North Hampshire Lifestyle Nov - Dec 2021

Wedding delayed?
Leave a gift for charity
Don't forget to sort out your Will
Whilst many Christmas presents will be forgotten as
soon For those as they who have made been plans unwrapped, for their wedding there is or a civil festive
gift partnership that can this make year, a big there difference is little doubt – leaving that the a legacy
to coronavirus a charity. has caused serious disruption...
Understandably, many couples have decided to delay their
Three quarters of Britons regularly give to charity in their lifetimes,
special day until next year.
but only 6% include a charity when writing a Will.
Although it does not sound very romantic, it is worth
Without this source of income many charities would have to cut
remembering that a marriage or civil partnership is a contract,
important services and some could not exist.
which legally recognises your spouse or civil partner.
Lucy Watson, who heads the Wills and Probate team at Phillips
Couples who live together but who are not married or in a civil
Solicitors, said: “Charities rely on both regular donations and
partnership are at a disadvantage as there is very little provision
legacies in Wills to be able to continue their good work. Leaving
for cohabiting partners should one die.
money to charity in your Will can make a huge difference and
what a wonderful way to ensure that your legacy lives on after
Claire-Marie Selwood, who is a Wills and Probate Solicitor at
you’ve gone.”
Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles explains:
“Despite what many people think, there is no such thing as
“It is especially important to think of charities at the moment
‘Common Law Marriage’.”
when so many of their normal fundraising avenues have been
cancelled with the coronavirus pandemic.”
“If you die without a Will, your estate will be governed by the
Rules of Intestacy, and your life partner/cohabitee will not be
Donations can be as small or as large as you wish, as every gift
classed as your next of kin. The Rules of Intestacy will determine
makes a difference. A gift made to a UK registered charity is also
how your property is divided and distributed irrespective of
inheritance tax free.
the number of years you have lived together. This could result
in your estate being divided amongst your surviving family
“If your estate is large enough to be chargeable to inheritance tax,
members to the exclusion of your life partner/cohabitee and this
gifts to charity will reduce not just the overall amount of tax paid by
may not be what you would want to happen.”
the rest of your estate but may also reduce the rate of tax, resulting
in your family getting the most of their inheritance,” explained Lucy.
“Therefore, I would strongly advise cohabiting couples who are
postponing their wedding or civil partnerships to make a Will.”
Ordinarily, a Will made prior
“If you are looking to
to marriage is automatically
leave money to a charity
revoked once the marriage
you may well consider
has taken place unless the
Sebastian’s Action Trust,
Will is explicitly made in
which is Phillips’ charity of
contemplation of that
the year.”
marriage.
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Sebastian’s Action Trust
“We can
provides emotional,
easily
social and practical
arrange for
care together with outreach and specialist support to families
a Will to be
in Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and
drafted with a clause that incorporates the intention to marry or
Surrey.
form a civil partnership. This means you don’t have to wait until
after you are married to make your Will,” said Claire-Marie.
It also offers respite holidays to families from all over the UK at
The Bluebells – the Trust’s unique facility in North Waltham, just
“They provide clarity and peace of mind. If you are not sure
outside of Basingstoke.
when your wedding of civil partnership will take place, you can
use the time in the lead up to your delayed nuptials to make
suitable provision for your future spouse or civil partner.”
For help in leaving a charitable legacy, or for any other Wills and
Probate issues, please contact Lucy by emailing
lucy.watson@phillips-law.co.uk or by calling 01256 854646.
For more information about making a Will please contact
For more information about the wide range of legal services
Claire-Marie Selwood by calling 01256 854622, emailing
offered by Phillips, please visit www.phillips-law.co.uk
claire-marie.selwood@phillips-law.co.uk or by visiting
www.phillips-law.co.uk/wills-probate
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www.phillips-law.co.uk | 01256 460830 | legal@phillips-law.co.uk
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