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Bequests

Planning your estate

Estate planning is about ensuring that for now and in the future, the value of your assets are maximised and will be directed to the people and causes dear to you.

A trusted legal or financial advisor can help develop a plan for your current situation but also for the realisation of your estate.

They can help determine:
* The appropriate gift level for each beneficiary
* The type of gift to make, e.g. a specific sum, all or part of a particular asset such as property, shares or insurance policy, a proportion of your estate, or all or part of the residue of your estate, i.e. the remainder after all testamentary expenses and specific bequests (gift) to named beneficiaries (eg. family) have been paid
* The tax implications of your gift, e.g. capital gains tax on investment property and stocks and shares
* How to best structure the gift to each beneficiary

Wills and bequests

At the core of estate planning is a person's will. Writing a will and including a gift to the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation (a bequest) is a generous and empowering act. By doing so, loved ones are provided for, but a legacy is left that will make a real and enduring difference to New Zealanders living with blood cancers and related conditions.

A bequest to the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation will be used to support our mission to care for patients, carers and families and help us achieve our vision to find a cure for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Another way of leaving a lasting gift is to set up a Charitable Trust in the family name. The capital of the estate is invested and the annual interest is used by the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation to fund patient support and research programs. As well as having tax advantages, your gift will live on in perpetuity.

Please let us know

If you have – or plan to – include the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation in your Will, or through a Charitable Trust, we would love you to let us know so can extend our warm thanks. There is nothing sadder than finding out about a generous bequest when it is too late to let the donor know how grateful we are.

Correct wording

You may wish to prepare a form like the example below and ask your legal advisor to have it included in your will.

"I give and bequeath free of all duties the sum of $______________ (or) __________ % of my estate, (or) residue of my estate, or) property or assets as follows ____________ free of all charges, to the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation of New Zealand. The official receipt of the Executive Director or other authorised officer of the Trustees is an absolute discharge to my executors."

Please note, your bequest must be written into your will and must be signed by you. Your legal adviser can provide further information on the different types of bequests, and on the appropriate wording for a bequest.

You may choose to make a general bequest and allow the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation to decide how your bequest will be used, or you may prefer to make that decision yourself, e.g. direct your bequest to patient support or research.

Further information

If you would like to talk to someone from the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation about making or updating your will, please contact us on 0800 15 10 15, or email info@leukaemia.org.nz.