Frequently Asked Questions
- Will I have to rewrite my Will to include a legacy to CBM?
- What's the difference between a legacy and a bequest?
- Is it expensive to write a legacy into a Will?
- What type of legacy would be best for CBM?
- If I live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, will the rules be different?
- Some charities offer a free Will-writing service - does CBM do this?
- Can I have a personal meeting to discuss my plans?
- Can I choose a project/country for my legacy to go to?
Will I have to re-write my Will to include a legacy to CBM?
Not necessarily. If you simply wish to add CBM to an original Will, you can add a codicil, saving the hassle of rewriting your Will from scratch.
- CBM Codicil form (134.8Kb)
However, if you already have codicils in place and wish to add a legacy to CBM to your existing Will and codicil, it is advisable to write a new Will, to avoid confusion between multiple codicils.
What's the difference between a legacy and a bequest?
In the UK, the widely accepted definition is that a legacy is a gift of money and a bequest is a gift of possessions and/or property from your estate. However, the general term "charitable bequest" is often used to cover all types of gifts left to charity in a person's Will.
Because CBM is an international organisation, with nine Member Associations around the world, you may see different terms used in different publications.
Is it expensive to write a legacy into a Will?
Again, this depends on whether you are using a codicil or re-writing an original Will. Codicils are generally always cheaper to have written than a whole Will, but you may like to pay extra to have a new Will drafted that includes all changes you wish to make in one document - avoiding any potential confusion between documents.
What type of legacy would be best for CBM?
No legacy is specifically better or worse for CBM. We are incredibly grateful for everything we receive. When including legacies in your Will, the main point you should consider is that if you leave a specific sum rather than a percentage, it may devalue over time and be worth less than you first imagined.
If I live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, will the rules be different?
Yes. Whilst we can provide general guidance on the differences upheld in specific parts of the UK, we suggest that if you wish to include CBM in your Will and you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you consult professional legal advice.
Some charities offer a free Will-writing service - does CBM do this?
No. A Will is a very personal document and it is our policy that we do not offer this service. We can, however, provide you with contact details for solicitors who share the values of CBM.
Can I have a personal meeting to discuss my plans?
Yes. Our Legacy Officer is happy to talk you through various options including any wishes you may have concerning the destination of your gift.
Can I choose a project/country for my legacy to go to?
If you feel a special connection to a particular project or country, we will do our best to accommodate your wishes. Please bear in mind that our work is constantly evolving and growing - a project you support today may have become self-sustainable in the future and no longer require CBM support. In such circumstances, if you had restricted your gift to that particular project in your Will, we might not then be able to distribute your gift at all.
CBM takes great care in ensuring that legacy gifts are distributed to where the need is greatest. Often when a legacy gift arrives, we will look at the giving history of the donor to determine where the legacy gift will be used.
Our Legacy Officer is happy to talk to family and friends interested in which project their loved one's legacy will support.