It’s lonely and uncertain when someone you love is missing. Every year, thousands of families must begin the toughest of searches.
Missing People has a long past, being there when people need us the most for over 30 years. The charity is now there for as many as 10,000 people, every year.
When you leave a gift in your Will to Missing People, we can continue to be there for the missing and those who love them. Following in your footsteps, we can be there when needed most. There as long as needed. There for the long haul. There, if it’s your family. There for generations to come.
Even leaving 1% gift in your Will can make a lasting impact. But you can leave up to 100%, it’s your choice.
If you have an existing Will, but would like to leave a legacy to Missing People, you can do so by making an amendment to your existing Will (called a codicil). If you do not have a Will at the moment, you can include a bequest when you write a Will. Whatever your circumstances, we would advise that you see a solicitor to ensure that your wishes are followed.
It is a good idea to assess what you want to include in your Will, taking into account any savings, property, mortgages and any money owing. Once this is established, arrange an appointment with your solicitor to discuss your Will further.
Executors are charged with carrying out the instructions you leave in your Will. It is ideal to appoint two people you trust, such as loved ones or professional advisers. It is a good idea to let your loved ones know that you are leaving a gift to charity in your Will, so they are aware of your wishes.
You may wish to list your beneficiaries as well as gifts you want to leave them. These could be loved ones as well as charities you care about. You can bequeath anything from personal assets to property.
It is very important to keep your Will up to date to ensure your wishes are met. At such a difficult time, this could cause your family and friends even more heartache. It’s important to review your Will regularly – at least once every five years or if you have any major life changes (such as getting married or having children or grandchildren).
Making changes directly to your Will can invalidate it. We recommend that you consult your solicitor. The wording of gifts may vary in Scotland – your solicitor will be able to advise you on the correct terms. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us and will be fully respected at all times. All the information you provide will remain strictly confidential.
A residuary gift is the remainder, or a percentage, of your estate after all other bequests and expenses have been deducted. This ensures your loved ones are taken care of first and the remainder can then be donated to charity.
This is a gift of a specific amount of money of any amount, large or small. If you are thinking of leaving a specific gift to charity you might suggest to your solicitor that your cash gift is index-linked to ensure that its value increases with inflation.
This is the gift of a specific item such as an antique, a property, jewellery or other valuables.
“It’s important for me to know that even when I’m not around to be of any help, my gift will enable some of the future work of Missing People. Indeed, this is also a way for me to feel that my son Quentin’s legacy will live on.”
Sarah Godwin, the mother of Quentin who went missing in 1998
A legacy is a gift left in your Will. You can leave a legacy by writing a new Will, or by making an addition (called a codicil) to your existing Will. We recommended you speak to your solicitor if you wish to create a Will or make any amendments to an existing Will.
The most important information you need to include is the charity’s registered name, address and charity number. Your solicitor will be able to assist you with appropriate wording. Please see our details below:
Missing People
Roebuck House
284 Upper Richmond Road West
London, SW14 7JE
United Kingdom
Registered charity number: 1020419
A legacy need not be high in value. Any gift large or small will make a difference. Many supporters decide to leave a ‘residuary’ gift in their Will (a percentage of the remainder of your estate after all other bequests have been issued). This gift will simply come from whatever is left after your loved ones have been provided for.
If you leave a gift in your Will to a charity the gift is exempt of inheritance tax. This means it is deducted from the total value of your estate before the calculation for inheritance tax is made. For more information, please click here.
Having flexible funding is essential to Missing People’s ability to sustain and expand our support services. Leaving a legacy for our charity general use is most effective as it means that your gift will be used where it is needed most. Leaving a legacy gift to a specific type of work might mean that it cannot be used. This can occur if we no longer conduct the type of work specified in the future.
We are very grateful for legacy gifts from generous supporters. Please ask the Executor to notify us in writing of the legacy gift by sending a letter to our address listed above so that we can commence the process of transferring the legacy gift to Missing People. Thank you. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Having a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are followed once you are gone. If you do not have a Will, the law will decide who inherits your property and monetary assets. Leaving clear instructions and sharing your decisions with your family and friends can give you peace of mind that your final wishes will be understood and respected after you are gone. We recognise that writing a Will is one of the most significant decisions you’ll ever make and appreciate that it’s important to take your time and have all of the relevant information you need to assist you with the process.
The information contained here is for guidance only. Please seek professional legal advice from your solicitor when making or amending your Will.
We have launched a regular email so that you can be aware of new missing person appeals and share them far and wide! We are also calling on all Heroes to be the eyes and ears for Missing People on the ground. Your sighting of a missing person could make a difference in a crucial time.
