At First Law Solicitors, we prepare Wills with Specific Gifts and Bequests for clients who wish to leave particular possessions, sums of money or items of sentimental value to chosen beneficiaries. Whether you wish to leave a family heirloom, charitable donation or financial gift to a loved one, our solicitors ensure that your intentions are expressed clearly and carried out correctly. Every Will we prepare is drafted to meet the formal legal requirements of the Wills Act 1837, while reflecting the personal detail and meaning behind each gift you wish to make.
A specific gift or bequest is a clearly defined item or sum of money left to a named person, organisation or charity in your Will. It can include anything from jewellery and artwork to a vehicle, property or a fixed cash amount. These gifts are distributed before the remainder of your estate, known as the residuary estate, is divided among your main beneficiaries.
Our solicitors help you decide how best to record these gifts so that they are easy to identify and legally valid. We ensure that descriptions are precise, that beneficiaries are clearly named and that your Will provides practical instructions for how each item should be handled if circumstances change. Where relevant, we explain how gifts may be affected by ownership issues, such as jointly held property or assets subject to mortgages or loans. This ensures that your executors can fulfil your wishes without uncertainty or legal complication.
Many clients choose to leave a portion of their estate to charities or community organisations that have personal significance to them. Our solicitors ensure that these charitable gifts are written clearly, with the correct legal names of the organisations and up-to-date registration details to avoid confusion. We also explain how charitable legacies can attract inheritance tax relief under the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, potentially reducing the overall tax payable on your estate. We prepare Wills that make it easy for executors to administer charitable bequests, ensuring that your generosity is honoured exactly as intended.
Sometimes a beneficiary may die before you or an organisation may cease to exist. Our solicitors include clear contingency provisions in your Will to deal with these events. This may involve naming alternative beneficiaries or specifying what should happen to the gift in those circumstances. We also explain how gifts of property or shares should be handled if the asset is sold or changes in value before your death. By addressing these practical details, your Will remains effective and enforceable, even as your circumstances evolve.
Your Will can include both specific gifts and general or residual provisions. Our solicitors ensure that all clauses are consistent and that your estate will be distributed in the correct order, without overlap or contradiction. We review how your gifts interact with other aspects of your Will, such as guardianship, trusts and inheritance tax planning, to maintain balance and clarity throughout the document. We can also advise on how to amend your Will if you wish to add or remove a bequest, explaining when a formal codicil or a new Will is the best approach.
All information about your Will and the gifts it contains is handled with strict confidentiality. Your documents are securely stored in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, under the oversight of the Information Commission (formerly the ICO). We maintain both digital and physical storage systems so that your original Will and any certified copies remain safe and accessible to your executors when needed.
At First Law Solicitors, we take time to understand the personal meaning behind each gift or bequest. Our solicitors combine precise drafting with compassion and practical guidance, ensuring that every Will we prepare is clear, compliant and capable of being carried out without difficulty. We explain every aspect of your Will in plain English and ensure that your instructions are legally valid and tax-efficient. Our aim is to provide you with a Will that reflects both your legal responsibilities and your personal values, giving peace of mind that your wishes will be respected in full.
If you wish to include personal or charitable gifts in your Will, contact First Law Solicitors today. We provide clear and professional advice to clients across the United Kingdom and overseas.
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