Be part of our future with a gift in your Will
Your guide to gifts in Wills
Help us care for more people with a terminal illness in years to come You and I share an important belief – that people living with a terminal illness deserve the best possible care in the place that they choose. I’ve been at Marie Curie for over 20 years. In that time I’ve seen first hand the wonderful difference that supporters like you make. I have seen our nursing service grow so that it now covers over 94% of the country. Our hospices have been upgraded. Our palliative care research has continued to ensure that we offer the best care to people living with a terminal illness. But over the next 20, 30, 50 years, we will need to do even more. That’s why I’ve chosen to leave a gift in my Will to Marie Curie. Currently seven out of 10 people living with a terminal illness don’t get the care and attention they need. By remembering Marie Curie in your Will, you will help to change that for future generations. You will ensure that Marie Curie can continue to provide the highest level of care for as many people living with a terminal illness and their families as possible – at a time when they need it most. I understand that making your Will is a very personal matter and I’m sure you will want to make sure your friends and family are well looked after before anything else. I know my children were front of mind when I began thinking about my Will. But I hope when you read this booklet you will see that it’s also possible to help people living with a terminal illness and that any gift, big or small, could make a profound difference. If you have any questions about leaving your special gift, please don’t hesitate to contact your regional Legacy Advisor by using the business card at the back of this booklet. Yours sincerely,
Caroline Hamblett, Director of Services
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Learn more at mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
Leaving a gift in your Will is the ultimate act of kindness “I decided to leave a gift in my Will to Marie Curie because of the wonderful care that my mum, Elsie Sands, received. Making my Will was such an easy process and I know it could make a big difference to future generations of people living with a terminal illness. “I want to help Marie Curie to continue providing excellent nursing care to support people like my mum so that their remaining time is as easy and peaceful as possible. It’s my way of saying a very big thank you for everything Marie Curie did for my family.” - Karen Green, Marie Curie supporter
Gifts in Wills are vital to Marie Curie and make up a third of all the generous gifts we receive.
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Home nursing
Help people make the most of their final days Marie Curie Nurse, Cynthia Jenkins, describes the difference a gift in your Will could make for those wishing to live out their last days at home “A person’s last days are so precious. Most people say that they would want to spend that time at home. As a Marie Curie Nurse, it’s an honour to be able to help make that wish come true and make sure that the people we care for are as calm and comfortable as possible during this difficult time.”
“I recently looked after a young mum. One day she told me she wanted to write out cards for her daughters to open in years to come. She was in quite a lot of pain, but I could see that she was determined to do this for her children. She knew that she wouldn’t be there for the special milestones in their
Home nursing
Cynthia Page 4
Learn more at mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
Provisional
lives like birthdays, wedding days or at the births of their children. I think it was her way of being part of those precious moments. I was honoured to help her write out the cards and we spent a lovely afternoon reminiscing about her life and talking about how proud we are of our children. “It’s moments like these that really show how much your gift could mean to future generations of people living with a terminal illness. “Thanks to the gifts that supporters leave Marie Curie in their Wills, I’m able to give people living with a
terminal illness the dedicated one-toone care and support that they need. Because I work long shifts, it gives me the time to really treat each person as an individual. I can get to know them and tailor my care to their specific needs – whether that’s supporting them with pain medication or just sitting and talking to them about their memories, their family and their fears about what will happen. “But without gifts in Wills from caring people like you, it simply wouldn’t be possible – that’s why your special gift is so important.”
The stories told here are real but are not of those pictured.
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Hospice care
Help provide a place of care and comfort for people with complex needs Marie Curie Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Cara Walton, explains how a gift in your Will could provide a special place for those needing complex care. “Thanks largely to gifts in Wills from people like you, Marie Curie Hospice Nurses offer people medical care and help them to manage their symptoms. We also support people as they get everything in order and help them to feel in control at what is a very difficult time. We make every effort to put people living with a terminal illness and their families at the centre of everything we do.
“The majority of people living with a terminal illness would prefer to be at home. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Some people need care that is more complex. Instead of having to go back into hospital, you can offer some people living with a terminal illness the opportunity to go to one of nine Marie Curie Hospices across the UK. Page 6
“In my role, I see the profound impact your gifts can have. I once cared for a young mum who wanted to be there for her two sons as they grew up. Together we spent many hours filling two memory boxes for them. She put reminders of her favourite perfume, her favourite colour, their favourite restaurant and pieces of her jewellery into these special boxes. “She also included notes to let her boys know how proud she was of them and telling them to knuckle down at school and follow their dreams. It was her way of making sure she could still be a great Learn more at mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
mum to her sons even when she wasn’t around anymore. Once she’d finished putting together the boxes, she simply set them to one side. I could tell it gave her a lot of satisfaction knowing her boys could draw strength from the memories and advice she was leaving behind. Your gift could help someone to leave behind precious memories for the people they love.
“Without gifts in Wills from people like you, special moments like this simply wouldn’t be possible. We need your help to continue giving people living with a terminal illness the care and attention they deserve in a place where they feel safe and secure.”
The stories told here are real but are not of those pictured.
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“The Marie Curie Hospice staff really and truly care. Even to the point when it was Christmas Day and Mum was in a coma, they gave her a present. They didn’t leave her out.” Your gift could provide nurses like those who cared for Nicola Bayliss’s mum at the Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands.
Make your Will
Important steps to making your Will Remembering Marie Curie in your Will is simple.
1.
Decide who will be named in your Will as your executors – they’ll be responsible for ensuring your wishes are fulfilled.
2. Calculate the value of your assets, ensuring you include
property, investments and any debts.
3.
Choose the family, friends and charities you’d like to remember in your Will. Some people leave a percentage of their estate to Marie Curie, having first looked after their loved ones.
4.
