Thank you for thinking about leaving a gift as part of your Will. A future where no one faces kidney disease alone is our lasting legacy.
At Kidney Care UK we know that receiving the news that you have kidney disease needs far more than medical care and treatment. That’s why we’re here; to offer a listening ear, provide information and advice, and deliver the practical and financial assistance that every kidney patient and their family needs, at every stage of their kidney journey.
With your help, we can support people affected by kidney disease so that no one has to face this alone.
As well as a growing range of patient support services, we continue to campaign for better healthcare provision and support for kidney patients. Working with local, regional and national partners we strive to influence policy decisions and improve health outcomes for kidney patients.
Last year, almost half of our work to improve the quality of life for kidney patients was made possible by gifts in Wills.
Making a Will is easier than you may think and we’re here to help guide you through the steps and signposts you to further support and advice. Some of the more frequently asked questions are answered below, but if you have any questions please do get in touch.
You can reach me by calling 01420 541424 or by emailing [email protected]
Why do I need to make a Will?
Making a Will is an important step to making sure your wishes are carried out after your death. Should you die without a Will, your estate will be divided according to the law. This means your wishes may not be carried out. It is, therefore, one of the most important documents you will write and allows you to make sure the people and causes you care about are looked after as you would like them to be. Having a professionally written Will which is kept up to date is the best way to make sure that your wishes are honoured.
Who should write my Will?
We recommend that you use a solicitor or a professional Will writer (a member of the Institute of Professional Will writers) to help you write your will. This will ensure it is validly written and properly witnessed. You can find a solicitor in a number of ways; a good starting place for the more traditional one-to-one approach is the Law Society (they have an online search facility or you can call them on 020 7242 1222), but you can also find a lot of advice and support through online Will companies such as bequeathed, beyond or guardian angel. The Law Society will provide you the contact details of many local solicitors, whereas the online companies will support you in writing a will and then connect you to solicitors where necessary
What do I need to do before I contact a solicitor?
You do not have to do anything before you contact a solicitor, but it is a good idea to start thinking about your estate and your wishes. We recommend that you:
Make a list of your Assets. Including property, any shares and savings and anything else of value such as a car and jewellery. Then make a list of everything you owe, things such as an outstanding mortgage or personal loans. This will give you a good idea of your estate.
With this knowledge, you can start to decide who you would like to benefit from your estate and how. Write a list of all the people and organisations that you wish to include in your Will and how.
It is also important to think about who you would like to be your executor/s – most people choose either a trusted family member or friend or their solicitor to be the executor of their will.
What gifts can I include?
A Residual gift is a share of your estate, after any debts are considered. This is the most beneficial type of gift because, being a percentage rather than a fixed amount, its value is not reduced by inflation.
A Pecuniary gift is a fixed amount of money that you specify in your Will. It is sensible to review these types of gifts as your estate changes
A Specific gift could be any personal possessions, such as jewellery or a property or shares or other items of value.
Can I choose how my gift will support Kidney Care UK?
The most useful gifts are for unrestricted purposes. This enables Kidney Care UK to use your gift where it will have the biggest impact and benefit to kidney patients. However, if you would like to offer support for a particular service or activity, this is possible too, but we ask that you give us a call to discuss your plans and how we can word this in your Will.
Finally
Keep your Will safe – most people prefer to leave their Will in the care of their solicitors. It also helps to have a copy for yourself, keep it in a safe place and make sure your executor(s) know where to find it.
Further information
- You can see more of the work we do and the impact it has on our impact page
- To find solicitors in your area please refer to The Law Society
- The Citizens Advice website offers advice on creating a will and why it is important.
- HMRC website explains the basics of inheritance tax
- The Gov.Uk site provides an overview on creating a will
- To find out more about making a will visit Remember a Charity