for a simple Will), depending upon the legal service that you choose. More complex Wills can be dearer.

Please get in touch with us to find out about our FREE online services and discounted independent legal services offered to Wycliffe supporters, to help you write your Will for less.

Q: Should I tell you if I have left a gift to Wycliffe in my Will?

Read more about Q: Should I tell you if I have left a gift to Wycliffe in my Will?

A: We are so thankful to every person who decides to impact the work of Wycliffe through their giving and we want to be able to personally acknowledge this and share about the impact you are making.

When you have added Wycliffe to your Will please let us know by emailing legacy@wycliffe.org.uk or calling us on 0300 303 1111. Thank you!

Q: What is the Wycliffe charity number and address?

Read more about Q: What is the Wycliffe charity number and address?

A: Wycliffe UK Ltd is a charity registered in England and Wales (251233) and in Scotland (SC039140), and a company registered in England and Wales (819788).

Registered office: Wycliffe Bible Translators, CMS House, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ.

Our postal address is: Wycliffe Bible Translators, PO Box 1643, Oxford, OX4 9PB.

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