Octopus Legacy has announced it has launched an online will writing service in Scotland to complement its work in England and Wales. The firm said it was now possible for anyone living in Scotland to “write a simple Scottish will online from home in around 15 to 20 minutes.”
Octopus said its Scottish service has been “built for Scots law” and covers rules around legal rights for spouses, civil partners and children, and the requirements for a will to be validly signed and witnessed in Scotland. Each will is reviewed by Octopus Legacy’s legal team, before being sent to be signed. Those whose circumstances indicate they need more than a simple will is referred to an offline journey.
The move will see Octopus’ charity partners, including Macmillan Cancer Support and Sarcoma UK, offer a free online will writing service for the first time, opening up new opportunities for legacy gifting in Scotland said Octopus.
Trudie Tagg, senior legacy and in memory fundraising manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Gifts in wills help Macmillan do whatever it takes for people living with cancer, now and in the future. Until now, our supporters in Scotland haven’t been able to use a free, simple online will service in the same way as supporters elsewhere in the UK.
“Working with Octopus Legacy changes that – anyone in Scotland can now write a simple will online and can consider leaving a gift to Macmillan in their will. We’re excited to launch this new service and give more supporters an accessible and easy way to sort out their wills.”
Emma Delin, senior individual giving manager at Sarcoma UK, said: “Sarcoma UK is the only charity in the UK focusing on all types of sarcoma. Gifts in wills fund the research that leads to better treatments, and keep our Support Line open for anyone who needs it. We’re delighted to be working with Octopus Legacy to bring a free, simple online will service to our supporters in Scotland for the first time, joining supporters across the rest of the UK.
“Anyone writing their will can choose to leave a gift to Sarcoma UK. It takes minutes, and it makes a lasting difference to the families who come to us.”
For Octopus, the expansion into Scotland is part of efforts to “make estate planning as accessible as possible” said founder and CEO Sam Grice: “When Mum died, I learned the hard way the importance of a plan and what it is like when there isn’t one.”
The move also supports the group’s efforts to grow gifts in wills concluded Grice: ““For our charity partners this matters just as much. Gifts in wills fund a huge amount of the work charities do, and their Scottish supporters have been asking for this for a long time. We’re proud to help close that gap.”
