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Leaving a gift to Macmillan in your will is a straightforward, easy and cost-effective way to support our work. With gifts in wills helping to fund over a third of our vital services, we couldn’t do what we do without them. Here you'll find the materials you need to set up a legacy along with answers to some frequent questions.
We have prepared some suggested legacy clause wordings| for you to consider. You may find it useful to print these out and take them with you when you visit your solicitor.
Our codicil form| is a simple way to make small changes to an existing will. We would always recommend using a qualified solicitor when using this form.
Our will booklet| contains the suggested legacy clause wordings|, our codicil form| and more, to help you make or change your will and leave a legacy to Macmillan.
Request your free copy today.|
The most important bits of information to include are our name, our address and our registered charity number:
Macmillan Cancer Support 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7UQ
Registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).
Leaving a legacy to Macmillan simply involves adding a short paragraph (clause) to your will. We would always suggest that you use a qualified solicitor to assist you with this.
Download our suggested clause wordings|, or find out more about making or updating a will first.|
If you already have a will, it is important that you keep it up to date. Fortunately, making changes to an existing will is very straightforward.
If you want to add Macmillan to an existing will, your solicitor simply attaches a written instruction, called a codicil. This must be done by your solicitor - don't make changes yourself as you may inadvertently invalidate your will. The codicil will need the signature of two independent witnesses. Download a copy of our codicil form.|
If there are a number of changes you want to make, it may be better to make a new will, which your solicitor can help you with.
A common misconception is that a legacy has to be an enormous sum of money. This is not the case.
Of course family and friends must come first in your thoughts. But any legacy left in a will, no matter how small or how large, is important to the charities you support.
The two main types of legacies that people leave are residuary and pecuniary.
A residuary legacy is when a person leaves a percentage of their estate to a charity. This means that, however much your estate is ultimately worth, you ensure your loved ones are looked after as well as giving a gift to your chosen charity. It also means you don't have to keep altering your will as your circumstances change.
A pecuniary legacy is a set sum of money. However, we advise that you consult your solicitor on what is best for your particular circumstances.
If you would like to calculate what you think you may have left to leave please visit the Remember a Charity| website to use their wealth calculator.
One of the great things about a legacy is that it allows you to take account of any changes that may happen to your personal circumstances.
With a properly worded legacy, you can be safe in the knowledge that, should your circumstances change, your will automatically takes account of this.
So you are able to look after yourself, friends and family whilst also knowing that you will still be doing something for your favourite charity if there is any money left over after you die.
Gifts to charities in your will are generally exempt from inheritance tax. If you leave a charitable gift it will be deducted from your estate before inheritance tax liability is calculated. Find out more about inheritance tax on making a will.|
Please visit our page for solicitors and executors| for help and guidance.
If you own anything abroad, we would always suggest that you obtain specialist advice from a solicitor.
Thank you very much for including a gift to Macmillan in your will.
Macmillan Cancer Support has had several previous names. Please be assured that all appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that we will receive your gift, even if you have not included the most recent name.
Here is a list of all our previous names.|
On the 31 March 2008 Cancerbackup merged with Macmillan Cancer Support.
The merger furthers the aims of both charities to ensure that across the UK everyone affected by cancer will get faster and enhanced access to high-quality information at every stage of their cancer journey.
If you have already included a legacy to Cancerbackup you do not need to change your will.
Email leavealegacy@macmillan.org.uk| Call 0800 107 4448 Write to Legacy Team, Macmillan Cancer Support, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