Free Wills Month 2026
Why is it important to create your will and have a Power of Attorney in place?
Free Wills Month 2026
March and October hosts Free Wills Month, a charity event that helps those aged 55 and over get access to will writing services for free.
Free Wills Month is usually March and October each year; depending on legal or union cover you maybe able to access a ‘free’ will.
Power of Attorney Month is usually in February.
This article and blog is for general information only and is not legal or financial advice. The rules differ across the UK. Consider speaking to a suitably qualified solicitor about your individual circumstances.
It should be part of your planning.
“Planning and contingencies play an important part in our policing careers, thinking of the ‘what if’s’ and seeking to ‘mitigate’ them – words in retirement I never thought I would use again.
In my experience of policing, we spend a long-time considering retirement and what it would look like, what do we need to consider to make the most of our pensions or retirement. Retirement is a major milestone and there are lots to consider – any outstanding loans or credit cards, mortgage, savings, holidays etc.
Whilst all of this is important, there are other elements that should be considered throughout your career and especially in retirement, including ensuring that you have a will and whether you need a power of attorney.”
Andrew Malcolm (Retired Inspector at Police Scotland)
What is a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney allows someone you trust and appoint to make certain decisions or deal with your affairs on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself.
It isn’t just something for later life. An accident or serious illness can happen unexpectedly, and you generally need to have the necessary capacity when you put the arrangement in place.
A police retirement example:
Imagine a police officer who retires and accesses their police pension.
They have a police pension, savings from their lump sum, a mortgage-free home, a credit union account and some investments. Their spouse manages many of the household bills, but they have independent financial arrangements in the retiree’s sole name including a current account where the retiree’s pension is paid into.
Unfortunately, shortly after retirement, the officer suffers a serious illness and temporarily loses the ability to manage their financial affairs.
The retired officer had planned his retirement and fortunately had a Power of Attorney drawn up and registered, this allowed his spouse to successfully manage his affairs including access to his police pension that was paid into his current account. Had a Power of Attorney not been in place, she would not have automatically authority to deal with everything including access to his current account and may have had to apply to the court’s to obtain the authorities she needed to access funds and pay the bills.
Fortunately, a Power of Attorney had been arranged while the officer was still fit and able to make their own decisions. That is why it’s worth considering before you need it.
Power of Attorney’s in Scotland
Power of Attorney’s in Scotland are different from elsewhere in the UK, a Scottish Power of Attorney can include:
Continuing powers – covering financial and property matters.
Welfare powers – covering decisions about personal welfare and healthcare.
Combined welfare and continuing powers – covering both.
The Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) provides information about setting up and registering a Power of Attorney, while Citizens Advice Scotland provides practical guidance.
If you live elsewhere in the UK, check the arrangements that apply in your jurisdiction.
5 Things to do before you retire
1. REVIEW YOUR FINANCES
Check your finances including any debts or obligations. List your bank accounts, savings, investments, pension arrangements, property and insurance.
2. CHECK YOUR WILL
Make sure it still reflects your wishes and family circumstances, if you haven’t got a will, it would be a good idea to get one.
3. CONSIDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY
Think about who you would trust to help manage your affairs if you couldn’t do so yourself.
4. HAVE THE CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner, family and proposed attorney about what you would want to happen.
5. ORGANISE YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Make sure your family knows where to find key information and documents if they ever need them.
Don’t leave it until you need it.
A Power of Attorney is about choice and preparation. Putting one in place doesn’t mean that you are giving up control of your life. It means you have thought ahead and decided who you would trust to help if circumstances changed.
A Power of Attorney can sit alongside your pension planning, will, insurance and wider financial arrangements as part of a sensible “what if?” plan.
We spend our career planning for emergencies and preparing for the unexpected.
Why not apply the same principle to your own life and finances, especially in retirement?
Plan ahead. Have the conversation. Make sure the people you trust can help if you ever need them. You don’t leave your pension or retirement to chance, make sure you cover the ‘what if’s’.
Tel: 0141 771 1314
Email: info@scottishpolicecu.co.uk
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