gifts in wills faqs

Your circumstances and priorities can change over time so it’s important to check your Will regularly and make sure it reflects your wishes. 

Small changes can be accommodated by writing a codicil, a legal document which needs to be signed and dated by two witnesses exactly the same as your Will. It should then be stored with your Will but not attached to it, as this could invalidate both documents.

We would recommend speaking to your legal adviser before writing a Codicil.

Suggested wording for a Codicil:

“I [name of address] declare this to be a codicil dated [date] to amend by existing Will, dated [date of Will]. I give [all/percentage/share/sum/item] to Help for Heroes (RCN1120920/SC044984) of 14 Parkers Close, Downton Business Centre, Salisbury, SP5 3RB to be used for its general and charitable purposes.”

Most supporters leave gifts to our general funds so they can be used where the need is greatest. If there’s an area of work that we do, or part of the country you’d especially like to support, please get in touch with our Legacy Team so we can discuss your wishes.

Call 0300 303 9888 or email legacies@helpforheroes.org.uk 

Over the years we’ve been touched to learn that many of those who remember the charity in their Will do so in memory of a relative or friend who served in or Armed Forces.

From WWI veterans to Blitz survivors, Falklands heroes and best friends who lost their lives in the Gulf War, we will be honoured and humbled to help you help others in honour of your very own hero.

Read some of our legacy stories.

Many people like to specify their funeral wishes in their Will, including whether or not they would like floral tributes or a collection for a favourite charity.

For family and friends, donating to a good cause can be a welcome chance to do something positive at a sad time.

It can also be comforting for them to know their loved one’s name, memory and values will live on through the charity’s work.

If you’d like to be commemorated in this way, you can include instructions in your Will or write a letter of wishes to be stored with your Will.

We recommend using a qualified professional, such as a solicitor, because they know the law and can help you consider every eventuality. It’s all too easy to make a mistake that could invalidate your Will and cause your family unnecessary distress and expense in the future. 

If you’re worried about the cost of using a solicitor, why not try our free Will-writing service?

If you’re concerned about the cost of making a Will, our free Will-writing service offers the chance to make a simple Will at no cost to you.

We're part of The National Free Wills Network; a partnership between charities and solicitors across the country that allows charity supporters to write a simple Will for free.

We also work with Bequeathed who offer an online Will-writing service with expert legal support.

So, whether you want the reassurance of meeting with a specialist solicitor or the convenience of writing your Will online, this is a great opportunity to get organised and provide for the people and causes you love.

Visit our Get Help With Writing Your Will page or call Beth in our legacy team on 0300 303 9888 to find out more.

Using the service doesn’t place you under any obligation to remember Help for Heroes in your Will but we hope you’ll take a moment to consider the difference you could make to our wounded veterans and their families. Every gift has the power to change lives.

We really treasure being able to thank our friends who’ve chosen to leave a legacy, but it’s entirely up to you whether or not you share your intentions with us. We understand this is a personal and sensitive matter, and that people’s circumstances and priorities can change over time. 

Lots of people worry about Inheritance Tax (IHT) but the good news is that leaving a gift to charity in your Will can help to reduce the tax burden on your estate.

UK-registered charities are exempt from IHT, so a gift to charity in your Will doesn’t count towards the nil rate band; reducing the taxable value of your estate. Estates in which 10 per cent or more of the net value is left to charity attract a lower IHT rate of 36 per cent.

A number of measures have been introduced in recent years to help reduce the number of estates eligible for IHT. Your legal adviser will inform you about any relevant to you and help you plan your Will accordingly.

If you’d like to include us in your Will, here’s some suggested wording your legal adviser may like to use that includes all the essential information.

To leave a share of your estate:

“I give …. per cent/share/all of my estate to Help for Heroes (RCN1120920/SC044984) of 14 Parkers Close, Downton Business Centre, Salisbury, SP5 3RB to be used for its general and charitable purposes.”

To leave a fixed amount or specific item:

“I give the sum of £……/the specific gift of my ……… to Help for Heroes (RCN1120920/SC044984) of 14 Parkers Close, Downton Business Centre, Salisbury, SP5 3RB to be used for its general and charitable purposes.”

There are three main types of gift to think about:

A share of your estate (a residuary legacy) to be made after debts, funeral costs and other legacies have been paid.

A specific amount of money (a pecuniary legacy), which can be index-linked to protect its future value.

A particular item (known as a specific legacy), which can be sold or used by the recipient.

Inheritance Tax is charged at 40 per cent on estates over the IHT threshold. The threshold, also known as the nil rate band, is currently set at £325,000. Anything above that may attract tax.

If your estate is eligible for IHT your executor will need to pay that before they can distribute your estate; possibly requiring them to take out an interest-paying loan. 

The laws surrounding Wills and Probate differ greatly depending whereabouts in the UK you live. Our guide to writing your Will in Scotland will help, and we also recommend visiting the websites for your regional Law Societies and your respective Government portals.

Our Will-writing partners, The National Free Wills Network and Bequeathed, cover all of the UK and offer advice from solicitors who are expert and experienced in their field, so wherever you live in Britain, you can get a simple Will written through our free Will-writing services.