Queen's pays a discounted fee to the Will-writing partners which covers the creation of a simple Will or small changes to an existing Will. There is no charge for a simple Will, which is suitable for most people.

If your Will is more complicated and requires additional legal advice, you will be advised of this and offered a no obligation quote. Bequeathed will also provide a no obligation quote and offer a referral to one of their partner law firms.  

While there is no obligation to include a gift in your Will, after taking care of your loved ones, we do hope that you will consider leaving a percentage of your estate to Queen's. Leaving a gift in your Will to Queen’s helps fund life-changing research and ensures that talented students, regardless of background, can access a world-class education. Any amount - large or small - can make a real, lasting impact.

National Free Wills Network use local solicitors to write (or update) a Will in person or over the phone. Bequeathed offers a free video appointment with a legal expert following the initial online interview. This is used to discuss your situation and your wishes, and to confirm that your Will fully caters to your needs.

No, Queen's does not receive a copy of your Will.

During the Will writing process, you will be asked whether you are happy for your chosen partner to share certain information with Queen's. This includes whether you have left Queen's a gift in your Will and the value of this gift. Having this information allows us to thank you properly.

For a Will to be valid, there are certain conditions that must be met.

• The Will must be made by a person who is 18 years old or over.
• Your Will must be made voluntarily and without pressure from any other person.
• Your Will must be on paper, a ‘soft’ copy on a computer is not valid.
• Your Will must be signed by you, in the presence of two witnesses and signed by the two witnesses, in your presence.
• Witnesses can be anyone over 18. They cannot be a beneficiary of your Will (someone who receives money or other benefits as a result of your Will), nor can they be the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary of your Will.
• Witnesses do not need to read your Will or be aware of its contents.

More information on ensuring that your Will is valid can be found on the Citizens Advice website.

To leave a gift to Queen's in your Will, you need to include the name of our charity (Queen's University of Belfast Foundation), our address (Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN) and registered charity number (NIC102044). It is then as simple as writing:

• ‘I give 10% of my residual estate to…’
• ‘I give £5,000 to..."
• ‘I give my original painting to…’

You can find more information here.