Leave a Gift in Will: Frequently Asked Questions

It would be unwise to attempt to prepare your own Will as it is an important legal document. It is therefore advisable to have your Will professionally drafted to ensure your wishes are properly recorded and carried out.

If you die without making a Will your estate is said to be intestate. As there is no formal record of your wishes your assets will be distributed according to a pre-determined legal formula.

Your legal professional can provide you with an estimate of costs and it will be money well spent. If you do not have a legal professional, The Law Society of NSW or ACT will be assist you to locate a suitable Wills and Estates Accredited Specialist. A bequest gift to BaptistCare can be included at no extra cost whenever you revise or up-date your Will. You can also add a bequest gift to your existing Will in the form of a codicil (a legal amendment) at any time.

Yes, after you have made adequate provision for your family and friends we ask that you consider a gift to BaptistCare.

The answer is no. Many thousands of Australians from all sections of society leave gifts in their Wills to their favourite causes. Every gift counts and even a small percentage of your estate can help us transform a life.

BaptistCare will act in a professional manner and always respect your privacy. We will never pass on any details of your Will or confidential information. However, we would love to hear from you if you would like to share your reasons for supporting our work.

We fully understand that you may wish to support a ministry close to your heart. However, if your gift is unrestricted we are then free to apply the funds to where they are most needed.

Yes, you are free to change your mind at any time. Your legal advisor can assist you.

In general there are three major types of bequests: Specific Bequest Gifts: Gifts of particular pieces of property such as houses, cars, jewellery, books or clothing made to a person or an organisation. General Bequest Gifts: Sums of money or percentages of the value of your estate made to a particular person or organisation such as BaptsitCare. Tithing of your estate (10% as a guide) is an option you may also consider. Residual Bequest Gifts: These are what is left of your estate after specific and general bequest gifts have been paid. If you are married, your gift to BaptistCare can take effect after the death of your spouse. This ensures your spouse retains your estate for life.

For many people, leaving a gift in their Will is often the only opportunity they have to give a significant donation to an organisation they have supported for many years. A gift in your Will to BaptistCare enables our dedicated staff and volunteers to continue the ministry of addressing unmet needs and transforming lives across NSW and the ACT.