A gift in Will FAQs

Yes, everyone should have a Will. A Will ensures that, upon your passing, you continue to provide for the people and causes you care about. More than 52% of Australians do not have a Will. If you die without making a Will, state laws determine how your assets will be distributed, according to a pre-determined formula.

A ‘Gift in Will’ or ‘bequest’ is a donation left to a charity or not-for-profit in your Will. The donation is distributed to your chosen beneficiaries on your behalf once the Will is finalised.

A charitable bequest is simply the legal term for a gift in your Will that is left to a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to MSWA, we encourage you to seek legal advice and to consider discussing it with your family and loved ones. People leave a gift for different reasons and discussing this with loved ones helps them to understand your decision.

Some of the reason can be:

• We supported you, a friend, or a family member during your journey, through our services and facilities

• We give future generations hope that one day a cure can be found

• You wish to honour the memory of a loved one with a neurological condition

You can be very proud of your decision to leave a gift in your Will to MSWA. We would be happy to talk to family members to share stories of the great work we do in WA.

Any discussions that we have with you and your decision to make a bequest will be kept confidential unless you say otherwise.

Leaving a gift in your Will is a way of supporting MSWA without any current expense. For some it is not easily affordable today but achievable through a future gift in their Will. For others it is a way of leaving a larger gift that is donated for a specific purpose like funding research.

There are three common examples of types of bequests:

The Residue – after providing for your family and friends, you may decide to leave the residue of your estate (what is left) to MSWA. This is otherwise known as a ‘residual bequest’.

Percentage – leaving a percentage of your estate ensures that your beneficiaries are not affected by the changes in the size of your estate or by inflation.

A Specific Sum – in its simplest form, a bequest can be a specific bequest of money left in your Will to be received by a beneficiary.

There are three common types of bequests, the following wording may help you and your solicitor include MSWA in your Will.

The Residue – after providing for your family and friends, you may decide to leave the residue of your estate (what is left) to MSWA.

If you wish to leave the residue of your estate to MSWA, your solicitor might find the following wording helpful:
"I give the residue of my estate, free of all duties and taxes, to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA Inc. (ABN 75 638 080 972) MSWA), to be used for the general purposes of MSWA and I declare that an authorised receipt from MSWA shall be sufficient discharge of this gift."

Percentage – leaving a percentage of your estate ensures that your beneficiaries are not affected by the changes in the size of your estate or by inflation.

If you wish to leave a percentage of the residue of your estate to MSWA, your solicitor might find the following wording helpful:

"I give ______% of the residue of my estate, free of all duties and taxes, to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA Inc. (ABN 75 638 080 972) (MSWA), to be used for the general purposes of MSWA and I declare that an authorised receipt from MSWA shall be sufficient discharge of this gift."

A Specific Sum – in its simplest form, a bequest can be a specific sum of money left in your Will to be received by a beneficiary. It is important to note that the disadvantage of leaving a specific sum of money to any beneficiary is that it does not allow for depletion of your estate or for inflation. In this instance, it will be important to review your Will regularly to ensure that there is enough in your estate to allow for the gift to be made.

If you wish to leave a specific sum of money to MSWA, your solicitor might find the following wording helpful:

"I give the sum of $________, free of all duties and taxes, to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA Inc. (ABN 75 638 080 72) MSWA), to be used for the general purposes of MSWA and I declare that an authorised receipt from MSWA shall be sufficient discharge of this gift."

Funding vital research, giving thousands of people hope that one day we will find causes and cures to these conditions, and continue to discover better treatments.

Future Investment in building more state-of-the-art facilities across more locations throughout WA.

Funding services and support so thousands of people living with a neurological condition can live their best life.

You can specify how your gift is used, or you can trust MSWA to put your gift to its best use.

Yes you can. Contact your solicitor for more detail on what is required to update your Will.

Yes, MSWA is a registered charity, so no tax is required to be paid on the gift you leave to MSWA in your Will. Please contact us for our charity number and other details you require.

Yes, you can write your own Will. To do this, you can purchase a Will writing kit or use an online program such as Safewill.

If your Will is considered complicated it is recommended that you seek professional advice to ensure the Will is valid and carried out your wishes as per your instructions.

Believe it or not, more than 52% of Australians do not have a Will. Anyone over the age of 18 should have a Will to ensure financial and personal affairs are in order, should something happen.

Without one, even relatively simple tasks like redirecting emails, cancelling insurance, and accessing bank accounts for funeral expenses is made near impossible. This can be terribly stressful for family members already dealing with grief following the loss of a loved one.

Only you can determine if Safewill is the right option for you. If you would like to know more about the Safewill Will writing service take a look at their guidance notes. They provide legal information to assist you in understanding the basics of Will-writing, and to assess whether Safewill is appropriate for your personal circumstances.

MSWA does not warrant or represent that the Safewill product is right for you or suitable to your personal circumstances.

Your personal circumstances (including the size and nature of your estate, your family situation, and your personal wishes) may affect whether or not the Safewill product is right for you.

MSWA has suggested the Safewill product without knowledge of, and without taking into consideration, your personal circumstances.

The Safewill product might be a cost-effective solution for the preparation of your Will, however, if not done properly, your will might result in unnecessary cost and stress to your family and other beneficiaries.

MSWA recommend that you carefully consider the suitability of the Safewill product for you, and if you have any concerns, or require further information, you should obtain independent legal advice regarding your will and your estate.

MSWA will not be liable, including (but not limited to) in negligence, for any loss or damage that you, your estate, family members or other beneficiaries may suffer as a result of or in connection with your use of the Safewill product.