A SHOCKING 58.74% of people in East of England do not have a will, new research has found.

A poll commissioned by charity will-writing campaign Will Aid, found that nationally 59% of the population do not have paperwork protecting their loved ones in the event of their death.

While the statistics for East of England are marginally better than the national picture, Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director for Will Aid said it was still vital that those without one considered the benefits of getting their affairs in order.

He said: “The results show that nationally we have a population that is burying its head in the sand when it comes to preparing their loved ones for the inevitable.

“And in East of England we can see that the situation is also concerning. Our poll delved into the many reasons why people avoid drawing up a will with many citing the difficulties they have talking about and thinking about death. We recognise that this is a tricky conversation to have with the people you care about but drawing up paperwork to protect you love long after you are gone comes with a sense of peace.

“Another barrier to making a will was cited as expense which, in light of the current cost of living crisis, is understandable. This is where Will Aid can provide a cost-effective solution that comes with the security that a will is being drafted by a professional, regulated and insured solicitor while you help vulnerable charities that are also struggling at this time.”

The study showed that in East of England the main barriers to making a will were seen as lack of time with 29.75%, money with 23.97% and fear of thinking about death with 22.31%.

Will Aid runs for the month of November. Solicitors volunteer their time to charity to write wills for members of the public. Instead of paying the usual fee for the will, the recipient is asked to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid.

The suggested voluntary donation for a basic Will Aid will is £100 for a single will and £180 for a pair of mirror wills.

Will Aid raises money for nine of the UK’s best-loved charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children, Sightsavers, Age UK, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland).

Mr de Vena Franks said: “There are still so many people in the UK who do not have a will and this needs to be addressed. A will is the best way for a person to make an active choice about inheritance and estates, not to mention make decisions on the guardianship of underage children.”

According to the research, 59% of adults don’t have a will in the UK. Only 29% of people questioned have an up-to-date will and just 46% of parents have a will and have named guardians for their children.

The worst affected areas by region are Northern Ireland where 74% don’t have a will, Yorkshire and the Humber, where 62% don’t have a will and the West Midlands, where 61% do not have a will.

Those who wish to book an appointment with a solicitor to make a will in November can do so from September onwards via our website or by calling us on 0300 0309 558.

For more information www.willaid.co.uk