Will writing and leaving a Legacy

Remembering RUILS in your will provides valuable funds which mean that RUILS can continue its vital services, reach out to the people that need us most and develop new services for them. We are very grateful for the generosity of all our donors who help to fund our projects and help more people have choice and control over the support that they receive.   If you would like to leave a legacy to RUILS you will need to give instructions to your Solicitor.


What should I do? Legacies (a quick guide)
A legacy is a gift of money, property or possessions left in your will. If you decide to give to a charity, the gift is currently tax-free so everything you leave will go towards the work of RUILS.

Making or revising a will is important and we recommend you seek independent advice from of a solicitor or bank trust company.

There are 4 different types of legacies:
1) A pecuniary legacy is a gift of a fixed sum of money. You can protect this type of gift from inflation by linking it to the Retail Price Index.
2) A specific gift is a tangible item such as a house, piece of jewellery, silver teapot or car.
3) A residuary legacy is a gift of the whole or a share of whatever remains of your estate after all other gifts have been distributed and any debts paid off.
4) You can also ask people who care for you to make donations in your memory


Suggested wording for making a pecuniary legacy:
"I give the following legacy free of tax to Richmond Users Independent Living Scheme (RUILS),  The Disability Action & Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8HT registered Charity No 1127896, the sum of £___________ *(amount in figures and words) for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of RUILS for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy."

For advice or suggested wordings for index-linked pecuniary gifts, please consult a solicitor.


Suggested wording for making a specific gift:
"I give to Richmond Users Independent Living Scheme (RUILS),  The Disability Action & Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8HT registered Charity No 1127896 my_________________________* for its general charitable purposes. I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other duly authorised officer shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors."
* Add a description of whatever you wish to leave.


Suggested wording for a residuary legacy:
"I give _________________________* of the residue of my estate absolutely to Richmond Users Independent Living Scheme (RUILS),  The Disability Action & Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8HT registered Charity No 1127896 for its general purposes. I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other duly authorised officer shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors."
* State all or the percentage/fraction of the residue of your estate that you wish to leave.


Adding a Codicil:
If you have already made your Will, you can still leave a gift to RUILS.  By adding a Codicil to your Will, you can leave a legacy to RUILS whilst ensuring that the other provisions in your will remain untouched, and you won't have to pay for your Will to be completely re-written. Again you need to give instructions to your Solicitor. Here is an example of the wording of a Codicil:

"This is a Codicil of me (name) of (address) to my Will dated (date). I give (the amount) to Richmond Users Independent Living Scheme (RUILS), The Disability Action & Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8HT registered Charity No 1127896, for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of RUILS for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy. In all other respects I confirm my Will dated (date of original Will)."


Suggested wording for gifts in memory:
"TO MY EXECUTOR: I wish that, instead of flowers being sent to my funeral, donations be sent to Richmond Users Independent Living Scheme (RUILS),  The Disability Action & Advice Centre, 4 Waldegrave Road Teddington TW11 8HT registered Charity No 1127896.
You may want to support a particular project or activity. Over time our activities and our sources of funding change and an open legacy gives more flexibility to make the most effective use of your legacy.  If there are binding conditions attached to a legacy which we cannot satisfy, RUILS may not be able to benefit from the legacy.