Evelyn: Make A Will Month

As part of ‘Make A Will Month’, we asked CHSF’s Trusts and Foundations Manager Evelyn Hazzard about how and why she used our Free Wills service to draw up a Will following her Civil Partnership.

How did you find the process of writing a Will and what method did you use?

“Following our Civil Partnership, my partner and I used the Free Wills service through CHSF to make another Will (as when you are married or become civil partners your previous Will becomes invalid). We did this online.

 

“We talked through what we wanted and the person leading it raised questions during our session which prompted us to think of things we hadn’t thought about. Our Will was then sent to us for checking. It was a simple and straightforward process. We were really happy with the Free Wills service.”

Why did you decide to leave a gift to CHSF in particular, in your Will?

“I am very proud of the work that we do to support patients with congenital heart disease and their families. Raising funds to buy the Baby MRI Incubator which allows babies with high-risk cardiac conditions to have the vital MRI scans they need, and the first of its kind in Europe, is a particular highlight.

 

“I know our work makes a difference to peoples’ lives, and I wanted to leave a gift to help CHSF continue to do so in the future.”

What is your role at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund?

“I work as Trusts and Foundations Manager at CHSF. I raise money for all areas of our work from charitable trusts and foundations who are set up to give money to good causes.

 

“I spend a lot of time researching and tailoring applications to ensure that I can bring in money to support the heart, mind, family and future of patients with congenital heart disease and their families.

 

“I particularly enjoy showing funders what we are able to do with their support and the difference they make to the lives of patients, families and the staff working at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.”

Why do you think writing a Will more generally is so important for individuals and families?

“I know how complicated it can be if you don’t have a Will. A distant relative died intestate (without a Will) and it took years to sort out his estate.

 

“One of the things my partner and I did when we first jointly owned a house was to make a Will so we could decide who got what in the event of my, his or our deaths. We didn’t want our families to have the burden of sorting out our estates without us having made Wills.

 

“We didn’t want the ‘rules of intestacy’ applied which happens when you don’t have a Will, and which are used to divide up a person’s estate.

 

“I wanted to make a Will so that my wishes are followed, and my estate goes to the people I want to benefit from it.”