Leaving a gift in your will We have been supporting women affected by ovarian cancer and their families since 1996. There have been many milestones and triumphs in Ovacome’s history, but our work is far from over. Every single pound has the power to make a difference; please consider supporting our work in this very special way because together we can make a difference to people’s lives. . Types of Legacies There are three main types of gift that you can leave in your Will: A percentage of your estate can make a big difference. You can leave a percentage of your estate after your family and friends are provided for; this is called a residuary gift. You can leave a specific sum of money; this is called a pecuniary gift. A specific gift is a particular item such as a piece of jewellery, art or shares; this is called a specific bequest. Your solicitor will advise on the particularwording that you need to use for different types of gifts. Tax rules may also mean that if you leave at least 10% of your estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate on the rest of your estate may reduce from 40% to 36%. You should seek advice from your solicitor or tax advisor on how these rules may affect you. To find out more about Inheritance Tax, visit HMRC or contact your solicitor. You can find a solicitor at The Law Society of England and Wales or The Law Society of Scotland. . Writing your will Your will is an opportunity for you to continue to help and provide for the people you love. Having an up-to-date will is the only way to make sure that your family and friends, and any charities you care about, are provided for as you intended. Dying ‘intestate’ (without a will) means the government will decide the order of who gets what from your estate, irrespective of what you might have wished. . Frequently asked questions Do I need a solicitor to write my will? We would always recommend consulting a solicitor to ensure that all the legal formalities are correctly followed and your will is valid. How do I choose a solicitor? The Law Society can help you find a solicitor in your area. For more information please call 020 7242 1222 or visit The Law Society of England and Wales or The Law Society of Scotland. How much does it cost? The cost of using a solicitor varies depending on the complexity of your will. The solicitor should make it clear from the start how much they will charge. You may like to consider writing your Will during the month of November with a participating Will Aid solicitor. For more information please visit Will Aid. What if I change an existing will? If you would like to add a donation to an existing will, you can use a codicil. Adding a codicil to your will means that there is no need to change the terms of your current will, it simply adds a new instruction. However, we would recommend that you get this checked by a solicitor. Find a solicitor at The Law Society of England and Wales or The Law Society of Scotland. What information do I need to include when leaving a gift to Ovacome? Please include our name, our address and our registered charity number: Ovacome, 52-54 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT, Charity Number 1159682. . If you decide to include a gift to Ovacome in your will, please let us know – this will give us the opportunity to thank you and show you how your gift will make a difference to our work. If there is anything else you would like to know about leaving a gift in your Will please contact us at [email protected] or 020 7299 6651.