Leaving a Gift in your Will

Leaving a legacy to charity in your Will is an amazing way for your generosity to last beyond your own lifetime.  As an extra bonus, any sum of money you leave to charity is exempt from Inheritance Tax, reducing the amount of tax payable on your estate.

Why you should make a Will…
and how a legacy in your Will can help street children in India who have nothing and no-one.

Why legacy income is important to us
Legacies are extremely valuable to Frishta and the street children we support  - they enable us to continue our vital work. Legacy income will be used to fund Frishta's plans to expand our facilities and offer a home to more children who have been abused, abandoned and left alone. Legacies help us plan our and their future with confidence.

Why put your affairs in order?
It's not always easy to think about making your Will, but it is the only way you can be absolutely sure that your estate will pass to those you wish to benefit. By leaving clear and precise instructions about the disposal of your estate, you also save your loved ones from unnecessary distress at a time when they are least able to cope with it.

If you do not leave a valid Will ...
Your estate will be dealt with under the statutory intestacy rules. This means that your property and possessions may pass to people who you did not wish to benefit, or even to the Crown. Whatever you may have said or thought about who you'd like to leave your estate to, the law will only recognise a valid Will.
How to go about making your Will
When you decide to make your Will, it is advisable to go to a Solicitor for help. He or she will help you to leave clear and unambiguous instructions about your estate, including any charity bequests.

Legacy Examples

1) For a share of your estate:
I give all/a share of (please state fraction or percentage) the residue of my estate absolutely to Frishta Children’s Village of 21 Trinovantian Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3JN, Registered Charity Number 1100368, to be applied by Frishta’s Trustees for its charitable purposes, and I further direct that the receipt of the Hon. Treasurer or any other proper officer of Frishta for the time being shall be sufficient discharge to my Executors.

2) For a specific sum:
I give to Frishta Children’s Village of 21 Trinovantian Way, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3JN, Registered Charity Number 1100368, absolutely, the sum £XXXX (same amount in words) to be applied by Frishta’s Trustees for its charitable purposes, and I further direct that the receipt of the Hon. Treasurer or any other proper officer of Frishta for the time being shall be sufficient discharge to my executors.

Making or Updating a Will

It is easy to make a new Will to account for altered circumstances, but for minor alterations you may just need to add a Codicil. This is simply an addition or alteration to the existing Will so you can add extra gifts or alter amounts being shared without making a completely new Will.

General Guidelines

• A codicil must be signed and witnessed by two people in the same way as a Will. They need don’t have to be the same people who witnessed the original Will and they should not be beneficiaries either under the original Will, or this, or any other Codicil.
• A Codicil should be kept with the original Will that it changes to be sure that it is not overlooked.
• A Codicil should make clear that it refers to the Will it alters.