Once you have provided for your loved ones in your Will, you may also like to remember a cause that you have cared about during your lifetime.
St John’s Hospice provides specialist care to anyone in Central and North West London suffering from a life-threatening illness. Last year the Hospice supported and cared for nearly 3,000 patients and their families through our services. The care our multi-disciplinary staff provide is tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient and is entirely free of charge.
By pledging to support St John’s Hospice in your Will, you are enabling us to continue to provide our high quality of care to terminally-ill patients and their families in our local community.
I don’t think words will ever express the gratitude I feel with the way you tended and cared for my daddy. I will spend the rest of my family repaying the Hospice and ensuring you can continue your wonderful work for other families.’
What To Do Next
Making a Will is usually straightforward and inexpensive. As with any legal document it is best to seek professional advice. If you do not have a solicitor you could ask family or friends for a recommendation or search online for a local solicitor on the Law Society website.
There are three main ways to leave a legacy to St John’s Hospice in your Will:
Residue Legacy
Of course you’ll want to ensure that those closest to you are looked after. However after making provision for family and friends, you can leave what’s left – the residue – to St John’s Hospice.
Cash Legacy
Gifts of cash are always very welcome. Remember however, that cash donations will decrease in value over time, so remember to index link your gift. This is also known as a pecuniary legacy.
Item Specific Legacy
Specific items such as property, shares, jewellery, furniture etc. can be gifted.
Codicil
If you already have a Will you can add a gift to St John’s by getting your solicitor to prepare a supplement called a codicil.
Wording
If you do decide to leave a legacy to St John’s you can follow this link for suggested wording in your Will.
T0 talk to someone about leaving a gift in your will to support end of life care for local people, please complete the form below or contact Natalie on 0207 806 4012 or email
Some of our most common questions related to legacy giving are listed below.
Most of our voluntary income comes from the generosity of people like you, whether it’s through collection boxes, our shop, regular gift or taking part in our events. But it’s a little known fact that our most vital income actually comes from people leaving gifts in Wills. For instance, gifts in Wills have helped towards the funding of the much-needed Inpatient Unit refurbishment which helped improve access and dignity for our patients.
The most important information to include are our name, address and registered charity number:
St John’s Hospice
60 Grove End Road
St John’s Wood
London
NW8 9NH
Registered charity number: 235822
We always recommend using a practising solicitor to write your Will. This helps to ensure your Will is legally correct and that all your wishes will be followed.
The money and assets left in your estate may be subject to inheritance tax and it may be of advantage to you to share your estate so that your family and friends are left gifts below the tax threshold (which is currently £325,000), so they do not have to pay inheritance tax. The remainder of your estate can then be left as a gift to one or more charities, like St John’s Hospice.
Yes, it would be really helpful if you can let us know that you have included us in your Will – that way we know we don’t need to approach you again. Its also means we can keep you updated on how your intended gift can help the Hospice.
For more information please call Natalie Howard on 020 7806 4012 or email Natalie
If you wish to leave a gift to St John’s Hospice, with the help of your solicitor, the following wording can be used when drafting your Will.
“I give all (or a ___ % share of) the residue of my estate to St John’s Hospice of 60 Grove End Road, St John’s 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].”
“I give to St John’s Hospice of 60 Grove End Road, St John’s 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].”
Below are some of the more common legal words you may encounter when writing or amending your Will.
Someone who is appointed to arrange a person’s affairs if they leave no Will.
An individual or organisation who receives a gift in a Will.
Personal possessions, including furniture and car.
A document which enables a simple update or alteration to an existing Will.
All a person’s possessions at the time of death.
The person appointed to carry out the instructions in a Will.
A gift left to a person or organisation in a Will.
A two stage legacy, where the first beneficiary is given the first use of an asset (e.g. a house) during their lifetime. After their death the asset passes to the second beneficiary.
A gift of a fixed amount of money.
A gift consisting of the residue or part of the residue of an estate. This is a particularly popular way to leave a gift to charity.
A gift of a particular item .e.g. jewellery.
The person who is making the Will.
