Be part of will week and support hospice

A GREATER Manchester Hospice is urging Oldhamers to make a will as part of a campaign to raise money for a good cause and stop the Government getting its hands on our valuable inheritance.

St Ann’s Hospice, which has bases in Little Hulton and Heald Green as well as providing services at the Wythenshawe Hospital, is taking part in Make a Will Week.

The scheme aims to reduce the £3.5 billion the Government receives each year because people don’t put their affairs in order.

In a bid to reduce this figure, foil the tax man and raise money for St Ann’s Hospice, more than 60 Greater Manchester lawyers will waive their normal will-writing fee during the week, which runs from March 2 to 6.

Zoe Ashton, a solicitor at North Ainley Halliwell in Oldham, said: “People don’t always realise that if they don’t make a will there are rules of law which set out who will inherit their estate which may mean that their assets do not necessarily go where they would like.

“For married couples with children, only the first £250,000 passes to the surviving married partner.

“Of the residue, half will pass to the children with the surviving married partner only receiving a life interest in the other half.

“With house prices and for people in second marriages, the best way to ensure that what you leave behind goes exactly where you want it to go is to write a will or update an existing one.”

Anyone who would like details of local solicitors who are supporting the initiative are asked to contact St Ann’s fund-raising office, on 0161-498 3646 or log on to www.sah.org.uk/willweek