“A group of charities including Alzheimer’s Research UK, British Heart Foundation and Mind are paying for wills to be written free of charge by local solicitors across England, Wales and Scotland.

Charities depend on gifts left to them in wills. Free Wills Month will encourage those who have not already got a will to put one in place and consider bequeathing a gift to a charitable organisation.

The campaign hopes to raise more than £20m of future income for the charities.

How does it work?

Single applicants must be aged 55 or over but in the case of couples making identical wills, only one partner needs to meet the minimum age criteria.

The public should contact one of the firms of solicitors taking part in a Free Wills Month campaign during the designated month to request an appointment.

The solicitor will help to draw up a will that accurately reflects the wishes of the individual or couple. Those taking up the offer are under no obligation to leave a gift to one of the Free Wills Month charities, although the campaign notes that it sees this as a chance for applicants to help their favourite cause.

Appointments are limited and are allocated on a first-come-first served basis. Once all available appointments are booked the campaign will close, this may be before the end of the campaigning month.

Solicitors participating in the campaign, which ends on Monday 31 March can be found on the Free Wills Month website.