Types of gifts to consider

Please note that the rules that apply to Wills can be different depending on where you live in the UK, so do show these wordings to your solicitor or professional Will advisor. They’ll know precisely the right way to use them.

You can give a share of the remainder of your estate

This is a gift of money or assets left after all other gifts and expenses have been paid. It’s easy to put this gift in your Will without affecting any other gifts you have left. You can express it as a percentage – anywhere from 1% to 100%.

Accompanying text: "I give to Sue Ryder, registered charity numbers 1052076 (England and Wales) and SCO39578 (Scotland), First floor, Kings House, King Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2ED, a X% share of my residuary estate, free of inheritance tax, for its general charitable purposes."

You can give a sum of money

If you’d like to give a specific amount of money, this is also simple to do.

Accompanying text: "I give to Sue Ryder, registered charity numbers 1052076 (England and Wales) and SCO39578 (Scotland), First floor, Kings House, King Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2ED the sum of £X, free of inheritance tax, for its general charitable purposes."

If you’re worried that time will erode the value of your gift, please ask your solicitor for advice on how you might arrange it to keep pace with inflation.

You can give an item

Leaving something of value that can be sold to fund our work, such as a piece of jewellery, stocks or shares, or property is another gift you can consider.

Accompanying text: "I give to Sue Ryder, registered charity numbers 1052076 (England and Wales) and SCO39578 (Scotland), First floor, Kings House, King Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2ED my [description of item], free of inheritance tax, for its general charitable purposes."

Leaving your gift to a hospice/care centre

You can specify that your gift goes to a Sue Ryder hospice or care centre that is close to your heart, should you wish.

This can be done by leaving your gift in the usual way, but including the words: "I express the wish for the money to be used for the benefit of [insert name of hospice/care centre]."

Your solicitor should be your first port of call

Your solicitor will be able to advise you as to which option will work best for your situation. We strongly advise you to see a solicitor before making or changing your Will.

The legal system is different in Scotland. Your solicitor will be able to advise you on the different rules that apply to Wills in Scotland.

How to change your existing Will using a codicil

If your planned changes are small – such as making a specific legacy – it may not be necessary to change the whole document. It's wise to consult your solicitor, but you may be able to record any changes by adding a codicil.

Please note that any codicil must be signed and witnessed in the same way as a full Will to make it legal.