How to leave a gift in your will
Once you have decided to make or change a will, the first step is usually to arrange an appointment with a solicitor. The Law Society will be happy to help you find a solicitor in your local area.
Writing a will need not be complicated or expensive. Typically a solicitor might charge £150 – £300 for making a simple will.
Different types of gift
Your solicitor will go through the different ways you can leave a gift in your will.
A gift in a will is called a bequest. The main types of bequests or gifts you can leave in your will are:
A residuary bequest – this is a gift made up of what is left of your money and property after all other costs and gifts to friends and family have been made. With a residuary bequest, you can take care of loved ones first and leave all or part of what is left over to a charity
A pecuniary bequest – this is a gift of a fixed sum of money, large or small
A specific bequest – this is a gift of a particular item in your will, such as a piece of jewellery, furniture or painting.
We recommend that you use the following wording in your will:
“I leave the sum of (amount in words) or a (percentage) share of my estate to Ormiston Families Unit 17, The Drift Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR, registered charity number 1015716 for its general charitable purposes absolutely”