Confused?If you have any queries about leaving a gift in your Will to Blue Cross, please contact our Legacy Team on 0300 777 1757 or email legacy@bluecross.org.uk

bluecross.org.uk/gift-your-willBlue Cross is a charity that has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897.

A guide to making & changing your Will with Blue Cross

Let your love for pets live on

CONTENTSABOUT US 3

Blue Cross legacy of care 4

The importance of Blue Cross today 5

Why gifts in Wills are important to us 6

ABOUT YOUR WILL 7

Why a Will is important to you 8

Getting started: how to make your Will 9

Could the taxman help too? 11

LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL 13

How to remember Blue Cross in your Will 14

Questions and answers 15

We’re here to help you 16

Letting us know your intentions 17

Glossary of legal terms 18

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Having an up to date Will is important for everyone, as it is the only way to guarantee your wishes are carried out. Without this, the legal system will step in and manage your estate. So making a Will is not only peace of mind for you, but also for your family and friends, who will be safe in the knowledge that everything is happening just as you wished.

Your Will is also an opportunity to remember causes that you care about. If pets have played a part in your life, we hope that you may remember Blue Cross in your Will. Your gift will allow your love to live on, continuing to care for vulnerable pets, now and in the future.

As a charity, we rely 100 percent on kind donations – and over 50 percent of this money comes from the gifts people leave to us in their Wills. You can rest assured that your generous gift will go towards helping the many pets that come into us.

Warmest wishes

Chris BurghesChief Executive

Thank you for requesting our Blue Cross information pack. We know that Wills can be complicated, so we have included useful information about leaving a gift in your Will on the following pages.

Each year we help over 42,000 pets a year

REMEMBERING FRIENDS, FAMILYAND PETS

“ I know Blue Cross does a fantastic job, I rehomed two adorable kittens from them. The gift I plan to leave in my Will can make sure unwanted pets continue to get the love and attention they deserve, even when I’m no longer around. ”Carole B.

ABOUT US

Gumdrop, Goldie, Greta

& Glacier’s story

“ At six weeks old, we were facing lonely lives without anyone to love us.

Nobody showed us much interest because we are deaf; nobody

except for Blue Cross. They loved us, looked after us and helped

us all find loving new homes.”

Our legacy of care

BEGAN IN...

1906

2014We have 12 rehoming centres, four hospitals and 50+ shops.

Our charity goes back over 100 years and, as you can see, we’ve come a long way since then.

In 1897 a group of animal lovers, concerned about working horses on the streets of London, set up Our Dumb Friends League. The name Blue Cross first appeared when the League created The Blue Cross Fund in 1912, to care for horses during the Balkan War. It went on to help thousands of animals during the First and Second World Wars too.

The charity grew, helping more and more sick, injured and homeless animals. In 1958, Our Dumb Friends League changed its name to The Blue Cross.

Blue Cross today

Today we’re known simply as Blue Cross. We’re proud to run 24 rehoming centres, four animal hospitals and six pet care clinics across the country, where we provide clinical and rehoming services, plus behavioural training to help pets with behavioural issues to have happy, healthy futures. We also have an Education Team, who delivers free talks all over the country to schools, youth groups and individual families; ranging on topics from how to look after your pets, to keeping safe around dogs.

Blue Cross in the future

Throughout our history, our achievements have only been possible thanks to kind gifts made by people who care about animals as much as we do.

Right now over half our work is paid for by the gifts people leave us in their Wills. It is a kind gesture that can’t be underestimated: without these gifts, we simply couldn’t care for all the sick, injured and homeless pets who need us.

In the future, we will rely on the money people leave in their Wills today to continue our legacy of care. Your gift, whenever it arrives, will help save and improve the lives of pets who have nowhere else to turn.

1897

1912

2015

2020

1997 We celebrated our centenary.

We opened our first animal hospital in Victoria, London, thought to be the first of its kind in the world. It has never once closed its doors to needy animals since.

Our Dumb Friends League was founded to care for working horses on the streets of London.

Work started on our new rehoming centre in Suffolk.

Each year we help over 42,000 pets a year

1958We became officially known as The Blue Cross.

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We launched the Blue Cross Fund to help animals during the Balkan War. We also took care of animals in the First (1914-1918) and Second (1939-1945) World Wars.

Today pets need us more than ever before

RehomingFinding happy homes for unwanted cats, dogs, small pets and horses across the UK is our mission. Our tailor-made service lets us help each pet find the right home. A gift in your Will could help us improve and expand our rehoming centres.

VeterinaryOur four animal hospitals and network of clinics treat sick and injured pets when their owners cannot afford private fees. A gift in your Will could help us extend our services or make sure hospitals and clinics are fully equipped.

