Make a Bequest
A bequest is a property or a sum of money committed to an organisation and donated upon the donor's death. A bequest can take a variety of forms. Deciding which way you feel is the fairest method of dividing your estate and will determine its format. Some options include:
A percentage bequest - (e.g. I bequeath 20% of my estate to RSPCA NSW ... ) This will reflect any change in value through inflation or interest as the years progress but does not affect the priority or importance of your bequest.
A residual bequest - (e.g. I leave the residue of my estate to RSPCA NSWThis involves leaving the remainder of an estate after friends and family have been provided for through specific gifts.
A specific bequest - (e.g, I bequeath my ... to RSPCA NSW ... ) and could include a stated dollar amount, real estate, shares, proceeds of life insurance policies, annuity or pension, or physical assets: jewellery, artwork, vehicle, furnitures ... etc.
An alternative bequest - This allows a person or organisation to be nominated as an alternative beneficiary if another named recipient is unable to accept a bequest. Thsi might be particularly relevent if you have not updated your Will for some time and if one of the named beneficiaries has passed away.
If you wish to include the RSPCA NSW in your will, it’s important that the right wording be considered. Please use the following sentence in your will to ensure we receive the donation you intended for us:
“I give and bequeath (insert amount of money or details of items) to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals NSW for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the society’s treasurer or other proper officer of the RSPCA shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said bequest.
Information for solicitors
Please contact the RSPCA NSW Bequests Department for full information regarding bequests and declarations of identity, affidavits and other required legal documents.
Esther Krizmancic
Bequest Manager
02 9782 4492
bequest@rspcansw.org.au
RSPCA NSW ABN is 87 000 001 641.
