Leave a legacy

Preparing a will is a very personal process and naturally, it is done to benefit family and loved ones first.

However, like many others, you may wish to include a charity bequest in your will to an institution, which you supported during your lifetime. This is a unique way to extend your beliefs and hopes for the future beyond your own lifetime and perhaps even to make a more substantial contribution than at present.

Bequests to charitable institutions are exempt from tax and may lead to savings in the amount of estate duty payable should your estate amount to more than R1 million.

When naming Durbanville Children’s Home in your will, your gift will help the home to care for 144 children and your legacy will be an investment in the future of the children of South Africa. Not only will it provide for practical things such as buildings and equipment, it will also be a lasting memory of your kindness and compassion.

If you are considering a bequest or legacy of love by including Durbanville Children’s Home in your will, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information.

Types of bequests

The simplest form of a bequest is specifying a fixed sum of money. However, in order to ensure that charitable bequests remain in proportion to other bequests, many people designate a percentage of their estate to the charity of their choice.

Options include the following:

• Name the charity of your choice as a residual beneficiary. The charity then receives the remains of the estate after all other heirs have received their due.
• Donate property such as a house or other real estate, valuable antiques or jewellery, or stocks and shares. These are just as welcome financial contributions.
• Sign over an existing life assurance policy, which is no longer needed, or take out a new policy and name a charity as the beneficiary.

For more information, contact Johanna Strauss on +27 (0)21 975 6822 or email jstrauss@dchome.org.za