Julia's House

Everybody needs a Will; it is the only way to ensure that your estate is left to your loved ones after your death. It is also a way to continue supporting the causes and values that you followed throughout your life.

Gifts left by our supporters in their Wills play a major role in the development of Julia’s House and play a vital role in maintaining the future of the service we offer both in the home and in the hospice.

Each bequest is crucial in funding our free lifeline to Dorset life-limited and life-threatened children and their families. With your help we can give more care to more children allowing them to enjoy their lives, however short.

The need for legacies at Julia’s House is imperative as we are looking to build and improve for the future with our immediate aims:

• To provide more hours of community and hospice care,
• To run more support activities for siblings,
• To increase the facilities and activities at the hospice and,
• To pilot complementary and music therapies for children and their families, and our longer term aims:
• To open for night care at the hospice and,
• To provide a facility for end of life stays at the hospice.

However big or small your gift will certainly be appreciated by the children and families who benefit from our hospice and care in their homes, and for that, we thank you.

If you are writing Julia’s House into your Will then please use our correct name JULIA’S HOUSE CHILDRENS HOSPICE and full address and registered charity number shown below:

Unit F1 Arena Business Centre Holyrood Close Poole Dorset BH17 7FP

Registered Charity Number: 1067125

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should I make a Will

No one wants to talk about death but just a short time spent talking to a solicitor will sort out all your affairs. Making a Will is the only way that you can ensure that your estate goes to your loved ones and your wishes are followed after death. Without a Will the law decides how your estate is distributed and therefore your estate may go to people that you never intended to benefit. Many people assume that if they die everything is passed to their spouse or partner, but, this is not always the case. By writing a Will you can have the peace of mind knowing that your family and friends will be protected.

Making a Will is also a good opportunity to make a lasting difference and remember those people who have been important to you throughout your life; this means that you can continue to support your favourite charities like Julia’s House.

• Why remember Julia’s House in your Will

Last year alone Julia’s House nurses and carers gave more than 4,000 hours of care for severely ill children thanks to people who remembered us in their Will. All bequests made to charity are tax free and by leaving a legacy to Julia’s House you can be sure that, whatever size, it will be much appreciated by everyone involved, particularly the children and their families who ultimately benefit.

By leaving a gift to Julia’s House you can ensure that we continue the work that you supported during your lifetime. The money we receive from legacies will help to fund our nurses and carers to look after the child’s every need both in their family homes and at the hospice taking pressure of parents and allowing the children to take part in activities that they would not normally get the chance to do.

• I am planning to write my Will what should I think about

When planning to write your Will there are many things that should be considered before beginning:

1. Firstly make a list of your assets – and calculate the value of each. In this section include everything you own no matter how large or small. This can include property, cars, savings, money owed, stocks or shares, life insurance, cars and all household possessions.
2. Make a list of families, friends or charities who you would like to benefit and decide what you would like them to receive. This can be a percentage, a specific share or individual item.
3. Think about who you would like to appoint as executors – these are the people who will actually ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. These could be friends, family or a professional such as a solicitor.

4. If you are a parent, appoint a guardian – this is very important to ensure your children are left in the care of the person you wish.

5. Who should write my Will

Whilst you can write your own Will we recommend that you use a solicitor. Getting your wishes written down professionally will save a lot of time and money for your family and executor in the future. Why not look at the list of solicitors who help us in our "Julia's House Free Wills List" - please see the document at the foot of this page.

• What type of Legacy can I leave

There are 4 different ways that you can leave a gift as a legacy in your Will: - A residuary bequest (this is in the form of a share of your estate). - A pecuniary bequest (this is in the form of a specific sum). - A specific bequest (this is in the form of a specific item). - A contingent bequest (this depends on the event of an occurrence which may or may not happen – for example a bequest to charity which only happens if other beneficiaries in the Will die before the person who made the Will).

• Do I need to update an old will?

It is vital that you review your Will regularly to ensure that it reflects your current wishes and circumstances. When something in your life changes, getting married or divorced, moving house, having a baby, becoming a grandparent, it’s a good time to change an existing Will. Keeping your will current is just as important as making one in the first place as it is the only way to ensure your wishes are followed and estate is distributed in exactly the way you want them to be.

• I already have a Will how can I update it

If the changes to be made are large then best way to amend a current Will is to go and see your solicitor to make sure changes are written in properly and professionally. However, the simplest way to update your current Will is to write a codicil.

This is a document that need not change the content of your current Will. It can simply add a new instruction. The codicil should be completed in front of two witnesses who should then sign the form. It is recommended that to ensure the new clause ties in with your will you see your solicitor about the amendment made. This codicil is then kept with your Will.

• What is an executor?

Executors will be specifically named in the Will. They ensure that the wishes in the Will are actually carried out and sort out the administrative details of the Will. The standard number of executors is usually two however their can be a maximum of four people named as executor to any one Will. Your executor could be family, a close friend or a professional such as your solicitor.

• How much does it cost?

It should be relatively inexpensive – but the more you prepare in advance, the less work will be needed to be done by a solicitor, which may save money. If you are aged over 70, disabled, or the parent of a disabled person who is to benefit in your Will, you may qualify for financial help – ask your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Also, you may be able to participate in our Free Wills Service – to find out more, please contact us on 01202 607400.

Useful documents

Links

Totally Free Wills