Leave a lasting legacy
A bequest to the ST Vincent de Paul Society makes lasting positive change and is a powerful reflection of the values and principles you treasure. It enables you to create a legacy of love and care for those who most need assistance, and it will continue your life’s aims beyond your own lifetime.
Information about leaving a gift in your Will
Every gift, no matter how large or small, is important to the Society. Including a gift in your Will is a wonderful way to continue to make a difference to the lives of people in need without impacting your life today.
Bequest funds are vital to ensuring the Society can continue to support, assist and most importantly provide a hand up to those at greatest risk of experiencing social exclusion, disadvantage or homelessness in our community.
Leaving a bequest is a very personal decision, and you should look after your loved ones first. Once this provision has been made, it is possible to include a bequest to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc in a number of different ways.
- Specific bequests are gifts of particular articles of property, e.g. a house, shares.
- Pecuniary bequests are gifts of a specific sum of money.
- Contingency bequests are made only when the executor of an estate cannot distribute the estate as planned in the Will.
- Residuary bequests are made up of the remainder of an estate once pecuniary and specific bequests have been distributed.
How to ensure your wishes are carried out
Make sure your Will is legal
A Will prepared by a legal professional means your estate is left to those about whom you care the most.
Make sure your Will is current
It is important that your Will is both current and legal. As your life changes, your Will should change to reflect the new circumstances, such as including a new family member. It is therefore advisable to review your Will at least every five years.
Make sure the wording in your Will is correct
Ask your solicitor or the professional who is preparing your Will to add a clause, which will need to include the appropriate suggested wording as below.
One you have decided on the type of gift you wish to leave, your solicitor or other professional will need the right wording for your Will. Below is some suggested wording.
1. Gift of Whole Estate
I GIVE the residue of my estate to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. of 202 Franklin Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 (ABN 73 591 401 592) for its general purposes, and I DIRECT that a receipt of the authorised representative of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor.
2. Gift of Portion of Estate
I GIVE (insert percentage) percent of the residue of my estate to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. of 202 Franklin Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 (ABN 73 591 401 592) for its general purposes and I DIRECT that a receipt of the authorised representative of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor.
3. Bequest – Cash Amount
I GIVE the sum of [insert words] [insert figures] to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. of 202 Franklin Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 (ABN 73 591 401 592) for its general purposes and I DIRECT that a receipt of the authorised representative of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor.
4. Bequest – House or Other Asset
I GIVE (my interest in my house situated at [insert address]) or (my main residence at the date of my death) or (any motor vehicle owned by me at the date of my death) or (insert description of other asset) to the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. of 202 Franklin Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 (ABN 73 591 401 592) for its general purposes and I DIRECT that a receipt of the authorised representative of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor.
5. Specified Purposes
While the Society prefers that gifts be able to be used for its general purposes in order to enable it to meet the changing needs of the people that it assists, if you wish your bequest to be used for a particular purpose, please incorporate the following wording into your Will to enable the Society to make use of your bequest in the event that it is not possible to utilise some or all of your gift for your desired purpose:
“…and I EXPRESS the wish without creating a trust or other legal obligation that the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. use this gift for [insert nature of the use to which you wish your gift to be applied]