Legacy giving
St Michael’s has to raise around 90% of the £3.6 million it takes to run the Hospice each year.
If you would like to help us be able to continue our work you might consider leaving a legacy to St Michael's Hospice, Hereford.
If you have not previously made a will, we hope you find this information useful in helping with the first steps of securing the future of your loved ones. We also hope that you will consider remembering St Michael's Hospice and help future patients and their families from across Herefordshire and the surrounding counties.
Why include St Michael's Hospice in your will?
Leaving a legacy to St Michael's Hospice means your values will not die with you. It is your opportunity to help local terminally ill people live out their lives in comfort and dignity with a gift you may not have been able to afford in your lifetime.
Why your legacy will make a difference?
Legacy giving is extremely valuable to St Michael's Hospice as it allows us to plan for the future. The following information lets you know how you can leave a gift for St Michael's Hospice after all your loved ones have been provided for, or how you can leave us even just a very small specific donation. Remember, absolutely every gift can help us to help others.
How do I go about making a will?
Making a Will is not expensive, complicated or time-consuming. We would strongly recommend going to a solicitor for professional, reliable advice in drawing up your will, which will cost on average just £75. Here are some guidelines to help you prepare some necessary details, and keep this expense to a minimum:
Work out the sum of your estate by listing all your assets (house, savings, jewellery etc) and subtracting all your liabilities (mortgage, debts etc). The result is your estate total. Next, decide how you would like your assets and possessions to be divided amongst your family and friends. If at this point you do decide to leave a legacy or gift to St Michael's Hospice or any other cause, there are different ways for you to do so.
- A pecuniary legacy - a gift of a fixed sum of money to a named person or organisation. A specific legacy - A gift of a particular item (not money), such as jewellery to a named person or organisation.
- A residuary legacy - After all pecuniary and specific bequests have been made and your Expenses accounted for, the remainder of your estate is known as the residue. This should be covered by a Residuary Bequest otherwise the law determines its outcome. The residue can be split between family, friends and your favourite causes.
What if I already have a will?
It is very important to keep your will up to date. Altering an existing will can be done simply by adding a codicil. This is a separate legal document witnessed in its own right. Again, consulting with a solicitor is the best way to add a codicil and ensure it is legally binding. A codicil must be kept with your will but not attached to it.
How do I word a legacy or codicil?
To ensure that no problems arise when the will is executed, the wording used must include the name St Michael's Hospice, Hereford and our charity number which is 511179.
Below is a suggestion on how to word a legacy, but we do strongly recommend that you also consult a solicitor to ensure that the will is legally binding and that your wishes are carried out, especially where a codicil is concerned.
Suggested Wording:
I give to St Michael's Hospice [either] the sum of £ [insert sum] [or] [insert specific gift e.g. jewellery] [or] all the residue of my estate [or] one [insert a share e.g. 5%] share of the residue of my estate for its general purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Finance Manager or other proper person at St Michael's Hospice shall be full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.
Further Information:
For further information on leaving a legacy please telephone St Michael's Hospice on 01432 85100 and ask to speak the Chief Executive’s P.A.