Over £170,000 was raised during Free Wills Month at Gordon Dean Solicitors in Norwich.
The Free Wills Month campaign brings together various well-known charity organisations to give people aged 55 and over the chance to have their wills written or updated free of charge by using a range of participating solicitors in a range of locations around England and Wales.
At Gordon Dean solicitors Norwich based firm, money pledged in wills as part of the campaign totalled a sizable £172,650. Mr Phillip Bazley, from Gordon Dean solicitors on Princes Street Norwich, drew up 70 wills for free under the scheme in October and November last year. It takes Mr Bazley two hours to see a client, draft, check, amend and assist sign a Will or a couples’ Wills. The firm received a letter of thanks from the campaign organisers in April after the full amount of money being raised had been counted.
Gordon Dean said: ‘We started it about eight years ago and it has been growing ever since.” Mr Dean’s firm is apparently responsible for over 10% of the total of the sum of money donated to the various charities nationwide.
Nationally, £1.16m was raised and the campaign will be held again this October for those looking to get involved this year. The charities which will benefit include the British Heart Foundation, the RNLI, the Salvation Army, Arthritis Research UK and Blue Cross for Pets. Solicitor Gordon Dean said: “It never really crossed my mind how much money was being pledged.” Mr Dean thanked his colleague Mr Bazley and everyone who had promised money in the scheme.
Those firms interested in joining in Free Wills Month, visit the website for more details – http://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
