Remember SongBird Survival in Your Will
Help with creating and wording for your Will
Will-making
Making a Will or updating your existing Will is the only way to ensure that those you love will be looked after and that your money benefits the people or causes that you really care about.
If you do not have a will, your estate could be legally divided in a way which goes against your wishes. With an up-to date will, you can be sure that does not happen – including keeping the sound of songbirds alive for future generations.
What you need to know
Making your Will is easier than you may think...
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It is important to get your will right as it decides what happens to your assets when you die.
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Start by listing everything you could include in a will including property, money and other assets. Your will should deal with all of your property. If it does not, then some of it could pass to people who you did not intend it to.
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You should think carefully about who you want to benefit: friends, family, your favourite charities etc, and note their names and addresses.
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You should decide on your executors, who will be responsible for sorting out the estate:
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it is usual to appoint two executors, in case one is not available when the time comes;
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they are usually family members, trusted friends or a professional advisor such as a solicitor.
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Your will should be clear as you will not be around to explain what it means.
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You should follow the laws of will making. These set out steps you must take when making your will and are there to protect people who make wills. For example, you have to sign the will and get it properly witnessed. If your will is not legal, it could be null and void.
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Review your will on a regular basis to check that it is up to date.
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The best way of making a valid will is to ask a professional advisor, such as a solicitor. They will be able to discuss your wishes with you and prepare a will which follows the laws of will making.
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Although it may be tempting to make a homemade will, these can cause problems when the time comes. If there is a problem with your will, only the court can provide a definite answer. This can be expensive and distressing for the people involved.
Tax benefits
Did you know that people who leave more than 10% of their estate to charity receive inheritance tax benefits?
If your estate is liable for inheritance tax, we suggest you speak to your solicitor to discuss making a will and leaving a gift to us.
If you don't have a solicitor or will-writer, click here to find a solicitor local to you
Already made a Will?
Many people make a Will and assume that's all they need to do. However, circumstances can change over the years and so it is always advisable to take a fresh look at your Will every few years to ensure it meets your current needs.
Changing your Will
If you have already made your Will and decide that you would like to add a gift to SongBird Survival, a codicil is a good, inexpensive way to do so. Adding a codicil to your Will enables you to leave a donation to SBS whilst ensuring that the other provisions remain untouched and you won't have to pay for your Will to be completely rewritten.
Types of legacies and suggested wording
Types of Legacies
If you would like to remember SongBird Survival in your Will, there are three main types of gift you can make:
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Residuary Gift - is the gift of all (or part) of the value of your estate after debts, liabilities and other legacies have been paid and is the most valuable kind of legacy to Charities.
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Pecuniary Gift - is the gift of a particular sum of money.
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Specific - is the gift of a specified item that could be for example; property, a painting or a piece of jewellery.
Suggested wording which may be helpful for a gift to SongBird Survival in your Will
"I give all (or a _% share of) the residue of my estate to SongBird Survival (Registered Charity Number 1085281), PO Box 311, Diss. IP22 1WW, for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge."
If you have already made your Will and decide that you would like to add a gift to SongBird Survival, the following wording for a codicil may be helpful:
"I (name) of (address) declare this to be my first codicil to my last Will dated (date). I give (details of legacy) to SongBird Survival (Registered Charity Number 1085281), PO Box 311, Diss. IP22 1WW, for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be valid and appropriate form of discharge. In all other respects I confirm my Will."
We'd like to thank you
If you have already included a gift in your Will to SongBird Survival, or intend to in the future, we would love to hear from you.
Not only will this information allow us to plan for the future but more importantly it means that we can thank you, personally, for your generous pledge.