Useful Information About Making a Will

Why should I make a Will?

Having an up-to-date Will is the only way to make sure that your family and friends, as well as any charities you care about, are provided for. Without a Will, the State decides what happens to your assets. It’s a good idea to review your Will from time to time, as circumstances do change.

Do I need a solicitor?

We would strongly advise that you do enlist the services of a solicitor to make sure that everything is as it should be. They will be able to let you know about the different types of gifts that you can leave as well as helping you to make any changes that you wish to make to your existing Will. 

Is it expensive or difficult to make a Will?

Prices can vary across solicitor’s practices; don’t be afraid to shop around or ask for a quote!

Can I amend my Will if I already have one?

Of course! Let your solicitor know that you would like to add a codicil to your Will and they can help you with that. Changes need to be signed and dated, and witnessed, as you would have done while making the original document.

Can a small amount really make a lasting difference?

Of course! To give you an idea; a gift of €100 can feed a child at one of our breakfast clubs for a year, a gift of €13,215 could ensure that 5 children and their parents could receive early intervention services throughout the year. Every cent makes a difference to the children in need of our services and contributes towards offering them the chance of a better future.

What will my gift go towards?

You can choose a particular area of Barnardos’ services where you would like your gift to be used, or you can contribute to our National fund which allows us to identify which services would benefit the most at that time.

Barnardos offer a variety of services for vulnerable children and their families; including breakfast clubs which make sure children have full tummies before heading to school, our family support service which helps families plan how best to support a child’s welfare, our friendship groups which equip children with the skills they need to develop and maintain friendships, among others.

See a list of all our Barnardos’ services.

Are my donations exempt from tax?

Barnardos is a charity registered with Revenue, therefore any gifts left in wills are exempt from tax. That means 100% of your donation will go towards children facing adversity all over Ireland.

If you have any other questions, or would like to chat further about possibly leaving a gift in your Will to Barnardos, call Ciara McGowan on 01 7080 469 or send an email