Making or Updating Your Will
Protect the future of your loved ones
Making a Will is the best way of ensuring your loved ones have a secure future. It also ensures that your property and possessions are dealt with in the way you want. Leaving a gift to Compassion in World Farming in your Will not only helps advance farm animal welfare but can also reduce your inheritance tax liability, because any gifts to charities are deducted from the value of your estate prior to taxation.
Making a Will
Making a Will doesn't have to be costly or complicated. To help you understand what is involved we've put together a guide to making your will. You can download a copy or order a printed copy here. Alternatively please contact Legacy Services below to order your copy.
Changing your Will or adding Compassion in World Farming to your Will
If you already have a Will, the simplest way to make relatively minor alterations or additions is by making a codicil. This is an instruction that is kept with your existing Will and which your solicitor will help you draw up.
How to leave a gift in your Will to Compassion in World Farming
There are two main ways to leave a gift in your will to Compassion in World Farming:
- A residual gift is all, or a percentage of, your estate once all other bequests, costs etc, have been deducted. For example, a bequest of 5 per cent of an estate valued at £20,000 would provide a gift of £1,000. This type of legacy is the most valuable to us as it keeps pace with inflation. It can also reduce the need for frequent updating of your Will.
- A pecuniary gift is a specific amount of money. The value of pecuniary legacies decreases over time; for example a gift of £1,000 pledged today will be less valuable in future years as the cost of living increases.
Should you wish to include Compassion in World Farming in your Will you will need to use certain legal wording. 
For a residual gift:
“I give the residue (or percentage or fraction of my residuary estate) to Compassion in World Farming (Registered Charity No. 1095050; registered company limited by guarantee no. 4590804 (England)) of River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1EZ, for its charitable purposes. I further direct that the receipt of the Honorary Treasurer or other proper officer of Compassion in World Farming for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.”
For a pecuniary gift:
“I give the sum of £_________ to Compassion in World Farming (Registered Charity No. 1095050; registered company limited by guarantee no. 4590804 (England)) of River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1EZ, for its charitable purposes. I further direct that the receipt of the Honorary Treasurer or other proper officer of Compassion in World Farming for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.”
Finding a local solicitor
We recommend that you consult a solicitor when making or updating a Will. If you don’t already have one, ask friends and family for a recommendation. Or you can visit the Law Society for a list of probate solicitors in your area.
Executor Service
Compassion in World Farming is able to act as an Executor of Wills. For more information please telephone Legacy Services on 01483 521 953 or contact us here.
We can help
Compassion produces a guide to making and updating a Will and leaving a charitable bequest. You can download a copy or order a printed copy here. Alternatively please contact Legacy Services below.
If you have any questions about making a Will, updating an existing Will or leaving a Will gift to Compassion in World Farming, please contact Legacy Services here.
You can also telephone on 01483 521 953 (our lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00 – 5:00) or write to: Legacy Services, Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1EZ