Estate planning is one of the best ways to support charitable giving without limiting your flexibility or access to resources during your lifetime.
If you plan to make a charitable gift by will, please think it through carefully. Then, meet with your attorney to discuss and update your will. Tell him or her exactly what you want to do. Be as clear as possible in describing what you want given to whom. Following are several ways to make a bequest. You should discuss them with your attorney as you prepare to update your will.
- Specific Bequest. This is a gift of a specific item to a specific beneficiary. If the specific property has been disposed of before death, the bequest fails and no claim can be made to any other property.
- General Bequest. This is usually a gift of a stated sum of money. It will not fail, even if there is not sufficient cash to meet the bequest. Other assets must be sold to meet the bequest.
- Contingent Bequest. This is a bequest made on condition that a certain event must occur before distribution to the beneficiary. A contingent bequest is specific in nature and fails if the condition is not met. (A contingent bequest is also appropriate if you want to name a secondary beneficiary in case the primary beneficiary doesn’t survive you.)
- Residuary Bequest. This is a gift of all the “rest, residue and remainder” of your estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid. You may prefer to divide your estate according to percentage of the residue (rather than specifying dollar amounts), to ensure that your beneficiaries receive the proportions you desire.
Bequests may be made anonymously if you prefer, and your gift will remain confidential. Recognition of your bequest, however, has the added benefit of encouraging others to do the same.
Please contact OICF if you have questions.
