There are a number of ways to leave gifts to the people and charities that you want to include in your Will. The most common ways are below, and your solicitor will be able to advise of those most suitable for you.
Cash gift
Also known as a pecuniary gift, this is usually a fixed sum of money but can also be a fixed percentage of the value of your estate.
Specific gift
This is a gift of a particular item, for example a house, a piece of furniture or a piece of jewellery. It’s important that the gift is described precisely in your Will so that your executors can understand exactly what you intend.
Residuary gift
This is a percentage of the total value of your estate after all other gifts have been made and debts cleared. The percentage remains unchanged if the value of your estate rises or falls over time. Many people choose to leave charitable legacies as a residuary gift for this reason.
Specific wording
Please remember that the full name of the charity – MND Scotland – must appear if you wish your gift to be used to help people living with MND in Scotland. The Motor Neurone Disease Association is a separate charity covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. It is particularly important if you live outside Scotland to ensure that your solicitor includes MND Scotland’s full name and charity number (SC 002662) in your will. It is also useful to add our address.