gifts in wills
Everything you need to know about leaving a gift in your Will to Lincs Dobermann Rescue
1. Choose who to include in your Will
First, think about the family, friends and charities you’d like to remember in your Will. Most people want to care for their loved ones first to make sure they are doing what they can to support them into the future.
If you decide you’d like to remember Lincs Dobermann Rescue, first of all we’d like to say thank you. It’s really simple to include your gift – see below for the details.
What details should I use for Lincs Dobermann Rescue?
If you would like to include Lincs Dobermann Rescue in your Will, please ask your solicitor to use our full details to ensure that the gift reaches us, these are:
Lincs Dobermann Rescue, a charity registered in England and Wales No: 1172592.
The registered office is: The Cottage, 2 Church Avenue, off Overton Road, Bangor-On-Dee, WREXHAM, Clwyd LL13 0AF
2. Decide what gifts you want to give
Think about what type of gifts you’d like to leave to your chosen charity or charities.
There are two main ways of leaving a gift. A pecuniary legacy is a fixed amount of money and a residuary legacy is a percentage or share of the balance of your estate once all other payments and gifts have been made.
Many people prefer to give a residuary gift because it keeps it in line with inflation and doesn’t lose value over time.
Anything you can leave would have a huge impact. Even 1% of your estate can help ensure we’re always here for the Dobermanns who need us.
3. Choose your executors and guardians
Decide who you’d like to act as your executors. They’ll be responsible for making sure your wishes are fulfilled and are named in your Will.
You can appoint whoever you like to be your executor. Be sure to ask them first, as it can take up a lot of time. You can also appoint a professional, like a solicitor or an accountant, but your estate will need to pay their fees.
4. Find the value of your estate
Work out how much your assets are worth including property, investments and any debts.
5. Consider inheritance tax
Anything you leave to charity is free of Inheritance Tax so it can be a useful way to reduce your Inheritance Tax bill while benefiting a good cause.
Leaving at least 10% of your estate to charity also cuts down the Inheritance Tax due on the rest of your estate.
For more advice on how this could affect you, check the HMRC website or speak to your solicitor.
6. Visit your solicitor
Once you’ve got this far, it’s time to visit a solicitor to have your Will drawn up. Your solicitor will keep a copy of your Will but you might like to keep a copy of your own as well.
Keep it somewhere safe and tell someone close to you where it is.
What if I don’t have a solicitor?
We can’t recommend a solicitor, but you can find one in your area by contacting the Law Society in England.
Is there specific wording I should use in my Will?
Yes, you can use this suggested wording. There are two options depending on what kind of gift you’d like to give:
Including a share of your estate in your Will
I give to Lincs Dobermann Rescue of The Cottage, 2 Church Avenue, off Overton Road, Bangor-On-Dee, WREXHAM, Clwyd LL13 0AF registered charity number 1172592 [all/ __% of the residue] of my estate absolutely for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of a Trustee at Lincs Dobermann Rescue for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor(s).
Including a cash gift in your Will
I give to Lincs Dobermann Rescue of The Cottage, 2 Church Avenue, off Overton Road, Bangor-On-Dee, WREXHAM, Clwyd LL13 0AF registered charity number 1172592 the sum of [specify words and figures] free of tax for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of a Trustee at Lincs Dobermann Rescue for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor(s).
7. If you have included us in your Will, please consider informing us
Your Will is personal and it’s entirely up to you if you wish to share this information. But if you do choose to tell us, we’d love to be able to thank you properly and let you know how your gift can help.
8. When should I update my Will
It’s a good idea to review your Will every five years, even if there have been no big changes in your life. You might have changed your mind about something, or you may wish to check if there have been any changes to the law which might affect your Will.
You’ll need to revisit your Will if you:
- get married or enter into a civil partnership
- get a divorce
- have children or any other new relatives (like nieces, nephews or grandchildren) who you wish to include
- buy a house or obtain any other valuable assets.
