Wills Service

Your guide to leaving a gift in your Will of Personalty to Guernsey Mencap

Thank you for considering this very special gift. By leaving a gift to Guernsey Mencap in your Will you can support our important charitable work to make Guernsey the best place in the world for someone with a learning disability to live.

How leaving a gift in your Will can help Guernsey people with learning disabilities lead wonderful, fulfilled lives.

A gift in your will is a gesture of solidarity with Mencap and all the families here who are struggling with the tribulations of living life with a loved one who has learning disabilities, in a world where they are all too easily overlooked. The path can sometimes be a lonely one but Guernsey Mencap LBG is here for you and hopefully shows families that they are not alone, and that you have somebody to turn to.

We believe that people with a learning disability deserve to have the same things in life as everyone else.  To feel valued; to have meaningful relationships; to be employed if they are able; indeed to have as many choices as possible to lead their lives in the way they choose.

Leaving a gift to Guernsey Mencap in your Will is one of the most impactful ways of supporting us.  It will help us build a fairer, kinder world for everyone with a learning disability. We thank you for considering making such a gift in your Will.

Planning a Will

Once you have decided the time is right for you to write your Will, whether this is a Will of Realty (which relates to any property you may own) or a Will of Personalty (relating to all your other assets such as bank accounts, shares, cars, furnishings etc), the first step is to write down a list of your assets and think about the people and causes you’d like to include. To help with this please see the attached Wills Questionnaire here.

Do I really need a Will?

Having a Will is the best way of ensuring that your wishes are carried out and is a way of providing for the people and causes you care about.  If you do not execute a Will, and die intestate, your wishes may not be fulfilled and your estate may pass in a way which is not how you would wish.  Dying intestate also means a lot more work for those you leave behind as they may have to make applications to Court enabling them to administer your estate after your death.

What is an executor and why do I need one?

An executor is someone who looks after your Will once you have died, to ensure that your wishes are followed through. You can appoint a family member or a friend to be an executor.   You can speak to the Guernsey Mencap committee if you would like to ask a member of our committee to take on this role for you.  Alternatively, you can appoint a solicitor or financial advisor but note that there will be significant fees involved with this.

I have a dependant with a learning disability, how can I provide for them in my Will?

If you have a child or other loved one with a learning disability we would recommend setting up a Discretionary Trust in your Will for them. This is because if they inherit a lump sum of money in their own name it can affect any means-tested benefits they currently or may one day receive.  Also inheriting a large amount of money, particularly at such an emotionally distressing and vulnerable time, can cause other problems.  Your loved one may become susceptible to financial pressures from others who may target their vulnerability.    A Discretionary Trust ensures that money for your child is protected for their future.   If you would like more information on how you can protect your loved one, we would recommend you contact an expert such as Torode Advocates who specialise in Wills and Estate matters. Their contact details are as shown below:

Torode Advocates
Windsor House
Lower Pollet
St Peter Port
Guernsey
Telno : 01481 741 049
www.torodeadvocates.com