Legacies that people have kindly left us in their Wills form an extremely important part of our income.

We are grateful for the generosity of all our donors as there are so many ways in which legacies can help us.

Please consider leaving a gift to CAPS in your Will in order to help us in leading the campaign to end the use of animals in entertainment and ensure your concern and compassion for captive animals will continue long after your gone.

This guide will help you to prepare what you’ll need before making or updating your will with your Solicitor.

Having a Will is important

If you die without making a Will you are said to be interstate. This means that all your possessions will be distributed according to strict intestacy rules rather than how you wish for them to be distributed. You are also likely to leave your loved ones with a pile of administration at a very difficult time for them.

Making a Will is the only way to be sure that your wishes are followed after you are gone.

Why it is important to keeping your Will updated

Once you have a Will, it’s important to keep it up to date. Major changes to your marital, family or financial circumstances should be reflected in your will.

Before you visit your Solicitor there are a few key points you should consider

Who will be the executor of the Will?

An Executor is charged with carrying out the instructions in your Will. Ideally, you would appoint two. They must be people you can trust, such as family friends or professional advisers.

Who to include in your Will

Make a list of people, causes and organisations you want to remember and to consider the types of gifts you may want to leave.

What do you have to leave?

It’s surprising how the value of your home and possessions add up. Create a checklist to give you an idea of the value of your estate – this will save time with your Solicitor.

Gifts to Charities

If you wish to leave money to a charity, consider whether you would prefer to leave a residuary gift (what is left over after other gifts and debts are paid), a cash gift or a specific possession.

Is using a Solicitor important?

CAPS recommends that you use a Solicitor when making or updating your Will to ensure that all legal procedures are followed. The process needn’t be lengthy or expensive, and you shouldn’t be afraid to shop around or ask for a quote. After your initial meeting with a Solicitor you should arrange a follow up appointment to check that your Will has been drafted according to your wishes and to have it witnessed and signed.

What about tax?

Inheritance tax is paid if the value of your estate exceeds the threshold set by the Government – currently £325,000. Inheritance tax of 40% is paid on the amount that exceeds this threshold. So, out of every £1 over the threshold your beneficiaries will only keep 60p, 40p will go to the Government. Gifts to charities are normally exempt from Inheritance tax. If you leave a charitable gift it will be deducted from your estate before Inheritance Tax liability is calculated.

Please get in touch

Letting us know if you plan to leave a gift to CAPS in your Will allows us to help you ensure that all details are correct.

Legacies form an extremely important part of our income and we’d love to help you get things right.

If you’d like more information or if you are thinking of including CAPS in your Will, please contact georgina@captiveanimals.org