Why include Free Tibet in your Will?

Leaving a legacy to Free Tibet means your vision of freedom and justice will live on. It is your opportunity to help the Tibetan people regain their freedom with a gift you may not have been able to afford in your lifetime.

How your legacy will make a difference
Legacy giving is extremely valuable for Free Tibet as it allows us to plan for the future. The following information lets you know how you can leave a gift for Free Tibet after your loved ones have been provided for. Remember, absolutely every gift, no matter how small can help.

How do I go about making a Will?
Making a Will is not expensive, complicated or time-consuming. We strongly recommend that you go to a solicitor for professional, reliable advice in drawing up your Will.

Here are some guidelines to help you prepare some necessary details:
Work out the sum of your estate by listing all your assets (house, savings, jewellery etc) and subtracting all your liabilities (mortgage, debts etc). The result is your estate total.

Next, decide how you would like your assets and possessions to be divided amongst your family and friends. If at this point you do decide to leave a legacy or gift to Free Tibet or any other cause, there are different ways for you to do so. 

A pecuniary legacy
A gift of a fixed sum of money to a named person or organisation. 

A specific legacy
A gift of a particular item (not money), such as jewellery to a named person or organisation.

A residuary legacy
After all pecuniary and specific bequests have been made and your expenses accounted for, the remainder of your estate is known as the residue. This should be covered by a Residuary Bequest otherwise you cannot determine its outcome. The residue can be split between family, friends and your favourite causes.

What if I already have a Will?
It is very important to keep your Will up to date. Altering an existing Will can be done simply by adding a codicil, a separate legal document witnessed in its own right. Again, consulting a solicitor is the best way to add a codicil and ensure it is legally binding. A codicil must be kept with your Will but not attached to it.

How do I word a legacy or codicil?
Due to the political nature of our work, Free Tibet is not a registered charity. This means that there would be no tax benefit to Free Tibet when a legacy or gift is left to us. To ensure that no problems arise when the Will is executed, the wording used must show an understanding of this and also clearly state who the recipients of any legacies or gifts are.
Below are listed some suggestions on how to word a legacy, but we do strongly suggest that you also consult a solicitor to ensure that the Will is legally binding and that your wishes are carried out, especially where a codicil is concerned.

Suggested Wording
I give to Free Tibet, 28 Charles Square, London, N1 6HT [either] the sum of £[insert sum] [or] [insert specific gift e.g. jewellery] [or] all the residue of my estate [or] one [insert a share e.g. 5%] share of the residue of my estate for its general purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Finance Manager or other proper person at Free Tibet shall be full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.

If you have left a legacy to Free Tibet, it would be very helpful if you could let us know (although you are of course not obliged to do so).