Leave a Gift in Your Will
Including a gift in your will is a powerful way to make a lasting difference. Beyond caring for your loved ones, it allows you to support causes that matter deeply to you, like aortic dissection. By leaving a gift, your legacy will contribute to advancing the care, research, and awareness of aortic dissection, offering hope to future generations affected by this life-threatening condition.
Why Susan is leaving a gift in her will
“I lost my brother to a sudden aortic dissection in 1997. At the time, none of us knew what aortic dissection was or that it ran in our family. Since then, we’ve discovered that some of us carry the same risk. I was diagnosed with a dilated aorta and have been under regular monitoring ever since.
Now, as I’m getting older and have children of my own, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. Updating my will is part of that, and I’ve decided to leave a gift to the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust. This charity’s work is important to me because I’ve lived with the reality of aortic dissection for years, and I want to do something that could help others facing the same struggles.
Leaving this gift feels like a way to honour my brother and to make sure that future generations have better support, more research and earlier diagnoses. It’s not a huge gift, but it’s something I can do to give back and to maybe make things a little easier for families like mine.”
The Power of Your Legacy
We hope you’ll consider including a gift to the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust in your will. Your generosity could help save lives and improve outcomes for those at risk or affected by aortic dissection.
Get in Touch About Leaving a Legacy
We understand that writing or updating a will is a significant decision, and we’re happy to answer any questions you might have. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on how your support can make a life-changing difference. We’d love to hear from you and discuss how your legacy can contribute to saving lives and supporting families affected by aortic dissection.
Types of Gifts You Can Leave
There are several ways you can leave a gift in your will:
- A residuary gift: This is a percentage of your estate, given after all specific gifts to family and friends have been made. Many supporters prefer this option as its value adjusts with your estate, offering flexibility while ensuring your loved ones are provided for.
- A financial gift: This is a fixed sum of money. While straightforward, it’s important to consider that inflation can reduce the value of this type of gift over time.
- A specific gift: You can leave a particular item, such as property, stocks, shares, or personal possessions. These gifts can have significant value for the Trust.
Updating Your Will
Once your will is in place, it’s important to review it regularly, particularly after significant life events. Changes such as getting married, divorced, the birth of a child or grandchild, moving to a new home, or a change in your financial situation can all affect your estate planning. Revisiting your will every five years or after such events ensures it remains up to date and reflects your current wishes.
Also, it’s important to ensure that the executors you’ve appointed are still suitable for the role. Circumstances may change, and keeping your will updated helps ensure that your intentions will be carried out smoothly.
Steps to Leave a Gift in Your Will
If you decide to include a gift to the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust in your will, here’s a simple guide to follow:
1. Assess the Value of Your Estate
Consider the total value of your assets, including property, investments, and any debts you may have, to gain a clear picture of your estate.
2. Choose Your Beneficiaries
These are the individuals, charities, or organisations you wish to include in your will. Many supporters find comfort in leaving a residuary gift to charity, which ensures that the value of their legacy remains proportionate to their estate.
3. Appoint Executors
Executors are trusted individuals responsible for managing your estate and ensuring your wishes are fulfilled. It’s essential to choose people who are reliable and understand your intentions.
4. Seek Professional Guidance
We strongly recommend using a solicitor or a professional will writing service to ensure your will is legally sound. These professionals can also offer advice on making your gift as tax-efficient as possible. The cost of a straightforward will is often less than £200.
5. Store Your Will Safely
Ensure your will is kept in a safe place and that your executors or a close family member know where the original document is stored.
Ensure Accuracy in Your Will
Even small errors in your will can lead to misunderstandings and delays in fulfilling your wishes. To avoid this, we highly recommend using a qualified solicitor to draft or update your will. It’s also essential that the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust’s name, address, and registered charity number are correctly included in your document. This ensures that your gift will be used exactly as you intended to support our vital work.
The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust, PO Box 812, Hope Valley, Chesterfield S40 9QY
Registered charity in England and Wales (1191420)
Registered charity in Scotland (SC051517)
Inform Us of Your Gift
If you’ve already included a gift to the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust in your will, we would love to hear from you. Letting us know of your intentions allows us to express our gratitude and keep you informed on how your legacy will support life-changing work.
The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust
Registered charity in the England & Wales No. 1191420
Registered charity in Scotland No. SC051517
PO Box 812, Hope Valley, Chesterfield S40 9QY
The information and materials on this site are for general information purposes only. This site is not designed to provide individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns, please speak to your GP. If you believe you have a medical emergency, call 999 immediately.