BehaviourWe help pets who come to us with behavioural issues and offer ongoing support to anyone who rehomes a pet from us. As a leading charity in this field, we have a very low percentage of pets returned to us once they’ve been rehomed. A gift in your Will could help our team carry out more consultations and assessments.

EducationWe promote animal welfare to the pet owners of the future by giving talks and offering advice. A gift in your Will could help us reach more people with important messages such as looking after pets and keeping safe around dogs.

Pet bereavementOur Pet Bereavement Support Service provides free, confidential emotional support to people who are struggling to cope with the loss of a pet 365 days a year. A gift in your Will will help us continue with this service.

Pets are at the heart of everything we do

Pets have relied on Blue Cross since 1897 but they’ve never needed us more than today, with over 42,000 pets currently helped every year.

If you have any queries regarding leaving a gift in your Will, please contact our Legacy Team.

Call 0300 777 1757 or email legacy@bluecross.org.ukwww.bluecross.org.uk/gift-your-will

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of our work is funded by gifts in Wills

5 %

70pON AVERAGE 70P FROM EVERY £1 GOES TOWARDS PETS

(over the last three years)

That’s one out of every two abandoned pets we rehome;

half of all sick or injured pets who receive our veterinary care

and 50% of distressed pets in need of specialist behavioural support.

IF YOU CAN HELP, YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT YOUR GIFT WILL HELP PETS TO ENJOY HEALTHY LIVES IN LOVING HOMES.

Gifts in Wills are vital in helping us reach needy pets with the support they need and deserve and in the future, these gifts will be even more important.

We rely on the gifts that people pledge in their Wills today, to continue to help pets. Last year, without gifts in Wills, 9,023 unwanted pets could still be looking for a home, 32,732 poorly pets could still need veterinary care and 1,169 unhappy pets could be waiting for consultations with our behavioural team.

ABOUT YOUR WILL

Lucy’s story“ I was left without any food

and water and was at death’s door when I was rescued. Blue

Cross stepped in to help and after nursing me back to health,

they helped me find the new home I had always wanted

with wonderful owners and two other lovely horse friends. ”

Why a Will is IMPORTANT TO YOU?Having a Will is the only way you can be sure of what will happen to a lifetime’s hard-earned money and personal possessions.

Remembering family and friendsWithout a properly drawn-up Will, you will be declared ‘intestate’. The legal system will then step in to manage your affairs and your assets may be divided up against your wishes.

Therefore, having a Will is important not only to you, but to your family and friends. You can determine who you would like to benefit from your money, property and personal possessions. If you have children under 18, you can appoint guardians to make sure their future is safe and secure. Putting your affairs in order with a Will should simplify the legal process for your loved ones at what will be a very difficult time.

MAKING A WILL GIVES YOU COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND

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YOUR WILL IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER CAUSES THAT MEAN SOMETHING SPECIAL TO YOU, SUCH AS BLUE CROSS. IT’S A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT US IN THE FUTURE IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT US NOW

GETTING STARTED:

HOW TO MAKEYOUR WILLSolicitorIf you would like to use a Solicitor to make your Will, the Law Society can find one local to you at www.lawsociety.org.uk or you can call them on 020 7320 5650. The cost of your Will depends on how complex it is but ask your solicitor to make the cost clear at the start.

Online WillsAlternatively, you may wish to consider making a Will online. Blue Cross has teamed up with Bequeathed which offers free and valuable advice alongside step by step guidance as to how to complete your Will. Their simple and convenient service allows you to make the right Will for you. To find out more information, or start your Will online go to WWW.bluecross.org.uk/make-free-will-online

Appoint executorsThese are the people you choose to make sure that the wishes set out in your Will are followed. Usually, people appoint two individuals – who could be friends, relatives or a solicitor. Naming them as executors does not stop them benefiting from your Will.

If you have left a gift to Blue Cross in your Will, our Legacy Team can work with executors to make the process as straightforward as possible. There are more details on page 16.

FILL IN THE PROVIDED WILL PLANNER AND TAKE ALONG TO YOUR SOLICITOR

If you have any queries regarding leaving a legacy, please contact our Legacy Team.

Call 0300 777 1757 or email legacy@bluecross.org.ukbluecross.org.uk/gift-your-will

Your executors – whoever you choose, we do recommend that you talk to them to check they are willing to act.

Your beneficiaries – when you know what you have to leave, make a list of the people you’d like to benefit. If you want to remember Blue Cross, we have included the details your solicitor will need.

