Legacy FAQs

If you’d like to include ShelterBox in your will, simply insert the following message:

I give to ShelterBox Trust of Falcon House, Charles Street, Truro TR1 2PH, registered charity numbers 1096479 [__% of the residue] of my estate/[specified amount] absolutely for its general charitable purposes.

Don’t forget to use our full name and details to make sure the gift reaches us.

We recommend you consult a solicitor to make sure that all the legal formalities are covered and that your will is valid. The cost of the solicitor will vary depending on how complex your will is.

The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors, and you can search their official directory at lawsociety.org.uk

Make sure that you have executors for your will – these are people who will ensure that your wishes will be carried out. You can choose more than one executor, and they could be a legal professional, friend or family member.

Yes, there are three types:

1. A pecuniary gift is a fixed amount of money.
2. A specific gift is a gift of a specific item, like personal possessions, land or shares.
3. A residuary gift is a percentage or share of the balance of your estate once all other payments and gifts have been made.

Many people prefer to give a residuary gift because it keeps in line with inflation and does not lose value over time.

In the UK, Inheritance Tax is currently paid to the government at a rate of 40% if your estate is worth more than £325,000. However, the rate might be reduced to 36% if 10% or more of your estate is left to charity.

Most gifts left to ShelterBox are exempt from Inheritance Tax because we are a charity.

You can find out more by contacting HMRC or a solicitor.

If you let us know your intentions, we’ll know how best to support you. It also gives us a chance to thank you if you do decide to remember ShelterBox in your will. Of course, any information you provide is completely confidential and in no way legally binding.

If you would like more information on leaving a gift in your will to ShelterBox, please:

• Call 0300 0300 500 and ask for our Gift in Wills expert, Prue
• Or email [email protected]

Another important consideration when making a Will is the appointment of your executors – the people who will deal with your estate in the event of your death – as well as guardians for your children.

Before you speak to a solicitor or professional Will writer, they will expect you to have a rough idea of what you own and what it’s worth. This might seem off-putting but all you need is a basic valuation at this this stage. Don’t worry about working out the exact value of everything; as long as you have a rough idea of the value of your estate, that’s enough for them to get on with.

You should think about how much the following things are worth:

• Property
• Car
• Savings
• Personal possessions, including sentimental objects
• Your pension
• Any investments you’ve made
• Your business (if you own or part-own one)

You also need to have an idea of any existing debts you have. These debts might include mortgages, loans and overdrafts. Again, this doesn’t have to be a precise value, but your solicitor or Will writer will need to know a rough idea of the amounts.