How to leave a gift in your will

First, work out the approximate value of your estate: the total sum of all your property, money and possessions. 

Next, think about everyone you want to benefit from your estate. For example, this may include your partner or spouse, children or other family members, friends and your favourite charities. 

In addition, consider who you might like to appoint as your executors. These are the people who’ll ensure your Will is carried out as requested. 

If you’d like to make a gift in your Will, decide how you’d like to do this. You can choose between:  

• residuary – leaving a share of your estate is what remains once other gifts and payments have been made. You can choose to give any percentage. This is popular because it takes care of your loved ones first and is not devalued by inflation. 
• pecuniary – leaving a fixed sum of money 
• specific – is a particular named item, for example, a piece of jewellery, paintings, antiques 

First you need to choose who you want to act as your executor(s). This is someone named in your Will who will be responsible for making sure your instructions are carried out. It should be someone you trust, and you may want to ensure they’re happy to take on the role.  

Next, visit a solicitor or use an online service such as Bequeathed, to have your Will drawn up. To make sure your gift will get to us, you’ll need to include our charity name, registered office address and registered charity number as follows: 

       Rennie Grove Hospice Care  

       Registered Office: Grove House, Waverley Road, St Albans, Herts AL3 5QX 

       Registered Charity No. 1140386 

Finally, once you’re happy with your Will, sign it and store it in a safe place. Your solicitor, should you have one, will probably store a copy too. Make sure your executor(s) knows where to find your Will.  

It’s advisable to use a solicitor to make or check your Will to ensure that all legal procedures are followed. Your solicitor will guide you through the process and make sure the wording of your Will is accurate and legally correct. 

You can find a solicitor through the Law Society. Alternatively, you can make an appointment with our participating solicitors during Make Your Will Month in May. Or you can access our legal partner’s support through Bequeathed – an online Will-writing service.  

If you’ve decided to leave a gift in your Will to Rennie Grove, we’d love to know about it. We’d like to thank you for your generosity and keep you informed with updates that might be relevant to you. You can let us know at legacy@renniegrove.org