What are the different ways I can include a gift to Bliss in my will?
If you’d like to include a gift to us in your will, there are different ways you can do so:
- A pecuniary gift is a fixed sum of money. There is no minimum amount that can be left.
- A specific gift is an object or thing, such as a house or a piece of jewellery.
- A residuary gift is made from whatever’s left over once gifts of money and specific items have been distributed.
I’d like to include a gift to Bliss in my will. How should this be worded?
If you’d like to include a pecuniary gift to Bliss in your will, please ask your solicitor to use the following wording:
I give free of tax to Bliss, the special care baby charity (Registered charity no. 1002973. Scottish registered charity no. SC040878), of 1st Floor North, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ the sum of £ __________ for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of its Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge.
Please ask your solicitor to use the following wording if you’d like to include a residuary gift to Bliss in your Will:
Subject to the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, I give the whole/_______% of my estate not otherwise disposed of by this my Will to Bliss, the special care baby charity (Registered charity no. 1002973. Scottish registered charity no. SC040878), 1st Floor North, 10-18 Union Street, London, SE1 1SZ for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of its Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge.
I’ve made a will. What now?
Once you’ve made a will, it’s really important to keep it up-to-date. If you don’t, it might not reflect your wishes after you've died. This could cause problems for those you leave behind at an already difficult time.
Whenever your circumstances change, eg if you get married, or if your partner dies, you should update your Will. You can do this using a codicil form.
Your solicitor can help you add this form to your Will. Alternatively, if your Will has been made by our partners The Goodwill Partnership, they can amend it for you for a small administration fee.
Don’t make changes to your Will yourself as you could render it invalid if not done correctly.
Does a gift have to be a large sum of money?
Not at all. Gifts in wills come in all shapes and sizes. Whatever you can afford, a gift to Bliss in your Will will make a real difference to the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable babies.
Including a gift to Bliss in your will won’t affect how much money you’ll have to provide for yourself and your loved ones in old age because your estate is calculated based on what’s left.
Many of our supporters choose to include residuary gifts to Bliss in their wills because they are taken from the money left after all other gifts to loved ones and friends have been made.
Should I support Bliss now or in later life?
It’s entirely up to you – either way we're grateful for your generosity.
Some of our supporters choose to include gifts to Bliss in their wills so that they can help improve outcomes for premature and sick babies without having to pay anything now.
How will Bliss use my gift?
A gift to Bliss in your will will fund life-changing neonatal research, campaign to influence policy and practice, work with healthcare professionals to improve care for babies and empower families with the information and support they need. It will help change the lives of future generations of babies born premature or sick.
Do I need to tell Bliss about a gift that I’ve included in my will?
You don’t need to tell us if you have included us in your will, however if you do let us know, we will be able to thank you for your generous support and keep you up-to-date with our latest work, if you wish to hear from us.
What if I change my mind about including a gift to Bliss in my will?
That’s absolutely fine. We understand that peoples' circumstances change, so you can change your mind at any time.