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Writing your will

Having an up-to-date Will ensures that everyone close to you knows your wishes. Once loved ones have been provided for, many people choose to donate a share or all of what is left to a charity they care about. 

However big or small, a gift in your Will to Muscular Dystrophy UK can give you peace of mind. You can rely on us to ensure that your legacy will help shape a future where every child born with muscular dystrophy can live their best possible life.   

Here are some of the main things you need to consider when writing your Will.  

Working with a solicitor

We strongly advise working with a solicitor to write your Will. You can use our Free Wills service to has a simple Will written or amended. There is no obligation to leave us a gift.  Alternatively, you may want to use your family solicitor, or you can find a solicitor through The Law Society website.  

Before you meet with the solicitor, it is a good idea to think about:  

  1. Your significant assets – such as a house, shares, endowments, savings or life insurance policies
  2. The kind of gifts you want to leave – most commonly, pecuniary, residuary and specific 
  3. Who your executor(s) will be.
Different kinds of gifts

The most common kinds of gifts are listed below.  

A residuary gift is a percentage of your estate after all your debts, expenses and other gifts have been distributed. Many people choose to donate this way because it enables them to provide for loved ones first.   

A pecuniary gift is a specific sum of money in your Will.   

A specific gift is a particular item or asset, such as your home, or a valuable possession, such as jewellery, art or shares. 

However you choose to donate, a gift to a charity, like Muscular Dystrophy UK, could reduce the amount of inheritance tax you pay on your whole estate.  If none of these match your requirements, you can talk to your solicitor about other options.  

Executors

An executor is the person, people or institution you appoint to carry out your wishes.  They tell your beneficiaries about their gifts, settle any remaining bills and take care of the taxes due on your estate. You need to be able to trust them, and they need to be prepared to take on this responsibility. 

You can name a family member (including someone benefiting from your Will) or a friend. Alternatively, you can use a professional like an accountant or solicitor (who will normally require payment from your estate). Or, if you prefer, a combination of relatives, friends and professionals. 

What to do if you are an executor.

Frequently asked questions

Here we answer some frequently asked questions about gifts in Wills. If you can’t find the answer you are looking for, please contact our Legacy team on 0300 012 0172 or at legacy@musculardystrophyuk.org.

I don’t have much to leave, but is it still worth leaving a gift to Muscular Dystrophy UK in my Will?
Yes. A quarter of our work providing vital services and research into muscle wasting conditions is funded by gifts in Wills of all sizes. No matter how large or small your gift is, it will make a big difference for people with muscle wasting conditions.  

Isn’t it better for me to give to you now rather than wait until I die?
Both ways are valuable. Some supporters help us throughout their lifetime and with a gift in their Will. Other people are unable to support us as much as they wish in their lifetime, but they leave us a gift to help build a better future for people with muscular dystrophy after they have died.  

Can I add Muscular Dystrophy UK to my existing Will?
Yes you can. You can do this by adding a codicil, which is the legal document for making additions or amendments to your Will. Your solicitor will be able to advise you about adding a codicil. You can also write a new Will for free using our Free Wills service.   

Can I choose how my gift to Muscular Dystrophy UK is spent?
Yes. We understand that you may want your gift to go towards specific services or research into a condition. Please contact our Legacy team on 0300 012 0172 or at legacy@musculardystrophyuk.org for more information on restricting your gift. 

Do I need to tell you about a gift I’m leaving?
It is entirely up to you. We would love to know so we can thank you and ensure we don’t ask you about this type of giving again. If you are interested, we would also like to invite you to meet our scientists to learn more about research into muscular dystrophy and how your gift might be used in future. 

What if I change my mind about leaving a gift to Muscular Dystrophy UK?
If you change your mind or if your circumstances change, you are free to change your Will as many times as you wish. It is also entirely up to you whether or not to let us know.  

Glossary

You encounter lots of legal language when writing a Will. The glossary below is a handy guide to some of the most common terms.  

 Assets: All your possessions, including items such as property, cars, furniture, jewellery, shares, endowments, savings and life insurance policies.  

Beneficiary: Any person or organisation that receives a gift in your Will. 

Bequest: A gift in your Will, also known as a legacy. 

Codicil: A document containing addition or change to an existing Will. 

Dependant: Someone who depends on you for financial support. 

Estate: Everything you own at the time of your death. 

Executor: The person, people or institution you appoint to carry out your wishes.   

Inheritance tax: The tax due on your estate if it exceeds a certain threshold. A gift to a charity can reduce the amount of inheritance tax you pay on your whole estate. You can find out more <here>.  

Intestate: The word used to describe someone who has died without a Will. 

Liabilities: Everything you owe, including debts such as your mortgage, loans and credit cards.  

Mirror Will: A Mirror Will is an identical Will to your spouse or partner.  

Pecuniary gift: A gift of a specific sum of money in your Will. 

Probate: The legal administrative process of settling your estate after your death. It involves your executors applying for the legal right to deal with your estate, so that they can settle any outstanding financial obligations and then distribute your money, property and possessions according to your wishes. 

Residuary gift: What remains of your estate after all your debts, expenses and other gifts have been distributed. You can leave all of the residue or divide it up into portions. 

Specific gift: A particular item or asset, such as your home, or a valuable possession, such as jewellery, art or shares. 

Testator: The person making the Will. 

More information

Free Wills service

We partner with the National Free Wills Network, which enables you to make or amend a simple Will for free.

For executors

If you are an executor to a Will that includes a gift to Muscular Dystrophy UK, please our Legacy team are here to help.

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