Why is it important to have a will?
Preparing a will is not simply a matter of being organised and ensuring that your worldly assets are distributed according to your wishes. It is the responsibility of every person aged over 18, regardless of the amount of assets. Preparing a will gives you the opportunity to give your assets to the people and causes you care about most.
What if you do not have a will?
People who pass away intestate (without leaving a valid will) can cause unintentional emotional and financial hardship for those they leave behind. When you die intestate, your estate is distributed according to the complex laws of intestacy, regardless of how well known your intentions were. Your assets may not be distributed to those you wish, depriving loved ones of their rightful inheritance. Your assets represent a lifetime of work and achievement. Why leave their distribution to chance when you can give voice to your wishes through a will?
How do you protect your wishes?
A valid will is a legally enforceable document and nominates how your assets will be distributed. Your assets include everything you own, such as property, vehicles, savings, investments, shares, superannuation, personal items, jewellery, art and so on.
To be legally enforceable (valid), a will must be made in writing. It must be clearly signed, and it must be witnessed by at least two independent adults during your signing of the will.
Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. If you do not have a current will, you should consult a solicitor or the Public Trust office.
Please remember
Keep your will in a safe place, preferably in the hands of your legal representative or bank manager. Review your will if your circumstances change through death of a beneficiary, marriage, divorce, or a change in financial assets.
Who will benefit from your will?
Making a will can be enormously satisfying. It provides a rare opportunity to objectively assess your life and to review your relationships. Deciding who will benefit from your will is deeply personal. For most people, the first priority is to provide for the immediate needs and future security of family, relatives and others who have been close during their lifetime.
The balance of the estate after these intentions have been met is referred to as the residual. Many generous people look to this residue of the estate to provide a gift to religious or charitable causes they support. Others leave a specific amount, percentage or item from their estate. These gifts are known as bequests. This unique type of giving provides a practical avenue through which people can make a lasting impact.
Would you like to leave a bequest to St Andrew’s South Brisbane?
Use the following wording so the Anglican Church Southern Queensland (The Diocese of Brisbane) will receipt the funds on behalf of the Parish of South Brisbane and only allocate it to capital works. Whilst there are many capital items with a historic building, we realise that some people may want to leave money for ministry purposes. If this is the case, please contact us for details of our ministry fund.
I give and bequeath the sum of $……(or the rest and residue of my estate) to The Corporation of The Synod of The Diocese of Brisbane for the general charitable and religious purposes of the parish of St Andrew’s South Brisbane, and the receipt of the Diocesan General Manager shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor or trustee.
If you require more information about how to leave a bequest, please contact the church office.
A final word about bequests
Bequests are personal matters and we respect your privacy. If you do choose to make a bequest to St Andrew’s South Brisbane, you are not obliged to let us know the details of your planned legacy, but we do encourage you to do so. Knowing of your intentions enables us to thank you in person and to discuss with you how we might invest your intended gift in a way that matches your values and honours your wishes.
You can make a real difference to the good work of St Andrew’s South Brisbane by making a will and choosing to leave a bequest which will be a lasting symbol of your generosity.
All money given to St Andrew’s will be used for the growth of God’s Kingdom (staffing, ministry activities, property, and/or anything else that we believe will advance the cause of the gospel).
