There is a good reason why Acorn – and other community foundations around New Zealand – highlight the importance of having a will during the annual Wills Month promotion in September.

Not having a signed will can cause all sorts of issues; in New Zealand, if you die without a valid will, the law dictates how your estate will be distributed. People with no will and no immediate next of kin might see their assets go to the state, which means those people won't have their legacies honoured.

Over the years, more than 350 local individuals, couples and families have decided that leaving a gift in their will to support the Western Bay of Plenty community is a great option. Gifts given through the Acorn Foundation are invested in perpetuity, generating investment returns that are distributed annually to community organisations working in areas closest to our donors' hearts.

During Wills Month this year, 14 local law offices across the region have offered to add a gift to the community through Acorn to their clients' wills for free.

'An up-to-date will is vital. Having a plan will save your loved ones stress and additional costs at what will already be an emotional time. You can also plan to allow for gifting to people or organisations that you choose,” says Sharp Tudhope Lawyers solicitor Benji Crossley.

If you haven't yet considered the legacy you would like to leave locally, Wills Month this September is the ideal time to organise your wishes.

For more information, visit: www.acornfoundation.org.nz