Remember a Charity: How to Leave a Gift in Your Will

Leaving a gift in your will is a simple, powerful way to pass on something meaningful. Whether you want to thank a charity that helped you, support a cause you care about, or reduce the tax bill on your estate, including a charitable legacy can make a real difference. This guide explains your options, the key inheritance tax benefits in England and Wales, and practical steps to make sure your wishes are clear.

Why leave a gift in your will?

Gifts left in wills are a vital source of income for many charities, from national organisations to local community groups. They help sustain services, fund research, care for the environment and keep museums and cultural venues open. You do not need to be wealthy to make an impact. Even a modest legacy can enable long-term projects and protect work for future generations.

Inheritance tax benefits

There are practical financial reasons to consider a charitable gift in your will. In England and Wales the nil rate band for inheritance tax is currently £325,000, and this can increase to £650,000 when you leave your main property to a direct descendant and claim the residence nil rate band, subject to conditions. Any part of your estate left to a registered charity is deducted from the value of your taxable estate.

Importantly, if you leave at least 10 per cent of your net estate to charity, the rate of inheritance tax charged on the remainder can reduce from 40 per cent to 36 per cent. For clear, official guidance on inheritance tax and charitable legacies see the government overview on inheritance tax: gov.uk - Inheritance Tax overview.

What types of gifts can you leave?

• Specific legacy - a fixed sum of money left to a named charity. This is simple and clear, but its value can be affected by inflation over time.
• Residual legacy - you leave all or a share of what is left after other gifts and expenses have been paid. This is a popular way to leave a lasting gift that keeps pace with the true value of your estate.
• Specific item - you can leave property, investments, antiques or other possessions to a charity.

Practical wording and choosing a charity

When you decide to leave a charitable gift, make the wording in your will as precise as possible. Use the full name of the charity, and where possible include its registered charity number. That helps avoid confusion if charities have similar names.

Think about causes that matter to you. Maybe a health charity supported a member of your family, perhaps you want to protect local green spaces, or you value arts and heritage. If you are unsure where to start, Remember A Charity maintains a search platform for partner charities, and you can find charities by location or type of cause at Remember A Charity.

Examples

• Leaving a residual gift of 5 per cent of your estate to a local hospice to support palliative care.
• Leaving a specific legacy of £5,000 to a national charity that supports a cause important to you.

Updating or making your will

When you make or update your will, you can include a charitable gift alongside provisions for family and friends. If you already have a will, you can add a codicil to include a charity without rewriting the whole document, but it must be carefully drafted and witnessed to be valid.

For professional help you can use our will writing services or our simple online option. If you are also planning for capacity or future decisions, consider setting up a lasting power of attorney as well.

Get help with will writing or try our online will service for a straightforward way to include a charity in your will.

Next steps and who to contact

Decide what type of gift suits you, choose a charity and ensure the charity details are correct. If you want to discuss tax implications or set up trusts to protect some gifts, our team can help explain options in plain language.

Find out about trusts or speak to us directly if you would like personal guidance: Contact Beneficial Family Wills.

Remember, a carefully chosen legacy can protect causes you love and make sure your estate reflects your values. Leaving a gift in your will is a meaningful way to leave a lasting legacy.

Need help now? If you want to include a charity in your will or review your existing Will, our advisers are ready to help. Arrange a will appointment or get in touch for friendly, expert support.