Our wills provide for our families, but they can also be a wonderful way to remember a cause that has been important to you.
We have been supporting people with PMR and GCA since 2009. Although a small charity, our impact so far has been great – helping thousands of people each year through the services we provide.
Gifts in wills are an important part of any charity’s income, and such gifts received by PMRGCAuk from generous supporters could help to fund our work for many years into the future. Every year around 45,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with PMR or GCA, they will benefit from the generosity of our supporters, helping us to expand our services, campaign for the best treatment and use of resources for all and reach as many people as possible who need our help.
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.
Types of Legacies
There are three main types of gift that you can leave in your will:
- Residuary gifts – a share, or sometimes all, of an estate after all the other payments have been made.
- Pecuniary gifts – a specific sum of money
- Specific gifts – a particular item, such as property, antiques, jewellery and shares.
Your solicitor will advise on the particular wording 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.
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.
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 PMRGCAuk?
Please include our name, our address and our registered charity number:
PMRGCAuk, 12 Coldbath Square, London, EC1R 5HL Charity Number 1128723.
If you decide to include a gift to PMRGCAuk 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 info@pmrgca.org.uk or call 0300 999 5090.
