The Reasons People Leave Gifts in Their Wills

As a student lawyer who wants to specialise in probate, it is essential that you understand the many reasons why some people decide to leave gifts to charities in their wills. As such, if you are interested in this, here are some of the top reasons why people decide to give some of their life earnings to non-profit organisations around them.

·      To Do Good

Many people get a rush of endorphins when they do good, and this can propel them to create change in the world throughout their lives. However, these people might start to panic as they approach death, as they will be unable to do as much good from beyond the grave. By donating some of their last pennies to their favoured cause, they will be able to feel positive about what is going to happen to their money after their death and ensure that they are making a difference even when they are no longer on the earth. Not only this but giving a gift to charity can pare down their inheritance tax.

·      To Create a Legacy

Most individuals want to be remembered not just when they are alive but when they have passed on too. Donating to a chosen charity can allow people to create a legacy for themselves. This is especially the case if the donor in question does not have anyone else to give their money to or wants to save part of their legacy for charitable donations only. This will ensure that they are remembered as philanthropic individuals with a passion for the charity in question. The non-profit in question might even have a special way of commemorating those who have left them a gift in their will, such as naming a bench after them. This means that they might consider looking at Macmillan legacy gifts, among other charitable gifts, that can allow them to create the legacy that they have always dreamed of having.

·      To Help the Charity Succeed

The majority of donors do not simply give monetary gifts for their own satisfaction, though. Instead, they make donations to help a charity that they are passionate about succeed. These donations can secure the future of the charity in question and allow it to thrive and reach its goals long after the donor’s death, which is important since under two-fifths of charities believe that they have the resources to survive. This will ensure that the donor does not have to worry about what will happen to any charity that they love after they are gone. Leaving a gift upon their death can also allow them to donate more money to the charity than they were able to give in life.

·      To Support a Charity That Has Helped Them

Another reason why people choose to leave gifts in their wills is to support a charity that has helped them at some point in their lives. For instance, a charity might have given them emotional support throughout a health crisis, or they might even have helped them adopt the dog of their dreams. Whatever the charity has done for them, giving a gift can be a great way to say thank you for all that they have done and to give back to the non-profit in one final and yet effective way.

Georgina Monk

Since leaving university with an English and Creative Writing degree, Georgina has worked as a freelance copywriter, writing articles on everything from business technology to charitable giving. As well as running her own blog and performing in and writing plays, some of which have been staged in local theatres, she also volunteers at historical houses and enjoys watersports and getting out into nature.