From Monday 2nd until Friday 6th November My Legacy's Best Will Week 2015 kicks off, aiming to highlight the benefits of making a will and leaving a legacy to your favourite charity.
Best Will Week encourages Irish people to take advantage of this opportunity; to learn about the importance of making a will from expert solicitors and also to consider leaving a gift to charity in a will after all other personal considerations have been decided. With changes to inheritance taxes announced in Budget 2016, Best Will Week offers a timely opportunity to organise personal affairs.
Research revealed details that only three in every ten Irish people have drafted a will. The research found that over a quarter of those surveyed have benefited from a will but despite this, only 50% of Irish people have engaged with any of the practicalities around preparing for their own death, from making a will to discussing their wishes with family (1).
Best Will Week 2014 saw over 500 expert solicitors offer initial will consultations to Irish people. My Legacy estimate, based on solicitor feedback, that 1,970 will consultations took place during the week and approximately 1,800 wills were made. It is also estimated that over 430 gifts were left to Irish charities (1).
Ireland ranked as the 4th most generous country in the world in the 2014 World Giving Index (2) However, the research revealed today that only 12% of Irish people plan to leave money to a charity (1). Interestingly, 18 – 24 year olds have the highest intentions of leaving money to charity.
Susan O'Dwyer, Chairperson of MyLegacy.ie and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, commented on the launch of Best Will Week;
"The number of Irish people who bequeath a gift to charity or indeed don't prepare a will is quite low. Leaving a gift to charity is a very meaningful experience that allows you to support a charity or cause you care about after you are gone. My Legacy would encourage everyone to take advantage of Best Will Week by making an appointment to visit your local solicitor for a will consultation to discuss your wishes and your lasting legacy''.
As part of this process and after you have looked after your loved ones, we are asking you to consider leaving a legacy to MS Ireland. There are several ways you can do this, which we have outlined in the Legacy section of our website.
To find out more about making a will and leaving a leaving a legacy to MS Ireland please have a look at our Legacy section or check out the Best Will website.
Further reading