Legacies

Legacies are the life blood of all charities and form an increasingly larger amount of the funds charities receive.

Currently, over 60% of funds coming to the RSPCA are by persons leaving legacies. May we suggest that all supporters of the RSPCA should consider how they might help our charity in their Wills.

All gifts to charities are exempt from inheritance tax (death duties) which makes them all the more valuable. However, any supporter making a gift needs to make clear whether the gift is a definite amount of money, or perhaps the residue of their estate, and the purposes for which they intend the gift to be used.

All of the Branches of the RSPCA are individual charities.

Consequently, if a gift is intended for the North Devon Branch of the RSPCA, then the Branch charity number should be mentioned, so that the legacy does not go into the general charitable funds of the RSPCA as a whole, but is received for use in North Devon.

It will help too, if supporters are willing to sign a pledge form indicating whether they have left, or intend to leave a legacy to the RSPCA, because this assists with future planning of the charity's activities.

The RSPCA provides guidance on wording for legacies and explains in their literature some of the legal terms in making Wills.

It is very straight forward to make a Will or a Codicil (a short addition to a Will) providing a legacy to the RSPCA. It can also be done at a modest cost through your solicitor.

We do hope that you will help our work by remembering the North Devon Branch of the RSPCA in your Will.

If you do not have a copy of the RSPCA's brochure 'Plain English Guide to Making a Will', please telephone 01271 346734 and one will be sent to you