Frequently asked questions about leaving a gift in your Will

Making a Will does not have to be a complicated process. You can follow our simple steps and if you appoint a solicitor or legal adviser then they will be able to take you through the process.

The cost of making a Will does not need to be prohibitive and you will be able to get a quote from a solicitor or Will writer before you appoint them.

A solicitor can also often store the original copy of your Will for you to keep it safe.

We are unable to provide legal or financial advice and recommend that you seek your own independent professional advice when making your Will. It is important that your Will reflects your wishes and is not influenced in any way.

We are not able to give recommendations on who should help you make your Will. The Law Society and The Institute of Professional Willwriters can help you find a solicitor or Will writer.

Acting as an executor can be complex and we do not have the expertise or resources in-house to act in this capacity. Should you have limited options in this respect and wish to discuss this with us then please get in touch.

We would recommend speaking with anyone you wish to name as an executor first. After they have been named we would also advise you let them know where the original copy of your Will is stored. This needs to be a physical copy, as indicated by the National Will Register.

If you have an existing Will and want to make small changes, these can be stated in a document called a codicil. For larger changes, it is sometimes necessary to create a new Will. Your solicitor will be able to provide further advice.

You can do both. Many people give to the causes and the people they care about. This will be a personal decision for you, and will be different for each person that makes a Will.

When drafting your Will, you can make sure that your loved ones are taken care of first and then think about what you might want to leave to charities that you care about, such as THL UK.

Your Will is a reflection of what matters most to you.

Anyone can leave a gift to THL UK. You can give as little or as much as you are able to and are comfortable with.

All gifts left to THL UK, regardless of size, are valuable and will make a difference in helping us achieve our vision for the animals, especially when combined with the collective power of all our supporters giving together.

There are several types of gift you could leave in your Will:

• A fixed sum of money is called a pecuniary gift. Due to inflation and increases in the cost of living, this can be devalued over time.
• You can set aside a percentage of your estate, after everything else has been paid, to be divided between named beneficiaries. This is called a residuary gift.
• You can leave specific items, known as a specific gift, to a beneficiary, such as property, vehicles, antiques, and jewelry.
  

A share of your estate (a residuary gift), even just a small percentage, is extremely valuable to us at THL UK as it will maintain or increase in value over time, unlike a specific sum (pecuniary gift).

Specific gifts, whilst welcomed, can be hard for us to manage as we have limited resources and may need to arrange storage, spend time working out how best to utilise the gift, or sell/auction the item.

Unrestricted gifts are the most valuable as they give us the flexibility to use the money where it is most needed. Whilst it is certain that THL UK will be here for many years to come, and that we will be able to put your gift to good use, it is unclear how the world will look and what our exact campaigns will be at the moment in time when your gift is realised. We would, therefore, request that you place no restrictions on your gift.

Rest assured that, regardless, your gift will be spent in a way that makes the biggest difference to the animals you care about.

If you would like your gift to be restricted for a specific purpose then please speak with us first before including this in your Will to make sure that we will be able to fulfill your request.

The Humane League has been fighting against the suffering faced by farmed animals since 2005 and we will continue to fight until we have ended the abuse of animals raised for food. Sadly, we know this will be a long fight and we will, therefore, be needed for many more years to come. It is a big challenge and we cannot face it alone. We don’t know exactly what the future holds but we intend to still be fighting far into the future.

Regardless, it can be helpful when writing your Will to specify how you would like your executors to act should a beneficiary not be around when the time comes.

You don’t have to let anyone know your intentions and can keep the details of your Will private. However, it can be helpful to let those affected by your Will know your intentions to avoid disputes when the Will goes to probate.

You don’t need to inform us of your intention to leave a gift in your Will to THL UK. If you do feel comfortable sharing this information with us, then we would be grateful as this information can help us plan for the future.

Understanding your intentions can also help us communicate with you better and thank you appropriately for your generosity. Letting us know your intentions is not legally binding and you can update and amend your Will at any time.

Should you inform us of your pledge, we will treat all details confidentially.

We would like to thank you for your pledge and keep you updated with our work, although you can let us know if you prefer not to receive these communications.

When your Will goes to probate and your gift to THL UK is realised, we will communicate and coordinate with your executors and solicitors managing the Will. Where it is relevant and we have permission to do so, we will thank your executors and next of kin. Once again, all details of your gift will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

It can be really valuable to share the stories of those who have chosen to leave a gift in their Will to THL UK, both to celebrate those givers and encourage others to think about giving in the same way. We will never share these stories without the permission of you and/or your next of kin/executors. We will respect all requests for anonymity.

Yes, most gifts left to charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax and are, therefore, tax free.

In addition, naming a charity in your Will can help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax you pay, if liable. In these instances, where at least 10% of your estate is gifted to charity, the rate of Inheritance Tax falls from 40% to 36%.

Inheritance Tax is only due on estates valued over a certain threshold.

You can find out more information about tax relief here and more about Inheritance Tax here.

We would also recommend speaking to a professional adviser for further advice.

Probate is the process of proving that a Will is valid and confirming who has authority, or the legal right to deal with someone’s estate when they die. You can find out more about applying for probate here.

An executor is legally responsible for carrying out the instructions in a person's Will and handling their estate after they die.

An executor can be a spouse, child, family member or friend. Someone can act as an executor even if they are named as a beneficiary in the Will.

Anyone who makes a Will must name at least one executor, and can appoint up to four executors so that the responsibility is shared. If there's more than one executor, all decisions must be made jointly. Often, at least two executors are appointed, just in case one dies or is otherwise unable to carry out their duties.

You can appoint a professional executor, such as a solicitor or an accountant, if you don’t have anyone else that you feel would be suitable. A professional executor will charge for their services and this will be paid for out of your estate.

When choosing your executors, think carefully as it can take up a lot of time and energy, and may be the last thing someone wants to do when they are also grieving.

Yes there is. Please read this article for further information.

The Law Society has provided a quick guide to making a Will which you may find helpful. You can also find guidance from Citizens Advice.