Types of Bequests
Tackle global poverty for generations to come
By leaving a gift in your Will to Oxfam (a bequest), you’ll make a difference in the lives of people who need it most, by helping us tackle global poverty for generations to come.
The types of gifts you can leave in your Will depend on your circumstances and the legacy you’d like to leave behind. Even 1% of your estate can make a big difference.
Residuary Bequest
A residual bequest is one of the most common ways to leave a charitable gift in your Will. After you have provided for your friends and family and covered any financial commitments, it leaves the remainder of your estate to the charity of your choosing. You can choose to leave the whole of your estate’s residual amount, or a percentage, such as 50%. Residual bequests will hold their value, even increase over time, as the estate’s assets grow in value.
Suggested wording for leaving a residual bequest
“I give, devise and bequeath, free of all duties and taxes, (X% or whole) of the residue of my estate to Oxfam Australia (ABN 18 055 208 636) of 355 William St West Melbourne VIC 3003 for its general purposes. An authorised receipt from Oxfam Australia will be a sufficient discharge for the executor(s) or trustee without seeing to the final distribution of the funds.”
Pecuniary Bequest
A pecuniary gift is a specific amount of money, assets, real estate, stocks and/or shares left to Oxfam. A pecuniary bequest must be very specific in outlining what donation you want to make, such as the address of the property you wish to bequeath, the exact shares in your portfolio, or thorough details of a vehicle. While these gifts provide you with certainty, they can lose their value over time due to inflation.
Suggested wording for a pecuniary bequest
“I give, devise and bequeath, free of all duties and taxes, (description of item) to Oxfam Australia (ABN 18 055 208 636) of 355 William St West Melbourne VIC 3003 for its general purposes. An authorised receipt from Oxfam Australia will be a sufficient discharge for the executor(s) or trustee without seeing to the final distribution of the funds.”
Specific Bequest
You can specify a percentage of your estate — any amount from 1% to 100% — that you would like Oxfam to receive. This gift will also keep its value over time.
Contingent Bequest
A contingent bequest is a conditional donation dependent on an event that may or may not happen in the future. Most commonly it’s used to specify how an estate will be distributed if someone’s children or spouse do not survive them. For example, you may wish for your house to go to your partner after you die, but in the situation where that is no longer possible, you may choose to leave it as a gift to Oxfam.
Suggested wording for a contingent bequest
In the event that (name of the primary beneficiary) does not survive me, I give, devise and bequeath, free of all duties and taxes, (specify the amount in dollars or as a percentage of the estate or describe the noncash property that is the subject of the bequest) to Oxfam Australia (ABN 18 055 208 636) of 355 William St West Melbourne VIC 3003 for its general purposes. An authorised receipt from Oxfam Australia will be a sufficient discharge for the executor(s) or trustee without seeing to the final distribution of the funds.”
Percentage of Estate
Leaving a percentage of your estate (also known as a fractional amount) as a gift allows you to specify any amount between 1% to 100% that you would like Oxfam to receive. By choosing to bequeath a percentage of your estate, your gift will retain its true value over time.
Suggested wording for percentage of estate
“I give, devise and bequeath, free of all duties and taxes, (X% of my estate) to Oxfam Australia (ABN 18 055 208 636) of 355 William St West Melbourne VIC 3003 for its general purposes. An authorised receipt from Oxfam Australia will be a sufficient discharge for the executor(s) or trustee without seeing to the final distribution of the funds.”
Whole Estate
Leaving your whole estate as a charitable gift is often chosen by those who don’t have family to take care of, or who are particularly dedicated to a cause. After thinking deeply about whether there are friends or family members who could benefit from your Will, choosing Oxfam as the sole benefactor is a generous gift that allows us to achieve very significant things in the lives of those living in poverty around the world.
Suggested wording for leaving your whole estate to charity
“I give, devise and bequeath, free of all duties and taxes, (the whole of my estate) to Oxfam Australia (ABN 18 055 208 636) of 355 William St West Melbourne VIC 3003 for its general purposes. An authorised receipt from Oxfam Australia will be a sufficient discharge for the executor(s) or trustee without seeing to the final distribution of the funds.”
What type of bequest is right for you?
The type of gifts you can leave in your Will depends on your circumstances and the legacy you’d like to leave behind. Whatever type you choose, be assured that it’s a wonderful way to give to charity and will make a significant difference to the world.
If you’re unsure what to choose, we recommend discussing it with your family or a legal professional or with our bequests team. If you’d like to discuss your gift or would like further information please call us on 1800 088 110 or email bequest@oxfam.org.au
