Planning for the future is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones. Having an up-to -date Will ensures your wishes are clearly set out and can help avoid unnecessary stress and uncertainty for those you sadly leave behind.  

The Baily Thomas Provident Fund (BTPF) offers a Will Writing Grant to help with the cost of preparing a Will.  

 

What the grant covers: 

  • Up to £400 per individual beneficiary (where one beneficiary is preparing a Will) 

  • Up to £600 per household (where both the former employee and their spouse/partner are preparing Wills at the same time) 

     

This reflects the fact that many couples choose to prepare their Wills together, which is often more cost-effective than preparing two completely separate Wills.  

 

Who can apply: 

The grant is available to: 

  • Former employees, and  

  • Their spouse/partner 

     

Eligibility criteria: 

To qualify for the grant, the Will must be prepared by a qualified solicitor from a firm regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA), so for example DIY Wills, online templates and unregulated Will-writing services are not eligible. 

 

The grant can normally be accessed once every five years, or sooner if there has been a significant life event requiring your Will to be updated, such as: 

  • Marriage or civil partnership 

  • Divorce or separation 

  • Bereavement 

  • Birth of a child  

     

How to apply: 

To apply you will need to: 

  • Complete an application form 

  • Provide a written quotation from your chosen solicitor 

  • This must be on headed paper 

  • It must clearly display the firm’s SRA registration number  

     

If you are applying due to a significant life event, you will also need to provide supporting evidence (for example, a marriage certificate, final order or birth certificate) 

The quickest and easiest way to apply is via our online portal: Home - Baily Thomas Provident 

 

Alternatively, hard copy application forms can be downloaded here or requested from the BTPF office.  

If your application is approved, payment will be reimbursed to you upon submission of: 

  • An invoice, and  

  • Proof of payment (such as a bank statement showing the transaction) 

     

In some cases, it may be possible for us to pay your solicitor directly. If you would prefer this, please confirm it with your chosen solicitor in advance.  

The invoice must be in your name, as the agreement for the Will is between you and your solicitor.  

 

Important information: 

Please ensure your grant is approved before incurring any costs.  

The trustees are unlikely to fund retrospective claims unless there were exceptional circumstances where it was not reasonably possible to apply in advance.  

All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who will consider each application based on the information provided.  

 

Supporting you further: Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Grant  

In addition to making a Will, you may also wish to consider putting in place a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This allows someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf should you become unable to do so. 

The trust offers a separate grant to help with the cost of:  

  • A financial LPA, and /or 

  • A health LPA 

The trustees will consider funding up to: 

  • £500 per LPA, plus 

  • A further £92 to cover the Office of Public Guardian registration fee 

You can find out more about the LPA grant including how to apply here: Lasting Power of Attorney | Baily Thomas Provident Fund