# Misconceptions over Wills & inheritance remain barrier to legacy giving

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/09/12/misconceptions-wills-inheritance-remain-barrier-to-legacy-giving/
- Published: 2019-09-12T08:00:40+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Misconceptions about Wills and intestacy remain a key barrier to legacy giving
with over two-thirds of people in the UK without a fully written Will, and more 
than half unaware that giving to charity is exempt from inheritance tax.**

The research from [Remember A Charity](https://www.rememberacharity.org.uk), released
during this week’s Remember A Charity in your Will Week, reveals that 68% of adults
across the UK don’t have a completed Will in place, although this drops to 47% of
over 55s, with just over a third (37%) assuming it will automatically go to their
partner and children.

30% don’t think they’re wealthy enough to write a Will with many believing that 
Will-writing is time-consuming (30%), complicated (28%) and expensive (27%). Only
1 in 4 (25%) say they have planned for death.

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In addition, more than half (57%) don’t know that giving to charity is exempt from
inheritance tax and nearly a quarter (22%) believe that you have to be wealthy to
donate to charity from your Will.

Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity commented:

> “We’ve certainly seen from the research that there is a huge knowledge gap about
> how Wills and inheritance works. This remains a key barrier to growing legacy 
> giving and underlines the importance for working together with solicitors, Will-
> writers, government and other partners to reduce intestacy.
> “The sector’s made some real progress in opening up conversation around gifts 
> in Wills, but this research shows that there’s no room for complacency. There’s
> still a long way to go in terms of helping the public better understand today’s
> Wills environment and the importance of legacy giving.”

 * **[Legacy drop hits Queens income](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/10/07/legacy-drop-hits-queens-income/)**(
   7 October 2019)
 * **[Legacy consideration on the rise, league table shows](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/10/11/legacy-consideration-on-the-rise-league-table-shows/)**(
   11 October 2019)
 * **[MoJ scraps proposed probate fee changes](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/10/14/moj-scraps-proposed-probate-fee-changes/)**(
   14 October 2019)

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