Legacies

Leave a gift in your Will

You can help White Lodge enable children, young people and adults with a disability by leaving a gift in your Will. As a charity, we have to rely on our supporters, like you, to make voluntary contributions through donations and fundraising. Without this support the vital services we provide would not be possible. Leaving a gift to White Lodge in your Will is a great way to help White Lodge sustain its work in the future.

What are the benefits of making a Will?

Your first consideration should be to provide for your family and friends, but you could also consider making a real difference to the lives of people living with disabilities. No Will means having no choice in how your estate will be shared out and the state will be left to divide your money and possessions according to the law. By giving a donation to one or a few charities (you can give to more than one) through your Will, your legacy could make an enduring difference for the things you care about most. It is also a very cost-effective way to give because donations to charities are exempt from inheritance tax. This means every penny of a gift to White Lodge helps us enable the lives those living in Surrey and the surrounding areas.

How do you work out what you have to leave?

Make a list of all your possessions and estimate the current value. You should include, for example, your house, savings and car and then deduct your debts. No matter how much or little you leave, it’s important to remember that you can make a huge difference.

How do I leave a legacy?

There are three main ways to leave a legacy or a gift in your Will. Your solicitor or financial advisor will be able to check over everything for you but it may be helpful for you to have a look at the options now: Residuary gift is the gift of either all or a share of, what is left in your estate after all other gifts to family and friends plus taxes and expenses have been paid. Pecuniary gift is a gift of a stated amount of money which is left to a named person, charity or other organisation. Inflation will reduce the value of these gifts over the years, so should be revised from time to time. Specific gift is a gift of a specific item like a piece of jewellery, furniture or property, rather than a sum of money. The item must be described exactly and the name and address of the person or organisation to whom the gift has been left should be given.

Do I need to make a new Will, or can I just amend an existing one?

If you already have a Will and simply want to make some changes, you need to add a codicil, which is a separate instruction that is then kept with your Will. If you do decide to leave a gift to White Lodge you may want to consider pledging your legacy now. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence. You don’t have to be specific about any details, but it will help us when planning for our future to know that there is money promised. It’s your decision to tell us if you have left a gift in your will but if you would like to discuss your gift with us, we’d love to hear from you.

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