Leave a gift in your will
Together we can shape the future for autistic people. A future that is a fairer place, where nobody on the autism spectrum has to face the future alone and where specialist support and advice is available to all that need it. Once you have remembered your family and friends in your will, please consider supporting the National Autistic Society with a gift, so that together we can be here with a lifetime of support.
Writing a will
Making a will gives you the opportunity to make sure your loved ones are provided for, and your final wishes are carried out. Before you make any decisions about your will, it is important to speak to a qualified legal adviser who can give you help and advice. Email us to request an up to date list of specialist solicitors.
Updating a will
If you already have a will, it is very easy to update it. Professionals recommend that you re-visit your will every few years to make sure that it still covers everything you need it to.
For small changes or additions to your will you can complete a codicil which can be kept with your will and read out alongside it when the time comes. Please note however that you must not attach anything to your will as this makes your will invalid. For bigger changes it is always best to consult a solicitor or professional will writer. It is possible they will charge a reduced fee if they aren’t rewriting your whole will.
What types of gift can I leave?
You can leave a defined amount as a gift which is called a 'pecuniary gift'. For example, you may choose to leave £1,000 in your will to the National Autistic Society. You should consider whether your gift will still be worth what you had planned, if you account for inflation in the future. Alternatively, you can leave a percentage or portion of your estate which is called a 'residuary gift'. For example, you may choose to leave 10% net (ie, after all outstanding bills have been paid) of your estate to the National Autistic Society.
Either type of gift is gratefully received and will go towards our work supporting people affected by autism throughout the UK.
Example wording to leave a gift in your will
Here is some suggested wording you can use.
Standard wording for a pecuniary gift is: “I give (insert amount) to the National Autistic Society, registered charity number 269425 (England and Wales) or SCO39427 (Scotland), 393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG to be applied for its general purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Chief Executive, or appropriate officer, shall be a complete discharge to my trustees.”
For a residuary gift the standard wording is: “I give (insert percentage) of my residuary estate to The National Autistic Society, registered charity number 269425 (England and Wales) or SCO39427 (Scotland), 393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG to be applied for its general purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Chief Executive, or appropriate officer, shall be a complete discharge to my trustees.”
If you would like a codicil form in order to leave a gift of a set amount, please click here to download one.
More information
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Before you make any decisions about your will, it is important to speak to a legal professional.
For an up to date list of local specialist solicitors, please email willsandtrusts@nas.org.uk
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