If you leave a gift in your will, we promise to develop and grow the work we do for babies, children, teenagers and adults affected by congenital heart disease in our region for generations to come.
Legacy donations are absolutely crucial in ensuring our vital cause has a future. They provide life-saving medical equipment – in and out of hospital, fund essential projects for family support and so much more.
Here we answer some of the most common questions about writing a will and leaving a legacy gift to charity…
What is a will?
A will is a legal document that outlines a person’s wishes regarding the distribution of their assets and the care of any dependents after they pass away.
In simpler terms, it’s like a set of instructions for what should happen to your belongings and responsibilities when you’re no longer around. It allows you to decide who gets what from your belongings and who will take care of any children or pets you may have.
Making a will ensures that your wishes are followed and can help prevent disputes among family members after you’re gone.
What is a legacy / legacy gift?
A legacy gift, simply put, is a donation or bequest that someone leaves to a charity or organisation in their will or estate plan. It’s a way for individuals to support causes or organisations they care about even after they pass away.
Legacy gifts can come in many forms, such as money, property, stocks, or other assets. By including a charity or organisation in their will, people can leave behind a lasting impact and continue to support causes that are important to them.
Legacy gifts help ensure that the work of these organisations can continue into the future.
Do I need a will?
While creating a Will isn’t mandatory by law, it remains the sole means to guarantee that your estate goes to the individuals and charities of your choice. In the absence of a Will, the legal system will determine the beneficiaries of your estate.
Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my will?
You don’t need to be wealthy to write a will or leave a legacy gift to charity. Leaving just a small percentage (called a residuary legacy) to us in your will goes a long way. These gifts are inflation proof and exempt from inheritance tax. People often find they can afford to be more generous in a will than in their lifetime.
No matter the size or amount, your gift will make a huge difference to patients with congenital heart disease and their families.
What type of gifts can I leave?
There are three types of legacy gift you can leave to charity:
1. A residuary legacy is where you donate a percentage of your estate, once family members are provided for and money owed is deducted.
2. A pecuniary legacy is a gift of a fixed sum of money.
3. A specific legacy is a gift of a particular item, such as antiques, jewellery, toys or assets.
What’s the basic information that I need to include in my will to leave a legacy to CHSF?
To make sure we receive your gift you’ll need to include our name, address and registered charity number.
Name: Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
Address: Suite D17, Joseph’s Well, Hanover Walk, Leeds, LS3 1AB
Registered charity number: 1148359
Should I provide for my family first?
It is natural you would want to provide for your family – and we would encourage you to look after them first. Please consider remembering CHSF once you meet the needs of your loved ones.
I do not currently have a will. Can you help me get started?
1. Consolidate a list of everything you own
Create a list that details everything you own, including your assets and estate. It’s important at this stage to decide who you wish to be your executor. An executor is a person named in a will who sorts out the estate of the person who’s died.
For assistance, take a look at our will planner found here.
2. Decide who you would like to include in your will
Deciding who to include in your will is a big decision and one which requires much thought. Aside from your nearest and dearest, a donation to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, no matter how big or small, is an incredible gift.
3. Get help to write your will
As a CHSF supporter you can take advantage of our FREE will writing services. Alternatively, you can find solicitors in your area who specialise in Wills, probate law and tax law on the Law Society website.
I have an existing will. How do I change it?
1. Re-evaluate your circumstances
Have your circumstances changed since you last made your will? Ensure you review your will to ensure all information is up-to-date.
2. Assess who you have included
Leaving your assets to your nearest and dearest is the norm, but have you considered Children’s Heart Surgery Fund in your will? A donation, no matter the amount, is an incredible gift and will help thousands of children and families who are dealing with the struggles of congenital heart disease.
3. Choose who will make your amendments
Minor amendments can often be changed with the use of a codicil, which is an addition to your Will that explains, modifies or revokes information which was previously included.
For advice on how to amend your will, please contact a solicitor. Alternatively, use our free online will writing services and update your will as many times as you need to.
Do I need to tell you if I’ve left a gift to CHSF in my will?
That is completely up to you. Of course, we would be delighted to hear from you! Letting us know about your gift will allow us to thank you and helps us plan for the future.
To let us know about a gift, please call us on 0113 831 4810 or email us. Any information you give us will be kept in strict confidence.
Write your will for free with us – there is no obligation to leave a gift to CHSF but we would of course be very grateful if you did.
Leaving a gift in your will contributes enormously towards making our vision and mission a reality. With the help of legacy donations, we are able to improve the lives of over 17,000 babies, children and adults who pass through the service each year.
Read our latest Impact report to seew hat your donations have recently funded and what a legacy gift can make possible.
Revolutionary valve procedure performed in Leeds
In June this year, the Congenital Cardiology Intervention Team performed a pioneering procedure by implanting a Venus P pulmonary heart valve into an adult congenital heart disease patient. This was the first implantation of this revolutionary valve in Europe after it...
Local charities fund Canadian Fellowship to support children with congenital heart defects in Leeds
An exciting opportunity for an NHS staff member at Leeds Children’s Hospital to undertake a fellowship in Canada has been made possible because of you. Leila Rittey is a Paediatric Cardiologist on the Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital; she provides...
Vital Breastfeeding project, funded because of you!
Thanks to a generous £17k donation by the Morrisons Foundation, CHSF has funded a vital breastfeeding project within the LCHU. Children’s Cardiac Dietician Alix Dunlop-Jones told us all about it...Breast milk provides many long-term health benefits to children which...