90km, one big impact Sign up today!
Leaving a gift in your Will is a meaningful and generous decision. Taking a few simple steps and getting the right advice can help ensure your intentions are clear, legally sound, and carried out exactly as you wish.
.png)
After taking care of your loved ones, you can choose to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific amount, or what remains.
A solicitor can guide you through the process and ensure your Will is clearly written and legally valid. If you choose to include a gift to The Kids’ Cancer Project, your solicitor can include wording such as:
“I give (a percentage of my estate/the residue of my estate/a specific amount) to The Kids’ Cancer Project ABN 13 061 138 181 for its general charitable purposes.”
You may also wish to let us and your loved ones know, if you feel comfortable. Sharing your decision helps ensure your wishes are understood and honoured by your loved ones and allows us to thank you and keep you connected to the impact your future gift will have.
When including a gift to a charity in your Will, clarity is essential. Vague instructions can lead to unintended outcomes.
“The more specific your Will is, with clear and unambiguous language identifying the assets you intend to gift, the better it is for everyone in the long term,” says solicitor James Ballantyne of Ballantyne Law Group.
“Even in the simplest Wills, the omission of a word or punctuation can greatly alter the manner in which your estate will be distributed. This is why it pays to have someone experienced in preparing wills assist you,” Peter Steele of Peninsula Law explains.
Using the correct legal wording helps avoid confusion and ensures your gift reaches the right place. Here is some suggested wording you can use to leave a gift in your Will:
“I give (a percentage of my estate/the residue of my estate/a specific amount) to The Kids’ Cancer Project ABN 13 061 138 181 for its general charitable purposes.
.png)
While it’s possible to write a Will yourself, working with a solicitor ensures all legal requirements are met, and nothing is overlooked. They can help:
1. Structure your Will correctly
2. Ensure it complies with state laws
3. Accurately document your wishes
4. Reduce the risk of disputes or delays
“There are small nuances in every Will, and each situation is different, but with the right guidance it can be very straightforward,” says financial planner Brenton Tong.
Getting professional advice can give you confidence and peace of mind.
Your Will should reflect your current circumstances.
This includes:
Listing all assets clearly (accounts, property, shares)
Including correct details such as names, addresses and ABNs
Updating your Will when your situation changes
If you already have a Will, you can make changes using a codicil (a legal amendment). However, many solicitors recommend creating a new Will to keep everything clear and in one document.
“There are little nuances with Wills you need to be aware of, and each case is so different, but with a little guidance, it can be very easy to sort out,” Brenton Tong, Senior Financial Planner of Financial Spectrum, says.
“Getting the right advice will give you peace of mind, and your estate will end up divided exactly as you intended.”
There are two common ways to leave a gift in your Will:
A fixed amount of money, assets, or items given to a person or organisation.
Example: “I give $10,000 to The Kids’ Cancer Project.”
“A Specific gift in your Will can be one of the easiest ways to give money to a charity and allows you to make a direct gift, according to your priorities,” solicitor Peter Steele of Peninsula Law says. “Specific gifts are usually the first area we discuss when people begin defining the proposed division of their estate.”
Specific gifts given as a financial amount are the most common form of gifting to charities, tax agent Suellen Hansen of Marsh Tincknell Chartered Accountant reveals.
“It’s mostly specific amounts of cash that’s given, or it could be a gift of assets that are to be sold and the proceeds gifted to a charity,” says Suellen.
A percentage or the remainder of your estate after all expenses and other gifts are distributed.
Example: “I give 1% of my estate to The Kids’ Cancer Project.”
“If you are making a Residual gift of the proceeds of the sale of a property or shares, then know how much that asset is worth so you have a clear idea of what kind of a gift you are really leaving in the Will,” she says. “It could be much more, or possibly far less, than you initially figured.”
The residual gift can be given in whole to one entity, equally divided or split into a variety of proportions.
Leaving a gift in your Will to The Kids’ Cancer Project is a powerful way to create lasting impact.
With the right guidance and clear planning, you can ensure your legacy supports life-saving research and helps create a future where every child survives cancer.
Our team is here to support you.
📞 1800 651 158
✉️ wills@tkcp.org.au
