How would you like to be remembered?

Everyone should have a will – it can cause stress for your loved ones if you don’t have one, even if you think your affairs are straightforward.

If you want to make a will, you should consult a qualified solicitor or will-writing service. You can find a solicitor by looking online or contacting The Law Society on 020 7242 1222.

Many larger charities now offer will-writing services. They are not allowed to pressure you into remembering them in your will, but bear in mind that if you use a charity’s “free” service, you will probably feel pressured anyway and the will-writers they use may not be able to deal with more complex matters.

If you have already made a will, it is advisable to keep it up to date. Adding a charity you want to remember, such as SPCK, to an existing will can be done easily and cheaply with a legal document called a codicil. Your solicitor can advise you.

If you decide to leave a legacy to SPCK, you will need to give your solicitor our registered charity number (231144) and address (36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4ST). You should also advise which type of gift you wish to leave.

There are three main types of legacy gifts:

• A residual legacy: a percentage of your estate after all other gifts to family and friends are satisfied;
• A pecuniary legacy: a specified amount of money;
• A specific legacy: an item such as a personal possession (an antique or jewellery), land, buildings or investments such as shares.

What about inheritance tax? Your solicitor will be able to advise you about leaving a legacy which is as tax efficient as possible. This includes explaining new government rules that allow for a reduction in the rate of inheritance tax for individuals who leave at least 10 per cent of their estate to charity.

We rely heavily on legacy income to support our mission to be the leading creator of books and resources that help everyone to make sense of faith. If you would like to consider remembering SPCK in your will, please feel free to contact Primavera Quantrill, our Partnerships Director, at any time and in total confidence. You can call her on 020 7592 3911 or email pquantrill@spck.org.uk.

Alternatively, please find more information here.