Make a will and leave a legacy
25th February 2025
- Approximately 54% of adults in the UK don’t have a will, and a total of 5.4 million people have no idea how to even go about getting one.
Free Wills Month takes place twice a year in March and October, to give everyone aged 55 and over the chance to have their Will written or updated for free.
Perry Norton, Head of Development at ECF, said, “Many charities rely on gifts in wills to continue their work, so if there’s a cause you care about then it’s a good opportunity to consider leaving a gift in your will. If you don’t have a specific charity in mind, we have a range of options to help you and ensure your legacy has the maximum impact.”
A standard Will can typically cost around £150 and the more complicated it is, the more expensive it becomes. If you die without leaving a will your estate will be distributed according to the laws of your jurisdiction, which may not reflect your wishes, so Free Wills Month provides a great opportunity to create peace of mind.
People who have their Will written during Free Wills Month are under no obligation to leave anything to charity, but it is hoped that by spreading awareness on this, more people will decide to help charities in the future.
Find out more about leaving a legacy to support the causes that mean most to you here, or contact Perry Norton, Head of Development, on 01245 355947.
Leaving a will is important because it ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. If you die without a will (“intestate”), your estate will be distributed according to the laws of your jurisdiction, which may not reflect your wishes and could lead to unintended consequences.
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Decide who gets your estate:
You can choose exactly who receives your assets, including specific items, ensuring your loved ones get what you want them to have.
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Avoid family conflict:
A well-written will can minimize disagreements and legal battles among family members regarding inheritance.
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Appoint an executor:
You can designate a trusted person to manage your estate, handle debts, and distribute assets according to your will.
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Protect unmarried partners:
Without a will, your unmarried partner may not be entitled to inherit anything from your estate.
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Provide for dependents:
You can specifically include stepchildren or other dependents in your will to ensure they receive a portion of your estate.
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Minimize inheritance tax:
Strategic planning within your will can help reduce potential inheritance tax liabilities.
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Leave a legacy to charity:
You can designate charitable organisations as beneficiaries in your will.
Jean and Peter Davey made many generous bequests during their lifetime and their caring natures now live on through their fund with us.
Jean Davey (nee Usher) was born at Great Bradfords Farm in Braintree in 1927. She spent many of her childhood years there and, later in life, returned to the farmhouse to share it with her husband Peter. Jean’s parents were dairy farmers and in 1948 went into business with the Magnus family from Chelmsford to set up the dairy company Magnus & Usher Limited.
Jean worked for the company from the 50s until the business was sold to Dairy Crest in the late 1980. She also worked with her husband running the Braintree division of the business known as Usher & Sons Limited. Jean met her husband Peter while working at Courtaulds in Bocking and took over the running of the family business when her parents retired. Jean and Peter were excellent ballroom dancers and ran dance classes for the milkmen they employed in the small social club that belonged to the business.
Sadly, Jean’s dancing was curtailed by the onset of multiple sclerosis whilst she was in her 20s and she lived with the illness for over 50 years. One of Jean’s other passions was her dogs and Jean and Peter made loving homes for many different dogs during their married life.
Jean and Peter had a bungalow built in the gardens of Great Bradfords Farm and made that their permanent home. Peter was by this time in poor health and died very soon afterwards. Jean lived in the bungalow until her death in November 2012.
Following the building of the bungalow, Jean and Peter decided that they wished to gift the old farmhouse and adjoining land to Abbeyfields for a Sheltered housing complex. After extensive refurbishment and building work, this was opened in 2007 and now provides 34 units of assisted sheltered housing. This was one of the many generous bequests made by Jean and Peter during their lifetime.
They were a very devoted couple and despite being very private, they were extremely generous to family, friends and both local and national charities. When Jean sadly passed away in 2012 she kindly divided her residual estate between 12 different charities. Most were national organisations, but she was also interested in supporting local charities and by leaving a bequest to us, she will now continue to support charitable activity across Essex for many years to come.