Legacies FAQs

On this page you'll find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions asked about legacies.

If your query isn’t addressed here, please contact us (phone 0207 898 1647) or talk to your solicitor.

How do I create a legacy?

It's straightforward - you just need to add a clause (a section) to your Will that states what or how much you want to donate to Church Urban Fund. You should discuss any potential legacy details with your solicitor when you draw up the Will.

How much should I leave? You can leave any sum of money (or any item) as a gift. Any size gift – large or small – helps Church Urban Fund tackle poverty and injustice in the UK.

What information do I need from Church Urban Fund?

You'll need to state our name, address and registered charity number:

Church Urban Fund
Church House
27 Great Smith Street
LONDON
SW1P 3AZ

Registered charity number 297483

What sort of gift should I make?

There are four main ways that you can make a gift in your Will:

Residuary legacy: you can leave all or part of the ‘residue’ of your estate to charity. The ‘residue’ is the remainder of your estate after other payments have been made, for example, to other named beneficiaries. 

Pecuniary legacy: a specified, tax-free sum of money.

Specific legacy: stocks and shares, property or other items of value can be given as named assets in a ‘specific’ legacy. 

Contingent bequest: made if certain conditions in the Will are met. For example, you might want to leave legacies to friends and family, but also specify how you want your estate to be used if all or some of them were to die before you. 

Will my estate be liable for Inheritance Tax?

If your estate is worth £325,000 or more (the 2009/10 threshold value), your beneficiaries will need to pay 40% Inheritance Tax on the amount above £325,000.

Some examples:

Gifts made to charity in your Will are exempt from Inheritance Tax. By choosing to leave a portion of your estate to charity you reduce the overall tax liability on your beneficiaries.

If you are married or in a civil partnership, you may be able to use some of your spouse or partner's tax allowance under new legal reforms - you should discuss your personal tax circumstances with a solicitor when preparing your Will.

You can also find more information about Inheritance Tax on the HM Revenue and Customs website.

I already have a Will – how do I change it?

If you’ve already made a Will, you should make sure it’s up to date and continues to reflect your wishes. If your personal circumstances change – for example, through marriage or divorce, birth of children or grandchildren – or if your assets change, you should amend your Will.

If you want to make a change to your Will for any of the above reasons and/or to include a gift to charity, you may be able to do so by adding a codicil – your solicitor will be able to advise you.