Now, I'm really sorry to do this to you on such a beautiful Sunday, but have you thought about what you'll leave your loved ones when you shuffle off this mortal coil?

Making a will is really important - especially if you have a joint mortgage or have taken out a life insurance policy.

But it doesn't have to be cumbersome and depressing - it is just admin, after all.

And, more importantly, it doesn't have to cost you a fortune.

May 2009 sees the launch of a campaign called Free Wills Month.

Certain firms of solicitors have signed up to the campaign, and people over 55 can contact one of these firms, and make out their will with the total cost being incurred by one of a selection of charities, including Age Concern, the WWF, Great Ormond Street Hospital charity and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

If you make a free will through this scheme, you are under no obligation to make a charity donation - but they would like you to, as most UK charities depend largely on legacy donations - that is, including specific charities in your will.

Top UK cancer charity Cancer Research UK offers a similar but more complete service for over 55s. It also tells you, should you choose to leave a legacy to Cancer Research UK, exactly what they will use your money to fund.

But if you're not over 55 there are several options open to you.

The biggest cost in will-making is paying solictors' fees - but this is where shouldn't cut corners. Without a solicitor's input your will may not be legally valid.

At the Totally Free Wills website you can complete a standard will online for free - the solicitors earn their fees from the eventual administration of your estate. If your situation is complicated, you may have to pay a fee anyway, but Totally Free Wills may give you a 25% discount.

Another way to cut costs is to use will-making software - all the legal clauses and exceptions are built-in, so while you will need a solicitor to look over what you've done, you should be able to create a legally valid will on your own. The Citzens' Advice Bureau has more advice on the matter.

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