SSAFA is regulated by the Fundraising Regulator and adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice (2025). Through the code, we aim to make sure that all our fundraising activities meet the following values: 

• Legal: our fundraising must meet the requirements of the law.

• Open: our fundraisers must be clear about their processes and willing to explain them when necessary.

• Honest: our fundraisers must act with integrity and must not mislead people when asking for donations.

• Respectful: our fundraisers must respect the people and places they interact with.

1. Control over your estate. A Will is a legal document that lets you decide exactly how your assets, such as money, property, possessions, will be distributed after your death. Without a Will, your estate is divided according to strict intestacy laws, which may not reflect your wishes or your family’s needs.
2. Reducing stress for loved ones. A Will can significantly reduce the administrative burden and emotional stress for your loved ones at a difficult time. It provides clear instructions, helping to avoid confusion and disputes among family members.
3. Appointing guardians for children. If you have children under 18, a Will allows you to appoint guardians of your choice. Without this, the courts may decide who cares for your children, which may not align with your preferences.
4. Deciding who administers your estate. You can name executors, who are trusted individuals, to carry out your wishes and manage your estate. This ensures someone you trust is in charge, rather than someone appointed by the courts.
5. Providing for unmarried partners and stepchildren. Unmarried partners and stepchildren do not automatically inherit under intestacy rules. A Will ensures they are provided for if you wish.
6. Leaving charitable gifts. A Will enables you to leave gifts to charities or causes close to your heart, such as SSAFA. These gifts can make a transformational difference and may also reduce inheritance tax liability.
7. Minimising family disputes. By clearly stating your wishes, a Will can help prevent disagreements and legal challenges among family members.
8. Inheritance tax planning. A Will allows you to plan for and potentially reduce inheritance tax, ensuring more of your estate goes to your chosen beneficiaries.
9. Making funeral wishes known. You can specify your funeral preferences, easing the burden on your family to make these decisions.
10. Caring for pets. A Will can include arrangements for the care of pets, ensuring they are looked after by someone you trust

If you die without a Will (intestate), your estate is distributed according to the law, which may not reflect your wishes. This can lead to:

• family members or partners missing out
• delays and extra costs in settling your estate
• potential disputes and legal challenges.

SSAFA encourages everyone to make a Will, not only to care for family and friends but also to consider leaving a legacy to support future generations. SSAFA offers free Will writing services to make this process accessible to all supporters, employees, and volunteers.

Making a Will is an important step for everyone and helps us to care for everything that’s important in our lives. Once family and friends are looked after, many people want to leave a gift to a cause close to their heart.

In a survey conducted by ‘Remember a Charity’ 35% of people who were asked said they would like to leave a charitable gift in their Will.

There are several different ways someone could leave a gift in their Will:

• residuary gift is a proportion of someone’s estate, once all other gifts or expenses have been deducted. This can be a percentage, or the whole estate. Even a small percentage can make a huge difference.
• pecuniary gift is a specified amount of money.
• specific gift is an object such as a painting, jewellery, stocks and shares, or property.

SSAFA’s free Will-writing partners will provide a simple Will at no cost. If your circumstances are more complicated, they will discuss and agree with you (the ‘testator’) any additional costs before proceeding.

Please note that the Will-writing partners will be acting only in the testator’s interests and on their instructions. There is no obligation on the part of the partner or testator to support SSAFA by leaving a gift to the charity.

SSAFA has partnered with three organisations, MyIntent (formerly Bequeathed), Farewill and the National Free Wills Network to offer the opportunity to write or update a simple will for free, either online, by telephone or in person with a local solicitor.

MyIntent (formerly Bequeathed) is a free online will-writing service that always includes legal advice to protect the people and causes supporters care about. It is available to anyone over 18 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For more information visit: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-to-give/gifts-in-wills/myintent-information-page/

​​​NFWN This offer is open to supporters, beneficiaries, clients and volunteers aged 50 and over, and gives the opportunity to have a simple will written or updated in person with a local qualified solicitor for free. The offer also includes mirror wills for couples.
To use this service, and to request a free Will writing pack sent via the post, a supporter will need to complete our online form, call 020 4570 0351 or email [email protected]

Farewill is a free online will writing service for those living in England and Wales where a supporter can write a simple Will from the comfort and privacy of their own home.
For more information visit: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-to-give/gifts-in-wills/farewill/

Our primary concern is that family and loved ones are properly cared for first by making a will that is right for the supporter. If they chose to use any of these services, there is absolutely no obligation to leave a gift to SSAFA, but we hope they will be inspired to do so.

Call 020 4570 0351

email [email protected] 

visit Gift in Wills page | ScreenSteps

Last updated 17 October 2025