Leaving a Gift in your Will: FAQs

There are three types of gifts you can leave to charity:  

1. Pecuniary (a fixed amount of money)
2. Residuary (a portion or the entirety of your remaining estate, after other designated gifts, expenses, and taxes have been settled.)
3. Specific (a particular object, asset, or property). 

No, there is no minimum amount you can leave to charity in your Will. All gifts, no matter the size, can help secure the future of the Home. 

Your solicitor or professional Will-writer will be able to advise on the specific wording to be used.

The only information you need to have ready beforehand is the charity’s name, address, and its registered charity number.

Our details are:

Our name: Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home
Our address: 26 Seafield Road East, Edinburgh EH15 1EH
Our registered charity number: SC006914 

The good news is, you can update and change your Will at any time.

There are two options to choose from, depending on the changes you wish to make.

1. You can add a piece of paper called a codicil to your existing Will.
2. You can make an entirely new Will with any changes.Either way, it’s important to make sure the updated Will is valid – your solicitor will be able to advise you on this. 

Either way, it’s important to make sure the updated Will is valid, your solicitor will be able to advise you on this. 

You can search for a solicitor near you by using the Law Society Directory, a professional body for solicitors.

Find a Solicitor in Scotland via Law Society of Scotland
 

Find a Solicitor in England and Wales via The Law Society 

Yes, remembering a charity in your Will is a tax-efficient way to support the cause close to your heart and your loved ones. Any gift you leave to charity in your Will is exempt from inheritance tax. If you choose to give 10% or more of your estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate drops from 40% to 36%. 

By choosing to remember Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home in your Will, you play a vital role in giving vulnerable dogs and cats the second chance they deserve.

It costs almost £3 million every year to keep our doors open, and we receive no regular government funding. Remarkably, gifts in Wills make up at least a third of all the donations we rely on. Without this extraordinary kindness, we simply couldn’t continue our work. 

Your gift will give every dog and cat at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home the very best care – just as you’d want for your own pet. From essential medical treatment and nourishing meals to enrichment toys, soft blankets, treats, and plenty of love and attention, you’ll be helping them thrive while they wait for their forever home. 

But there’s so much more behind the scenes that keeps our doors open. With your support, we can continue covering vital day-to-day costs like heating, electricity, staffing, laundry, transport, and even waste disposal. It all adds up, but every penny helps make sure our animals stay safe, warm, and cared for.

We’ll always ensure we use your gift carefully and wisely where it’s needed most and where it will have the greatest benefit for the dogs and cats.

If, however, you ask for the gift to be restricted to an area that’s most important to you, for example, if you would like it to benefit cats directly, we’ll honour your wish.

Just make sure your intentions are stated clearly in your Will, and if they are very specific, we recommend discussing them with us beforehand. 

Gifts to family and friends always come first. But if you also choose to include a gift to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home in your Will, it will make sure that animals are cared for long into the future. Your gift will have a lasting impact on hundreds on dogs and cats. 

There is no obligation to tell us about your plans and the status of your Will and we’ll never pressure you to tell us what’s in it or how you should plan your estate.

However, if you feel comfortable with letting us know you have remembered us in your Will, it will help us plan for the Home’s future. 

Find a Solicitor in Scotland via The Law Society of Scotland 

Find a Solicitor in England and Wales via The Law Society 

Find a professional Will writer in Scotland Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters 

Find a professional Will writer in England, Wales and the Northern Ireland Institute of Professional Willwriters 

You can find guidance on how to make a Will and why it is important on the reputable websites below. 

Making a Will – The Law Society 

Making a Will – the Law Society of Scotland 

Wills – Citizens Advice Scotland 

Making a Will – Remember a Charity 

As a charity, we don’t offer legal advice. However, we recommend reading about this on the UK Government’s website if you think you may need it. 

If you are an executor of a deceased person’s Will in Scotland, and you would like some information about your role, please click on the links below. 

What to Do After a Death in Scotland – GOV.SCOT 

Scottish Courts and Tribunals – Dealing with a Deceased’s Estate in Scotland