Have you and your family considered providing a bequest or gift in your Will to Palliative Care ACT (PCACT)?
By leaving a bequest or gift to PCACT, you will have a direct and significant impact on the lives of Canberrans living with life limiting illness.
Your gift will be your lasting legacy, making a real difference in enriching the lives of the children and adults we support at PCACT. Your generosity will help build a future fund, support the ongoing care at our respite home Leo’s Place, provide essential resources, and enable us to continue delivering high-quality programs including our Volunteer Programs.
The PCACT community is grateful for all gifts and donations we receive, regardless of the amount. They are much appreciated.
If you have decided to leave a gift in your Will for PCACT, please let us know so we can be in touch and ensure we have the details recorded accurately.
Options for Leaving a Bequest or Gift in your Will
In considering how you wish to distribute your estate, we understand that you will want to look after your loved ones first and respect that this is an important decision. We encourage you to discuss your ideas with your family and consider the options for leaving a gift or bequest in your Will.
If you are creating a Will or updating an existing one, Palliative Care ACT recommends that you seek the advice of a qualified solicitor or legal professional to ensure your Will is valid and your wishes are expressed correctly. To find a suitable solicitor, you can contact the Law Society.
What is the difference between a Bequest and a Gift?
Gifts are freely given with no conditions attached. Bequests may have conditions attached to them and may need special consideration by PCACT.
There are several gift options you can leave in your Will:
Residual gift – the remainder of your Estate after specific gifts have been disbursed to loved ones and expenses have been settled
- A percentage – a flexible way to provide a percentage of the residue or the entire estate
- Fixed amount – a specific amount of funds
- An asset – this can include shares, real estate, or other items of value.
Suggested Wording for a Gift in Your Will
Once you have decided on the type of gift you would like to provide, your solicitor will need these details to include the correct wording in your Will. Some suggested wording for including a gift to PCACT is outlined below. You can ask your solicitor to insert the appropriate statement.
“I give free of all duties or taxes…
[Please insert here the appropriate statement from the options below]
- the whole of my estate
- [insert number] percent of my estate
- the residue of my estate
- [insert number] percent of the residue of my estate
- the sum of $ [insert value of your gift]
- [insert number] of my [insert name of shares] or specific property
…to Palliative Care ACT (ABN 58 256 209 619) of 5 Flemington Road, Lyneham ACT 2602 for its general purposes. The official receipt of the organisation shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my executor.”
Other Legacy Gifting Responsibilities
There are also other ways you may wish to support PCACT in perpetuity such as through making provisions in Trusts, Foundations and Endowment Funds in which income is distributed annually to a beneficiary organisation such as PCACT. We recommend you discuss these possibilities with the relevant trustees for those funds with your solicitor.
PCACT will always respect your privacy and understand that your Will is personal to you. We will also manage your gift with integrity, respect, and gratitude, ensuring it is used for the greatest good.
Next Steps
Your Will is an important legal document and needs to accurately reflect your final wishes. We recommend you consult with a qualified solicitor or legal representative who is experienced in Wills.
If you already have a Will, it is possible to make changes with your qualified legal representative, in the form of a Codicil, which amends the terms of the Will to reflect your intentions to include a gift or bequest to Palliative Care ACT.
If you intend to include Palliative Care ACT in your Will, please let your loved ones and executors know about your intentions, so they are aware of your decision to leave a gift or bequest that will enrich the lives of people with life limiting illness far beyond your lifetime.
