Leaving a legacy
It won’t cost a penny in your lifetime, but leaving a gift in your will could help us to support your loved ones if they find it difficult when you’re gone.
It’s a good idea for everyone to have a will, but particularly so for those with families.
Having a will drawn up can be done at a relatively low cost, and in fact campaigns such as Free Wills Month provide an opportunity to do it at no cost while benefitting certain charities.
The benefits to Nelson’s Journey, and the work we do with bereaved children and young people in Norfolk, could be huge. It could make a real difference to someone struggling after the death of someone close to them if you included us as one of the beneficiaries.
But where to start? We’ve put together a few pointers to help you along:
Why write a will?
Your will is the only way to determine what happens to your property, money and personal possessions after you die. Whilst having a will is not a legal requirement, it is something we recommend you have for your loved ones’ peace of mind. We suggest that you only write a will through a qualified solicitor or a member of the Institute of Professional Will writers.
What happens if I die without a will?
Dying without having an up-to-date will is known as ‘intestacy’. This will mean it is up to the law to decide how your estate is distributed, which may not represent your wishes.
What if I already have a will?
It is good to check your will from time to time to make sure it’s still current, especially if there have been any changes in your family, such as: births, deaths, marriages or divorces. To amend your will, you need to add a codicil – a document that can be drawn up with the help of your solicitor that’s kept with your will.
What are the different types of gifts I can leave to charity?
There are three main ways to leave a gift to charity:
- A residuary gift is what remains of your estate, when all other gifts have been distributed.
- A pecuniary gift is a defined amount of money.
- A specific gift is a particular item of value, such as jewellery or a classic car.
Is a gift to Nelson’s Journey subject to inheritance tax?
No, a gift to Nelson’s Journey would be taken out of your estate before your liability for inheritance tax is calculated. It can be a useful way of bringing your estate under the inheritance tax threshold. Your solicitor can advise you about the current threshold.
Should I let you know if I have left you a gift in my will?
You do not have to tell us that you left a gift to support our work. However, if you do let us know, then we can do more to show you what your gift could achieve. Please email enquiries@nelsonsjourney.org.uk – thank you.
By including us in your will, you’ll be helping to make sure bereaved children and young people in Norfolk have somewhere to turn when someone significant dies. Find out more about our work.
Nelson’s Journey relies solely on the kindness of our supporters to continue the impact of our valuable work.
The impact of your fundraising
£5
Could fund a teddy
£15
Could fund a worry eater
£20
Could fund resources
£248
Funds a place on a weekend
£522
Funds support for one child
Contact Us
Nelson’s Journey, Bradbury Building - Smiles House, Octagon Business Park, Hospital Road, Little Plumstead, Norwich, NR13 5FH
