We have teamed up with two of the UK’s leading free will writing services, to help you write or update a simple will for free.

Farewill logo

Having an up to date will can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones, and ensure your wishes are carried out.

If you are over the age of 18 and live in the UK, we are offering you the chance to write your will for free through our trusted will-writing partner Farewill. 

A gift of even 1% of your estate, once other gifts have been made, will make a huge difference to the lives of donkeys. There is no obligation to leave donkeys a gift in your will. However, we hope that you do choose to remember them. Will you be forever by their side?

National Free Will Service Logo

There are three ways we can help you with your will

Make a will online

Suitable for simple estates. Available in England and Wales.

Write your will quickly and easily online through our partner, Farewill – the largest online will writing service in the UK.

  • You can write your will in 15 minutes
  • Easy and smooth process from the comfort of your own home
  • 7 days live expert support

Make a will over the phone

Suitable for simple estates. Available in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

If you would prefer to write your will over the phone, you can request a call from our partners at Farewill who will call back within 24 hours. Their specialists will take you through the whole process from start to finish.

  • Support and guidance over the phone
  • Completed within a few days
  • Farewill will explain everything to you, avoiding legal jargon

Make a will in person with a local solicitor

Available in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

To make your will in person with a solicitor, please register your interest first. Our partner, the National Free Wills Network will then connect you with solicitors local to you, who can provide free and professional advice. There are over 900 solicitors involved in the Network, all over the UK. 

  • Expert and professional advice from experienced solicitors
  • Help with more complicated wills
  • All participating solicitors are regulated and are members of the Law Society

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use the free will service?

Anyone in the UK over the age of 18 can access our free will writing service. An online service is available for people in England and Wales. A telephone service and face to face service are available across the UK.   

Please note that our free will service covers the cost of a simple will to be prepared using Farewill’s online or telephone service, or a simple will prepared in person with a local solicitor through the National Free Wills Network. 

If you require a more complex will this may incur additional costs to you as follows: 

Farewill service 

If your answers to the questions on Farewill’s website suggest you need a more complex will, they may refer you to their telephone service. 

More complex wills include catering for supporters with complex property arrangements, business assets and discretionary trusts. 

Depending on the level of complexity required, the cost of your will may be covered by our free will service. If this is not the case, Farewill  will make it clear where there would be any additional costs to you and seek your confirmation to proceed before you become liable for any costs. 

National Free Wills Network 

A simple will arranged through the National Free Wills Network, will be free of charge to you.  More complex wills may incur a charge.  The solicitor will discuss this with you first to ensure you are happy to proceed.  

You are under no obligation to make a will following an appointment set up by The National Free Wills Network or to leave a gift to The Donkey Sanctuary although we hope you will remember the charity.    

Why do I need a will?

Everyone should have an up to date will. A will is a way of looking after the people, causes and charities that you care about after you’ve died; it’s the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out.

How does the online free will writing service work?

We're working with our partners Farewill (for supporters in England and Wales) who provide a simple and easy will writing service which can be completed online. Farewill can support you in making sure your wishes are met and that you have the right tools to complete your will. Click here to access this online service.

How does the telephone free will writing service work?

We're working with our partners Farewill (for supporters in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) who provide a simple and easy will writing service which can be completed over the phone. Farewill will support you with explaining how this works, avoiding legal jargon. Click here to access this phone service.

How does the face to face will writing service work?

We're working with our partner the National Free Wills Network who will connect you with a local solicitor (usually within 3 miles of your home) to make your will for free. Since 2008 the Network has helped over 85,000 people make or update their wills. The service can also help with complicated wills as well as provide witnesses to the signing of a will.

To benefit from this service, you first need to register your interest with the National Free Wills Network via the link on this page or by contacting our gift in wills team. The National Free Wills Network will send you a supporter pack within 10 days including a list of participating solicitors and a step-by-step guide explaining how to make an appointment.Click here to register you interest and request your free pack.

What information do I need to hand to make my online or telephone will?

Details of your assets and properties, any special items you wish to be inherited by specific people (eg jewellery and paintings) and the names and email addresses for all beneficiaries.

After you have registered your interest with the National Free Wills Network you will be sent a supporter pack within 10 days including a list of participating solicitors and a step-by-step guide explaining how to make an appointment.

Who isn’t the free will service suitable for?

Supporters who live outside of the UK or those who are not able to complete their will independently. In these instances, we would advise you to see a solicitor to help draft your will.

Please note that our free will service only covers the cost of a simple will to be prepared using Farewill’s online or telephone service.

If your answers to the questions on Farewill’s website suggest you need a more complex will, they may refer you to their telephone service.

More complex wills include catering for supporters with complex property arrangements, business assets and discretionary trusts.

Depending on the level of complexity required, the cost of your will may be covered by our free will service. If this is not the case, Farewill will make it clear where there would be any additional costs to you and seek your confirmation to proceed before you become liable for any costs.

Depending on the level of complexity required, the cost of your will may be covered by our free will service. If this is not the case, Farewill or the National Free Wills Network will make it clear where there would be any additional costs to you and seek your confirmation to proceed before you become liable for any costs. 

Can I use the free will service to make a more complex will?

Please note that our free will service covers the cost of a simple will to be prepared using Farewill’s online or telephone service, or a simple will prepared in person with a local solicitor through the National Free Wills Network.

More complex wills include catering for supporters with complex property arrangements, business assets and discretionary trusts.

If you require a more complex will this may incur additional costs to you as follows:

Farewill service

If your answers to the questions on Farewill’s website suggest you need a more complex will, they may refer you to their telephone service.

Depending on the level of complexity required, the cost of your will may be covered by our free will service. If this is not the case, Farewill will make it clear where there would be any additional costs to you and seek your confirmation to proceed before you become liable for any costs.

National Free Wills Network

A simple will arranged through the National Free Wills Network, will be free of charge to you. More complex wills may incur a charge. The solicitor will discuss this with you first to ensure you are happy to proceed.

Request our guide to gifts in wills

Our free guide contains all the details you need to make an informed decision on leaving a gift in your will.