Here you'll find all the resources you might need to set up a legacy with Christian Aid.
Will writing guide
Preparing a will is a task associated with the rhythms of life. Our guide, For Everything There Is a Season, will show how your will can reflect all that is important to you in your life.
Download now (2.5MB PDF)
Choosing a solicitor
If your estate is likely to be liable to inheritance tax or your affairs are in any way complicated, then please consider using a solicitor who is a specialist in Will and Estate planning. You can search for a solicitor using one of the links here.
The Law Society
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Will Aid
If you are planning to prepare your will during the Autumn, please consider using a Will Aid solicitor during November – Will Aid Month. Instead of charging a fee, they will invite you to make a donation to the Will Aid charities, of which Christian Aid is one.
Find out more, and see if there is a Will Aid solicitor near you, here. Will Aid is only available in November.
More about Will Aid
Information for your solicitor
This pdf contains the important information your solicitor will need to include in your will and draft wording for their consideration.
Download now (50kb PDF)
Inheritance tax
Leaving a gift to Christian Aid can help to reduce inheritance tax (IHT) – because gifts to charity are exempt from this tax. The government is consulting on a further concession on IHT that will reduce the rate of tax to 36% for people who leave 10% or more of their estate to charity. The concession is expected to become available from April 2012 – but please do take advice from your own solicitor on this.
Inheritance tax can be complicated and we recommend you talk with a suitably qualified solicitor or other professional adviser.
Codicil – a PS to your will
With electronic storage of documents, many solicitors now do not use codicils. But they can still be useful for very simple amendments to your will. Our draft wording may meet your requirements if you want to leave a pecuniary (fixed sum) legacy.
Download our draft codicil
Letter of wishes
A letter of wishes can be used to help your executors plan your funeral, and to deal with other difficult issues not covered by your will, for example, care arrangements for a pet. Many people use a letter of wishes to leave instructions about a collection in lieu of flowers at their funeral.
If you choose to nominate our Celebrate a Life, the gifts can be used to fund a theme of our work that may be relevant to your interests.
A letter of wishes can also be used to indicate a non-binding preference for your legacy to be used for a particular area of our work. If you plan to use your letter of wishes for this purpose, please contact us first on 020 7523 2173 or by email.
External links
Will Aid Make a charitable donation instead of paying your solicitor (November only)
Law Society Find a solicitor
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – find a qualified tax and estate planning adviser
ACFA Association of Christian Financial Advisers
