The work of Dove Cottage Day Hospice relies on the generosity of people who believe their giving can make a difference – if not in life, then in death, to those who are suffering now.
By making a will you can ensure that your wishes, and the people and causes you care about, are provided for.
What exactly is a Legacy?
A legacy is gift that you choose to pass on to someone after you have died. It can be either a physical item or an amount of money. The details of the legacy should be stated in your will.
Types of Legacy
There are several types of legacy and any solicitor will advise you on what type of legacy would be suitable for your circumstances. You do not have to be rich to make an affordable gift and it can reduce any inheritance tax liability for your family.
- A residual legacy, in which the rest of your estate, after debts and expenses have been paid, is left either in entirety or shared among named beneficiaries
- A specific cash sum often linked to inflation
- An item of property, such as a house, shares or a piece of jewellery
Why leave a legacy to Dove Cottage Day Hospice?
Leaving a legacy in your will is one of the best ways of ensuring that we can continue our valuable work. It costs around £740,000 a year to keep our hospice services running, and a massive 96% of this is funded through donations from the community.
Making a Will
For the sake of your dependents and to ensure that your wishes are met regarding your estate, it is important for everyone to make a will. It is easy to incorporate a legacy in this process if you choose to do so.
We’ve partnered with Freewills.co.uk to provide you with the opportunity to make your fully comprehensive, legally-bonding will for free.
You can make your personalised Will online in three simple steps, from the comfort of your own home and have the added reassurance that your Will will be checked, vetted and approved by a solicitor.
This service is available to anyone, and you are under no obligation to leave a gift to us if you use it.
If you do choose to do so however, a gift in your will -of any size- can help ensure that we can continue to provide our services to local families living with life-limiting conditions.
It will not cost you a penny during your lifetime. It is simple to do and free from inheritance tax.
All gifts, whatever their size, will make a lasting and positive difference to the work of Dove Cottage and the families that we support.
To take advantage of our free will offering, please visit https://www.freewills.co.uk/charity/dovecottage
Codicils
If you have already made a will and now wish to consider leaving a legacy, then it’s possible to add a codicil, which is a new clause to your original will.
Codicils (supplements to a will) can be added to an existing will for minor changes. These must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the will, but the witnesses need not be the same as for the original will. The codicil should then be kept with your existing will.
If anything substantial needs to be changed you should make a new will revoking the former one. Never make alterations on the original document: either add a codicil or make a new will. We would always recommend using a qualified solicitor when making changes to your will.
If you would like more information regarding any of these options, or further information on Dove Cottage Day Hospice, please contact us on 01949 860303, use the contact form or email admin@dovecottage.org