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What?
It does not necessarily have to be a sum of
money. You can choose to specify any item
of value such as jewellery, a property or shares.
You may prefer to specify a percentage of
the value of your estate or to instruct that the
‘residue’ (what’s left after you have provided
for friends and family) is donated to one or
more charities.
When?
It is never too soon to write a Will. Changes
can easily be made at any future date should
your personal or family circumstances change.
How?
A Will is probably one of the most important
documents that you will sign in your life, and
therefore you are strongly advised to take
professional advice. However, you can save
both time and money by being prepared
in advance.
Identify all your property and possessions.
Attempt to put an overall value on your home,
savings, investments, jewellery, valuables etc.
Identify who you want to remember
through your Will. The security of those
closest to you will be of paramount concern.
Make a list of their names and addresses for
your solicitor. If you wish to include a gift to
a charity include their name, address and
registered number as well.
Identify what you want your Will to
achieve. This will depend on your personal
circumstances, but you may wish to consider
providing funds for those who depend on
you, reducing the burden of tax on your
estate and gifts to one or more charities.
The continuing work of the four Masonic
Craft Charities is dependent on legacy
income for a significant percentage of their
annual distributions. They are all pledged to
the long term support of Freemasons, their
wives, widows and other dependants.
If you would like to ensure that the
support you have generously given during
your lifetime continues after your death for
the benefit of others within the Masonic
family, please include a gift in your Will to
one or more of the four Craft charities.
Further details are available on request,
or via each Charity’s information leaflets or
websites, which will help to make it easier
for you to write or amend your Will.
If having read this article you are still
unsure about the benefit of leaving a
charitable gift in your Will to a Masonic
charity, you might wish to remember that
statistically the average life expectancy in the
UK is currently 69.
However, this is apparently miraculously
extended to 79 for those who write a Will!
The same research source claims that for
those who have included a charitable
bequest within their Will, life expectancy
increases still further to, an average of 82.
Seriously though, remembering a charity
in your Will will not only make you feel
better, but can also help you to live longer!
Remembering the Charities
A Residuary Legacy:
This is often the best way of helping a
Charity, whereby the remainder of your
estate, after all bequests to family and
friends have been settled, is left to Charity:
“I give to name, full address and
registered number of Charity all (or ……
share) of the residue of my estate for the
general purposes of the Charity and I declare
that the receipt of the Chief Executive or
other proper officer of the Charity shall be
a good discharge for the same.”
A Specific Legacy:
A fixed sum of money, a property or other
specific gift:
“I give to name, full address and registered
number of Charity *…………* for the
general purposes of the Charity and I declare
that the receipt of the Chief Executive or
other proper officer of the Charity shall be
a good discharge for the same.”
*……* Insert here the sum of £……
(repeat in words) or describe the items
bequeathed. In case of a property please
include the full address.
A Conditional Bequest:
Where you leave something to a relative or
friend, but provide that if he or she dies before
you, that gift goes to a nominated Charity:
“Provided that, if my said brother/sister/
daughter, should pre-decease me, I wish
his/her legacy of ………………………
to go to name, full address and registered
number of Charity all (or …… share) for the
general purposes of the Charity and I declare
that the receipt of the Chief Executive or
other proper officer of the Charity shall be
a good discharge for the same.”
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Testimonials
Testimonial 1
“All Freemasons can be justly proud that
such charitable giving concerns not only
our own kind, but is directed at projects
likely to affect all of us, whatever our
beliefsand misfortunes. The Grand Charity
and the other Masonic charities, certainly
lead the way for a vast army of charitablyminded
individuals, and I hope I shall
not be alone in promising to remember
them when I come to making a Will.”
Testimonial 2
“How can I ever thank you enough for
receiving such wonderful news, matter
of fact I am still in a daze and wonder
at times if it is all a dream. I have little
money available to make a donation,
but I shall be more than pleased to
inform my solicitor that I wish to make
a substantial donation to the New
Masonic Samaritan Fund in my Will.”
Testimonial 3
“My dear Husband has recently passed
away following several wonderful years
which we have both had, receiving
dignified care by your dedicated staff
at the home near Reading. I wanted to
write to you to thank all concerned and
to let you know that his quality of life,
at the home, was enhanced during his
difficult illness by the kind and loving
staff who work there. I am now continuing
to enjoy the benefits of living here.
When my time comes, you may rest
assured that in my will there is a large
donation to the Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution so that your good work can
continue to help others less fortunate
than me.”
Testimonial 4
“My late husband benefited so much
from Masonic Charity throughout his
life, particularly when he attended the
boys’ school at Bushey as a teenager.
I was delighted when he decided to
remember the Royal Masonic Trust for
Girls and Boys in his Will. Under the
terms of his ‘reversionary’ bequest,
upon my death, your charity will benefit
from the proceeds of his share of the
marital home. I have yet to prepare my
own will, but may well make a similar
gesture in his memory.”
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