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The Meath Epilepsy Charity has made a tremendously positive difference to people who live with complex epilepsy and disabilities since 1892.
By leaving a gift in your Will, you will be helping us to safeguard our services for generations to come. A gift in your Will is a wonderful legacy to leave for the very special people we support. It is also a straightforward, and tax efficient way to support our work. Thank you.
How to leave a gift in your Will
Giving to charity in your Will is tax free so that no part of your estate passing to charity after your death will be subject to inheritance tax (which is otherwise usually charged at 40%). Although making a Will is a personal and private affair, it would help us greatly if you could let us know if you decide to leave a gift in your Will.
Types of legacy gifts
There are various types of legacy gifts and ways in which you can donate to The Meath. Take a look at our leaflet below for more information about this. We detail the difference and how you can contact us for more information.
For more information, please call or email Lucy Miguda.
T: 01483 411071
E: Lucy.Miguda@meath.org.uk
- Residuary legacy – This is a gift of the remainder (or a percentage of the remainder) of your estate after all other legacies have been made and debts cleared.
- Pecuniary legacy – This is a gift of a fixed sum of money. The value of pecuniary legacies will decrease over time, as the cost of living increases. If you wish to avoid this, it is possible to word a pecuniary legacy so that it is index-linked.
- Specific legacy – This is a gift of a particular named item in your Will, for example, a piece of art.
- Longstop legacy – This is a gift that takes effect if the other beneficiaries named in your Will (for example family members) die before you do.
Leaving a legacy
Mark Dumas, Meath Ambassador, explains the importance of legacies to the work of the Charity:
“Our services at The Meath are making a tremendous difference day to day for people living with complex epilepsy, learning and physical disabilities. But it would be wonderful if we could safeguard our service network for the generations to come.
You can help us to do this … and it’s a simple process. A gift to The Meath in your Will, once family and friends have been taken into account, will impact dramatically on what can be achieved by the Charity, as well as provide a wonderfully long-lasting personal legacy.”
I’m leaving a legacy:
“Our daughter has been in the wonderful care of The Meath for over 20 years. During this time she has had several life threatening episodes and has always been really well supported and cared for both physically and mentally by the amazing staff. She continues to live a relatively well and happy life in beautiful surroundings and this is why we have decided to leave a legacy to The Meath in our Will to help them continue with their excellent work for not only our daughter, but all the other residents in years to come.”
Estate Planning support
We have teamed up with Kwil and their team of solicitors, a leading Estate Planning service, who can offer you a free Will, either over the phone or online. Kwil will guide you through the process of creating your Will online where there are no hidden costs and it is checked by legal experts. There is live telephone support and advice from Kwil’s team of UK based experts during office hours, Monday to Friday.
You can find our charity webpage with Kwil
Learn about Kwil
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I make a Will?
Making a Will is the only way to make sure that your family and friends are provided for in the way that you want. Otherwise, your exact wishes may not be carried out after you die. It’s also important to make a Will to protect your loved ones from an unwelcome tax bill.
Do I need a solicitor?
Consulting a Solicitor is not essential. However, we recommend that you talk to a solicitor for independent advice. A solicitor can also ensure that your Will contains the correct legal wording. If you do not have a solicitor, The Law Society can help you find a suitable one in your area.
In England and Wales, go to www.lawsociety.org.uk, or call 020 7242 1222.
In Northern Ireland, contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland at www.lawsoc-ni.org, or call 028 9023 1614.
Do I need to think about inheritance tax?
Giving a gift to The Meath could reduce your inheritance tax liability. Gifts to charities are 100% tax free and taken out of your estate before any inheritance tax is calculated.
Under current law, if you leave 10% of your net estate to charity, it may reduce the overall rate of inheritance tax you pay.
Under current law, if your estate is worth more than £325,000 your beneficiaries will have to pay 40% of the part of it that’s over the threshold to HMRC. So, if your estate is worth £350,000, £25,000 of it is liable for inheritance tax and your beneficiaries must pay £10,000 (40% of £25,000) to HMRC. The threshold and the rate change from time to time so please check the current figures https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax
Can I change my existing Will to include a gift?
Yes, you can change your existing Will so that it includes a gift. To do this ask your solicitor to add a Codicil to your Will. It’s also a good idea to regularly review your Will to make sure it’s up to date. For example, there may have been births, deaths, marriages or divorce in your family since your last looked at your Will.
What if I can only leave a small gift?
Every gift we receive, large or small, can help transform the lives of vulnerable adults at The Meath Epilepsy Charity. We are always extremely grateful for every gift left in a Will.
What information do I need to include when leaving a gift in my Will to charity?
If you’d like to include The Meath in your Will, please ask your solicitor or Will writing service to use our full name, address, and charity number to ensure we receive the gift:
- Name: The Meath Epilepsy Charity
- Registered office: The Meath Epilepsy Charity, Westbrook Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2QH
- Registered charity number: 200359 Company registered in England and Wales number: 05822835
What do I do if I've already left a gift to The Meath?
Thank you for including us in your Will. We are very grateful and would love the opportunity to thank you personally. Therefore please get in touch with us by calling 01483 411071 or emailing fundraising@meath.org.uk
Our Pledge To You
We understand that leaving a gift to The Meath Epilepsy Charity in your Will is a big commitment and one that we take very seriously. Your Will is obviously a very personal matter, and everyone has their own reasons for wanting to help us. That is why we make a legacy pledge of our own to anyone who chooses to support us in this way.
- The Meath promises to use your gift in the best way, to maximise impact and benefit as many people as possible who are supported by The Meath
- We will respect your privacy at all times and we understand that your Will is completely personal to you
- We understand that family and friends will always come first
- We recognise you have the absolute right to change your mind about any gift in your Will, at any time and for any reason
- You are under no obligation to tell us about your plans, but any information you choose to share with us will be treated confidentially and with the utmost sensitivity. We would also love to be able to thank you personally
- We promise to keep you up-to-date with our work in a way that suits you
If you would like to know more about supporting The Meath through a gift in your will, please contact us on 01483 411071 or fundraising@meath.org.uk
