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Types of Legacy

The two most common forms of legacy are residual and pecuniary. A residual legacy would leave a set percentage of your estate to The Gilbert White House and The Oates Collection, (and so would be unaffected by inflation). A pecuniary legacy is a gift of a specific sum of money (as the value of this gift can be affected by inflation, it can be protected by linking it to the retail price index).

We would always advise that, when writing or amending your will, you seek qualified legal advice to ensure that your interests are protected and your wishes properly recorded. Do please let us know if you are considering leaving us a gift in your will.  The more we know about your wishes, the better able we will be to honour your intentions in full when we receive your bequest.

Sample Wordings for Leaving a Legacy

Set out below are sample wordings which can be tailored to your own individual circumstances.

For a Residuary Bequest

I give all (or a ….% share) of the residue of my estate to Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton, Hampshire GU34 3JH (registered charity 307098) to be used for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of a proper officer of the Museum shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.

For a Pecuniary Bequest

I give free of tax to Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton, Hampshire GU34 3JH (registered charity 307098) the sum of £ (figures and words) to be used for its general charitable purposes, and I declare that the receipt of a proper officer of the Museum shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.

For an Index-linked Pecuniary Bequest

I give free of tax the sum of money produced by dividing the sum of £ (figures and words) by the index figure in the Index of Retail Prices (‘the Index’) for the month in which this Will is executed and (having made allowance for any re-basing of the Index which may have happened in the meantime) multiplying it by the index figure in the Index for the month in which my death occurs, to Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton, Hampshire GU34 3JH (registered charity 1159058) and I declare that the receipt of a proper officer of the Museum shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.

Making changes to an existing Will

Simple alterations are usually made through a supplement to your Will known as a codicil.  It confirms the original Will but adds to it.  However, it is always sensible to consult a solicitor who will advise you whether it is more appropriate to re-write your Will rather than add to it.  Codicils need to be witnessed, signed and dated in exactly the same way as your Will.  The witnesses do not have to be the same as those who witnessed your Will, but of course they cannot be beneficiaries under the Will or codicil or the spouse of the beneficiary.

An example of a codicil is listed detailed below:

I ______________ (name) of (address) declare this to be a (first/second or subsequent) codicil to my Will dated ______________. In addition to any legacies given in my said Will I give Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Hampshire GU34 3JH (registered charity 1159058) (the sum of £[figures and words]/specific item/__% share of my estate) to be used for general purposes and I declare that the receipt of a proper officer of the Museum shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.

How your legacy will help:

All legacies received will go towards meeting the museum’s charitable purposes, and will make a lasting impact on the care, maintenance and development of the Museum’s collections and gardens, and on its widening range of educational activities.
We need your help to achieve our ambitious plans for the future of this heritage gem.
We need legacies to help us:

  • Further our education work in the Museum and at the Gilbert White Field Studies Centre;
  • Maintain and expand our collections, and display them for all to see;
  • Develop our exhibition space to continue to create accessible, attractive, informative and exciting galleries;
  • Continue restoration of our 30 acres of beautiful, historic gardens and parkland;
  • Fund long-term improvements to the buildings that house our collections.

 

Thank You

Donations of any type are crucial to our Museum.  Thank you for your interest and your support.

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