Leave A Legacy

 

Leaving The Kent Autistic Trust a gift in your Will is a valuable and lasting way that you can support us, helping us to provide vital services to support young people and adults with autism and their families for many years to come.  

​

Remembering The Kent Autistic Trust in your Will

Leaving The Kent Autistic Trust a gift in your Will is a valuable and lasting way that you can support us, helping us to provide vital services to support young people and adults with autism and their families for many years to come.  

 

Charitable legacies are usually free from inheritance tax and you can choose to pledge either a fixed sum, a specific gift or a share of your estate.

 

To discuss leaving a gift in your will, please contact Serita Boxall, Grant & Appeals Officer on 

01634 405168 or email sboxall@kentautistic.com 

 

Reasons to leave a legacy?

There are some financial benefits and good reasons for leaving a gift to us in your will.  Legacies are free of inheritance tax, but if you were to leave more than 10% of the value of your estate to charity, then  any inheritance tax you pay may be reduced by 10%.  A solicitor will be able to explain the benefits in more details and how they would apply to your individual circumstances.  Leaving a gift to charity in your will also ensures you are helping the work of the charity to live on. A properly and carefully prepared Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death.  

  

Writing a will

Writing a will is an important thing to do and you should always take proper legal advice from someone specialized in advising vulnerable people. They will be able to advise you on the Will drafting and how it might affect a beneficiary with autism or any other disability. They will be aware of the benefits someone might be in receipt of and how leaving them a legacy might affect their entitlement.  It gives you the opportunity to make sure your loved ones are provided for, and to ensure your final wishes are carried out.  Before you make any decisions about your will, it is important to speak to a solicitor or legal advisor who can give you help and advice.  

 

If you do not have your own solicitor, ask a family or friends for a recommendation or search online for a local solicitor. Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) is a good organisation with a useful search engine for suitably qualified lawyers local to you.  

​

Updating a will

If you already have a will, it is sensible to review it regularly  to make sure that it still covers everything you wish.

 

For small changes or additions you can complete a codicil which can be kept with your will and read out alongside it when the time comes.  You should always take proper legal advice from a lawyer who is suitably qualified to ensure nothing is missed when adding or altering your Will. 

 

What types of gift can I leave?  

If you chose to leave The Kent Autistic Trust a gift in your will, you can chose to leave any of the following:

 

Residuary Bequest

A gift of the remainder of your estate after all other bequests have been made and debts have been cleared.

 

Pecuniary Bequest

A gift of a fixed sum of money in your Will.  The value of pecuniary legacies will decrease over time, as the cost of living increases, unless you include a clause to confirm that the value of the gift should increase with inflation.

 

Specific Bequest

A particular named item left as a gift in your Will, is known as a specific bequest for example a piece of jewellery.

 

Any gift is gratefully received and will go towards our work supporting people affected by autism throughout Kent and Medway. You are able to express a wish stating how you would like the money to be used by the Trust where possible. Please see below frequently asked questions.

​

​

Frequently asked questions

Why leave a gift to charity?

Legacies are a vital source of income for charities, amounting to around £2 billion each year. Leaving a gift to a charity in your will ensures you are helping the work of that charity to live on, it is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death, legacies are also free from inheritance tax.



Do I need to make a will?

Writing a will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. In certain circumstances, it is even more important to have a will, for instance, if you have young children, are not married to your partner, in the process of going through a divorce or wish to benefit a charity close to your heart. While you will have to pay a fee for a solicitor’s advice, it is a small price for making sure your family and friends are taken care of and leaving a lasting legacy to your chosen charity.



Do I need a solicitor?

When writing or updating your will, it is advisable to seek professional advice from someone qualified. If your will is not properly written (and this is often not found out until after your death) it can cause legal problems and be extremely costly to rectify.



Is making a will or changing a will expensive?

Most qualified legal advisors offer fixed costs for writing or updating a will, they try to keep the costs as affordable as possible.



Why are gifts in wills so important to The Kent Autistic Trust?

Gifts in wills can go towards any part of The Kent Autistic Trust’s work; making a long-term, lasting difference in providing information, advice, equipment, support services and care to people with autism. As The Kent Autistic Trust grows and changes in the years ahead it needs funds to support its ambitious projects, all of which aim to improve the lives of people with autism and their families.



Is it worth leaving money to The Kent Autistic Trust if it's not that much?

Yes definitely. The Kent Autistic Trust provides enormously valuable services to thousands of people affected by autism. Any gift you choose to give to The Kent Autistic Trust will always be gratefully received and will enable them to help more families living with autism.



What type of gift can I make?

A gift in a will is commonly called a legacy, there are various types:

Specific – a gift of a particular item, such as a painting or a piece of jewellery

Pecuniary – a gift of a specified sum of money

Residuary – a gift of whatever you have left after paying debts, funeral costs and making any specific or pecuniary legacies

The residuary legacy can be divided between as many individuals or organisations as you wish, in varying proportions, it can also be put into an appropriate trust to protect any vulnerable beneficiaries.



If I leave a gift to The Kent Autistic Trust in my will, can I express a wish as to how the money is used?

Yes!



Would The Kent Autistic Trust like to know if I have left a gift in my will to them?

We would be delighted to know this and to have an opportunity to thank you, but understand that your will and its contents are a personal and sensitive matter and that you may not wish to share this information.



Who should write my Will?

A qualified legal advisor specialising in advising vulnerable people to make sure nothing is missed when drawing up the Will.



Can I do anything before seeing a legal adviser to make my will?

Your legal advisor will need basic information about you and if applicable, your children such as full names, address, dates of birth and contact details, so you can prepare yourself by making a note of these.



Does a gift to a charity have any tax benefits?

Any gift to charity is exempt from Inheritance Tax. In addition if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity the Inheritance Tax rate at which you are taxed reduces.



To discuss leaving a gift in your will, please contact Serita Boxall, Fundraising & Marketing Manager

​

Phone: 01634 405168

Email: sboxall@kentautistic.com 

​

To download our legacy information leaflet click here