Your assets – most people have more than they think. As well as the obvious ones, such as property and savings, you may have foreign assets, own a copyright or have digital assets, including domain names that may be valuable.

Use our handy Will Planner

To make the most of your visit to your solicitor, you can make a note of your assets, beneficiaries and executors on our Will Planner and take it along with you.

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Could the taxman help too?

LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL CAN HELP REDUCE THE TAX PAYABLE ON YOUR ESTATE

An estate worth more than £325,000* is liable for inheritance tax. Currently, the rate is 40 percent on anything above this amount†. It can be surprising how people’s assets add up nowadays, with property values, investments and savings all contributing to their estate.

Please note that this information is no substitute for professional advice. Some assets may be exempt.*Recently introduced legislation means that in certain circumstances where there is a valuable residential property this amount will increase with effect from 6 April 2017 to a maximum of £500,000 (£1m jointly for a married couple) by 6 April 2020

If your estate is going to be affected by inheritance tax you can legitimately reduce the amount that is taxable and help us care for more pets, by:

• leaving a gift to a charity like Blue Cross. The amount will be taken from your estate before any tax liability is worked out.

• leaving 10 percent or more of your net estate to a charity like Blue Cross. This would reduce your inheritance tax from 40 percent to 36 percent.

Note: The surviving spouse/partner of a married couple or civil partnership can take advantage of their spouse’s/civil partner’s unused inheritance tax nil band rate (NRB) allowance. This could potentially double the survivor’s nil rate band to £650,000 (based on the current NRB of £325,000).

†Inheritance tax rates can change and is based on your individual circumstances, talk to your solicitor or find out more at www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

could help us neuter dogs in our care to prevent unwanted litters

A gift of any size can make a huge differenceHere are some ways your gift could help:

£75 £1,000 £4,000 £66,000could cover the cost of caring for two cats while they search for loving homes

could cover the cost of rehabilitating an abandoned or traumatised horse

could pay for six months of medication for pets at one of our hospitals

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LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL TO BLUE CROSS

Flo & Ivy’s Story

“ We were dumped, outside and alone, just days before

Christmas. Blue Cross helped us get back on our paws, teaching

us social skills and helping us adjust to family life. Without Blue

Cross, we would never have found the loving new home we

now share together. ”

How to remember Blue Cross IN YOUR WILLYou can include Blue Cross in a new Will, or you can add Blue Cross to your existing Will (with a codicil).

• Your solicitor will ask you what type of gift you would like to leave (see here on the right) and the amount, or the specific details

• Your solicitor will ask you for our details: Blue Cross, Registered charity number: England and Wales (224392) and in Scotland (SC040154) Registered office: Shilton Road, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4PF

• They will ask for details of your executors, and when your Will has been drawn up, two independent people will need to witness your signature

• Make a copy of your Will for future reference and keep the original in a safe place. Your solicitor may store it without charge

• Finally, it would help us enormously if you could let us know that you have included Blue Cross (see page 17).

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Types of gifts:RESIDUARYThe remainder of the estate once other gifts and payments have been made. This type of gift is popular with our supporters because it remains proportional to the value of your estate.

PECUNIARYA fixed sum of money. The value of pecuniary legacies could decrease over time, as the cost of living increases.

SPECIFICA particular named item, for example a piece of jewellery or property.

RESIDUARY OR PECUNIARY AFTER A LOVED ONE DIESAllows you to leave assets for the care of a loved one for the duration of their life. When they die, your legacy will then go to your chosen recipient.

Is making a Will different in Scotland?Yes, but it is still permissible to leave a legacy to Blue Cross in a Scottish Will. As in England and Wales, Blue Cross should be correctly identified and the nature and extent of the legacy described in sufficient detail. Whist the suggested wording found in our Will Planner is still appropriate for use in Scottish Wills in relation to any legacy you wish to make to Blue Cross, we strongly recommend that independent professional advice should be sought when drawing up a Will in Scotland.

What if I can’t leave much?Every gift will count, adding up to make a difference:

• if 12 supporters left £500.00 each, it would add up to £6,000 the cost of an anaesthetic machine

• if 30 supporters left £1,000.00 each, it would add up to £30,000 the cost of an ultrasound machine.

What type of gift is best?Any gift will make a difference and will be gratefully received. One consideration could be that your gift may not come to us for many years. Leaving a share or percentage of your estate as a residuary gift means the proportion remains constant. You could ask your solicitor about this.

Q&ADo I need to draw up a new Will?If you simply want to include Blue Cross and keep everything else unaltered you don’t need to draw up a new Will. You can amend your current Will by adding what is called a codicil. You can download the wording and form from our website to take to your solicitor, who can easily draw up a codicil for you.

