Suggested Wording

If you wish to leave a gift to St John's Hospice, the following wording can be used when drafting your will.

Residuary Legacy
"I give all (or a ___ % share of) the residue of my estate to St John's Hospice of 60 Grove End Road, St Johns Wood, London NW8 9NH, Registered Charity Number 235822, free of Inheritance Tax, for its general charitable purposes and I direct the receipt of the Treasurer for the time being or other duly authorised officer shall be a sufficient discharge to my [Executor(s)/Trustees]."

Pecuniary Legacy
"I give to St John's Hospice of 60 Grove End Road, St Johns Wood, London NW8 9NH, Registered Charity Number 235822, for its general charitable purposes the sum of money produced by dividing the sum of £___(words and figures) by the index figure in the Index of Retail Prices ('the Index') for the month in which this will is executed and (having made allowances for any re-basing of the Index which may have happened in the meantime) multiplying it by the Index figure in the Index for the month in which my death occurs, and I direct the receipt of the Treasurer for the time being or other duly authorised officer shall be a sufficient discharge to my [Executor(s)/Trustees]."

Please speak to your solicitor if you plan to leave a gift of property (or another specific item of value), or if you live in Scotland where the laws are slightly different to England and Wales.
 

Types of Legacy Gifts

There are various ways of leaving a legacy gift. The main ways are:

Pecuniary legacy
A simple bequest of a specified sum. As this type of gift is likely to lose value through inflation over the years, the wording above allows for the gift to retain its real value through linking it to the Retail Prices Index. Alternatively, you can revise your Will at regular intervals to ensure your gift is at the value you desire.

Residuary legacy
This type of gift allows you to leave all or part of the net residue of your estate (i.e. everything you own, including property, shares and bank accounts) after all pecuniary legacies, debts, fees and other expenses have been met. For residuary legacies, a percentage share gift of residue would not have to be kept up to date as with a pecuniary legacy, since it would automatically increase in line with the rest of your Estate.

Conditional legacy
This ensures that in the event that none of your named dependents were to survive you, your estate would be left to St John's Hospice.

Reversionary legacy
This method allows you to provide for your family first, then benefit St John's Hospice. You may leave your assets to trustees so that named beneficiaries are able to enjoy the income from these assets during their lifetime, while the whole or a portion of those assets can be designated to the Hospice upon their death.

Non-monetary legacy
Specific gifts such as property, works of art, stocks and shares or other valuables can be bequeathed to the Hospice.

Your solicitor will be able to provide you with advice on which legacy best suits your own needs.