Legacy FAQs

Here you’ll find the answers to some of the frequently asked questions about leaving a gift in your Will to Canine Partners.

Do I need a Will?

Having a Will isn’t a legal requirement, however it’s the only way to ensure that your estate is passed on to the people and charities that you want it to go to. Without a Will, the legal system will decide who receives what from your estate.

Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my Will?

Every gift we receive, no matter how large or small, will make a real difference to our work. Even donating a small percentage of your estate will help to support our work.

What sort of gift can I leave?

There are two main types of gifts that you can leave in your Will:

Residuary – this is a gift of a percentage of your estate after all other gifts have been made and any debts have been cleared.

Pecuniary – this is a gift of a fixed sum of money.

How do I write my Will and what will it cost?

On average it costs between £80 and £150 to arrange a new Will. Solicitors can provide estimates, but it will depend on how complex your estate is. It’s a worthwhile investment to give you and your loved ones peace of mind. We always recommend that you consult a solicitor when making your Will for the first time, or changing any element of your Will, then you can rest assured that you have had professional advice and your wishes will be respected.

Can you help me find a solicitor?

As a charity, we are not able to recommend a particular solicitor. Your relevant Law Society can help you to find the details of a solicitor close to you. For England and Wales, please visit www.lawsociety.org.uk, for Scotland www.lawscot.org.uk, and for Northern Ireland www.lawsoc-ni.org.

Can Canine Partners act as executor of my Will?

Unfortunately, as Canine Partners has no in-house legal team, we are unable to act as executor of your Will.

How can I update my Will?

It is important to regularly review your Will to ensure that it reflects your current situation. We recommend using a solicitor to make any changes and it’s easy to add a gift to a charity by using what’s called a ‘codicil’ – to find out more, please speak to your solicitor.

What is Inheritance Tax?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax that is charged on the portion of your estate that exceeds a certain level at the time of your death. A gift to charity in your Will could reduce your liability. The current IHT threshold (as of June 2011) is £325,000. If the value of your estate, including your home, is above this, you’ll have to pay the current 40% rate of IHT on that additional amount.

Since 6 April 2012 however, your IHT rate will be cut to 36% if you leave at least 10% of your estate to a registered charity.

Everybody’s financial affairs are different, so we always recommend talking to your solicitor or financial advisor.

What information about Canine Partners will my solicitor need?

Your solicitor will ask for our registered address and our registered charity number:

Our registered address is:

Canine Partners
Ashby Road
Osgathorpe
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE12 9SR

Our registered charity number is: 803680

Can I leave a gift to a specific project such as one of your training centres, or to fund a dog’s training?

The best way to give is to leave an unrestricted donation towards our greatest need at the time. However, if you’d like to be more specific with your gift, please do get in touch so we can help you to phrase this by expressing a wish that your gift be used in this way. We can never be exactly sure what will happen in the future, so we always look to ensure that your gift can be used in the best way.

Will my legacy gift be confidential?

Yes. Canine Partners will respect your privacy at all times. We will not pass on the details of your will or any confidential information to any third parties. If you would like to share your personal reasons for choosing Canine Partners, we would love to hear them. We may then ask you if we can share your story for press, publications or social media purposes but there is no obligation to agree to this. If you would like to share your story, please contact our legacy team using the contact form below.

What if I change my mind?

Including a gift in your Will to Canine Partners is not a binding commitment while you are still alive. You can change your mind and amend your Will at any time, and it’s a good idea to review it regularly in case your circumstances have changed.

For more information, please send us a message below, or email legacies@caninepartners.org.uk