We strongly recommend seeing a solicitor for anything but the simplest change.

For more information see page 18.

These are our most commonly asked

questions, if you need more information please call us on

0300 777 1757 or email legacy@bluecross.org.uk

WE’RE HERE to help you...

ARRANGE A VISIT TO A BLUE CROSS CENTRETalk to our Legacy Team about arranging a visit to one of our rehoming centres. We can give you a guided tour, introducing you to some of the pets in our care. You can see for yourself the love and attention that pets receive at Blue Cross.

You will also have the chance to ask questions about how a gift in your Will could help, and see what legacies have helped us to achieve already.

SUPPORT FOR EXECUTORWe understand that dealing with an estate can take some time. And it can be a particularly upsetting process for family and friends who have lost a loved one.

Our dedicated Legacy Team are here to work with executors and their professional advisors. We can make the process of distributing a legacy to Blue Cross and honouring your wishes as straightforward as possible. We also take great care to ensure we act responsibly in following charity regulations for receiving funds generously donated to us.

TALK TO OUR LEGACY TEAMGifts in Wills are important to Blue Cross, so we have a small team dedicated to this area of fundraising.

The team can help you with any questions you may have about your Will and about our charity. Get in touch by phone on 0300 777 1757 during office hours, or email

legacy@bluecross.org.uk There is also information and a short film on our website

bluecross.org.uk/gift-your-will

PETS INTO CAREIt is natural for animal lovers to worry about what will happen to their pet, when they are no longer there to care for them. You can register with our Pets into Care Scheme and rest assured that Blue Cross will look after your pet, and find them a

happy new home.

You can register horses, dogs, cats and small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs,

hamsters etc) by completing an application form. We consider all applications on a case-by-

case basis. To be registered on the scheme, pets must be microchipped. For more information or to request an application pack visit bluecross.org.uk/pets-care-scheme

THERE IS LOTS MORE INFORMATION ON LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL AND OUR ‘PETS INTO CARE’ SCHEME ON OUR WEBSITE bluecross.org.uk

16Please note that information given by the Legacy Team is no substitute for professional advice

Please let us know your intentions...

How to tell us:1. Complete and return the ‘Intentions’ form

enclosed, in the envelope provided or

2. Call our Legacy Team on 0300 777 1757 or email legacy@bluecross.org.uk

I chose to remember Blue Cross in my Will because not only do they help the animals that sadly come into their care, but they also provide advice and support for pet owners.

Animals have enriched my life. The unconditional love from those precious creatures is so magical and Blue Cross helps others experience that special bond.

Janet Gower

“

“

We realise that your Will is a personal document, but if you have included, or intend to include Blue Cross, we would be very grateful if you could let us know.

As we rely on gifts in Wills to fund half of our day-to-day work, knowing that gifts will be coming in the future is important news. It will mean that we can continue to care for thousands of sick, injured and homeless pets who will turn to us every day, in increasing numbers, in the years ahead.

Thank you

Understanding the legal jargon

AdministratorSomeone who is legally appointed to manage your affairs if you die without a Will.

BeneficiaryA person, charity or organisation who receives something from your Will.

Bequest (legacy)A gift left in a Will. It can be:

• Residuary: remainder of your estate after other gifts and payments have been made

• Pecuniary: a fixed sum of money

• Specific: a particular, named item

CodicilA separate document that makes a change or addition to your existing Will. A written amendment to someone’s Will, saving the need to re-write the whole document. It should be signed, dated and witnessed with the same legal formalities as a Will.

EstateThe total value of everything you own at the time of your death.

ExecutorThe person or people you choose to carry out the instructions in your Will. This could be a relative, friend or your solicitor.

GuardiansThe people you choose to look after your children should you die.

IntestateThe name given to someone who dies without having made a Will.

Inheritance taxInheritance tax is paid if a person’s estate (their property, money and possessions) is worth more than £325,000 when they die. This is called the ‘inheritance tax threshold’. The rate of inheritance tax is 40 percent on anything above the threshold. The rate may be reduced to 36 percent if 10 percent or more of the estate if left to charity. Some assets may be exempt. Find out more at www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

LegacyThis is another term to describe a gift in your Will.

ProbateThe legal process that establishes if your Will is valid. If it isn’t valid, an administrator is called in.

ResidueWhat is left of your estate, after all gifts, debts, taxes and expenses have been paid.

Testator/testatrixThe name given to the person making the Will.

Trust/eeA trust is a way of managing assets, such as money, investments, land or buildings. The trustee is the person who manages the trust.

WitnessA person who acts as a witness when you sign your Will. They cannot benefit from your Will.

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