Visit a solicitor to have your Will drawn up. Turn to page 12 to find out how to locate your nearest solicitor and, if you’re eligible, make use of our free Will-writing scheme.
5.
Your solicitor could look after a copy of your Will for you, but you may wish to keep one of your own. Put it in a safe place and tell someone close to you where it’s stored.
6.
And lastly, please share your intentions with us using the enclosed reply form. We’d like to be able to thank you properly.
If you already have a Will, and wish to add Marie Curie as one of your beneficiaries, ask a solicitor to help you complete the Codicil Form enclosed and then store it with your Will.
Learn more at mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
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“Some 38 years ago a Marie Curie Nurse helped my cousin remain at home surrounded by his wife and children. Twenty years later they were there to support my father and myself on the difficult night my mother died. These first-hand experiences of their work convinced me to include them in my Will. Would you consider this special way of giving too?” Catherine Kittredge, Marie Curie Supporter
Choose your gift
Finding the type of gift that’s right for you A share of your estate (also known as a residuary gift) is a way of leaving a proportion of your estate (the total value of all property and assets), once all gifts to loved ones have been made. You can leave the residue or a share of it to Marie Curie. A cash gift (also known as a pecuniary gift) is a set amount of money. It is worth noting that unlike a residuary gift, the value of this type of legacy may decrease due to inflation. A specific gift is a particular item and is a good way to pass on cherished belongings to loved ones. Any type of gift to Marie Curie will have a great impact. But many supporters decide to leave a share of their estate (or residuary gift) because it keeps pace with inflation and also means that they can make sure that their loved ones are well looked after before making their gift to Marie Curie. We are extremely grateful for every gift we receive, and we always do our utmost to honour any wishes that are made. But to ensure your gift can have the most impact, we ask you to leave it without specifying that it be used for a particular area of work. If you would like to leave a gift to Marie Curie, please make sure your solicitor uses our full name, address and charity number in your Will. Marie Curie, a charity registered in England and Wales no. 207994 and in Scotland no. SC038731. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP.
The stories told here are real but are not of those pictured.
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Your questions
Answers to your questions Who should I appoint as an executor of my Will? You can appoint whomever you wish as your executor, but we recommend gaining their agreement first as it can involve a substantial amount of time. You can also appoint a professional executor to provide advice and assistance. This could be a solicitor, accountant, or even a bank, though your estate will need to pay their fees. How can I select a solicitor? You can find local solicitors who specialise in Wills by contacting the Law Society at lawsociety.org.uk or 020 7320 5650. Be assured our team works closely alongside executors to ensure that wishes are fulfilled and to maximise the value of gifts, but if you choose to have a solicitor act as executor, you should ask about the fees they may charge. Should I put together a new Will? If the only change you wish to make to your existing Will is to include a gift to Marie Curie, you can amend it by preparing a codicil form. This needs to be both signed and witnessed with the same legal formalities as a Will. You can find a sample codicil form enclosed in the back of this booklet, but you should consult a solicitor to ensure that it is valid. Can you help me write my Will? If you’re a Marie Curie supporter who is 55 years old or over, or a volunteer of any age, we’d like to offer you use of our free Will-writing scheme. Simply get in touch with your Legacy Advisor (whose business card you’ll find at the back of this booklet) and, subject to availability, we’ll send you a list of local, fully qualified solicitors who will help you make or update your Will at no cost to you. You’re under no obligation to leave a gift to Marie Curie – although we appreciate you considering us.
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Learn more at mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
Your inheritance tax
Inheritance tax may be payable on an estate which exceeds the current threshold, although no tax is payable on gifts to charities. Please see gov.uk/inheritance-tax/gifts for the latest information. As tax is a complex area of law, we recommend you speak to an independent financial advisor or solicitor about the inheritance tax implications for your estate – especially if you intend to leave substantial sums. A properly drafted Will can help reduce the amount of tax payable, and increase the amount of your assets that go to your loved ones and chosen charities.
Find your Legacy Advisor’s business card at the back of this booklet
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Granting last wishes for over 60 years 1948 This was the beginning of the Marie Curie Memorial Foundation – a charity dedicated to caring for people living with a terminal illness – today known as Marie Curie. The generous donation of an engagement ring brought the first £75, which was then used to launch the first appeal, raising £4,000. 1952 The first Marie Curie Home opened at Hill of Tarvit at Cupar, Fife, a property belonging to the National Trust for Scotland. This marked the beginning of Marie Curie Hospice care for patients whose needs were too complex to be cared for at home.
1958 The Day and Night Nursing Service was first established to address the shortage of full-time professional nursing care for those people living with a terminal illness who were being nursed at home. The Foundation’s nursing service was reorganised and expanded to offer a more comprehensive service, especially at night. Thanks to supporters like you, Marie Curie Nurses have been caring for people living with a terminal illness since 1952. A gift in your Will could help us continue to care for families long into the future. Page 14
Gifts in Wills are vital to Marie Curie and make up a third of all the generous gifts we receive.
At the moment seven out of 10 people living with a terminal illness still don’t get the care and support they need – your gift could make a big difference.
Please keep in touch You’ll find the details of your regional Legacy Advisor inside. Please get in touch and they can answer any questions you might have or help with further information. They can also tell you more about the free Will-writing scheme. Each year, they organise ‘Gift for the Future’ events around the country, which you may like to attend to gain an additional insight into our work.
You can also let us know your intentions by using the form enclosed and sending it to: Gifts in Wills Manager, Marie Curie Freepost ADM4242, Melksham SN12 6YS freephone: 0800 716 146 email:
[email protected] mariecurie.org.uk/giftsinwills
We’re here for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support to help them get the most from the time they have left. Charity Reg. No. 207994 (England & Wales), SC038731 (Scotland). LEGBF1501
