High welfare pig farm, UK

FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about wills and leaving a gift in your will.

If you can't find the answer you are looking for, please contact:

 

Hayley Gallery, 
Philanthropy Manager
Call 0433 921 048 or email

Do I need a will?

By making a will, you can ensure that your money, property, possessions and investments (your ‘estate’) are passed on to the people and good causes that you've chosen. If you don't have a will, the state will decide how your estate should be distributed.

How do I make a will?

You can choose a solicitor or professional adviser to write your will.

Before consulting them, consider the value of your estate and decide what you would like to leave, and to whom.

You can also do a will online.

How much does it cost to make a will?

Writing a will may not be as expensive as you might think and it’s the only way to be as certain as possible that your wishes will be carried out. Solicitors can provide estimates on request, but the cost will depend on how complex your affairs are.

Can I leave money for a specific program or area?

We know you love animals, and one of the best ways to help animals is to leave an unrestricted gift to World Animal Protection in your will. That way you can be sure your gift will always go to the animals who are most in need. If you’re considering leaving a gift to World Animal Protection and would like more info on a specific program or area, please contact Emma Larkin – see contact details above.

What types of gifts can I leave?

There are three main types of gifts you can leave to World Animal Protection:

Residuary legacy – a gift of all, or a percentage or fraction, of what’s left in your final estate after all the other legacies have been paid out and debts cleared. One of the advantages of a residuary legacy is that it’s inflation-proof so you’re less likely to need to update your will in the future.

Pecuniary legacy – a gift of a specified sum of money.

Specific legacy – a specified item or items. For example property, a painting or a piece of jewellery.

If you leave a specific legacy to World Animal Protection, your gift will be slightly reduced as it will need to cover the costs of valuing and selling the item.

To help your solicitor or professional adviser, we can offer suggested wording.

Will my legacy gift be confidential?

World Animal Protection will keep all details of your will strictly confidential.

It’s very helpful for us to understand why people make the once-in-a-lifetime decision to help animals around the world through a gift in their will. If you'd like to share your personal story or why you’ve chosen to remember World Animal Protection, we'd love to hear from you.

Personal stories like yours can be a great way to encourage others to think about supporting our future work in their wills. We would not make any use of this information without first getting your written consent.

How often should I update my will?

Once a will is made, it's important to keep it up to date and account for any changes in your circumstances. For example, you may have married, had a child or grandchild, or moved home, or your financial situation may have changed. It's also advisable to reconsider the contents of your will every two or three years to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

What should I do if I’m acting as an executor of a will?

If you are an executor with questions on how to administer a will that includes a gift to World Animal Protection, we have information that may be helpful.

Why consider World Animal Protection in your will?

All across the globe, World Animal Protection supporters have protected millions of animals and helped people understand the importance of animal protection.

Leave animals a gift in your Will

Become an Animal Protector For Ever

Animals in all corners of the world will benefit from your touching gift, now and into the future.

How to include us in your will

If you've decided to support the work of World Animal Protection with a gift in your will, thank you. Animals in need across the world will benefit from your lasting legacy.