Writing your Will

Writing a Will is the only way to ensure that your property and possessions go to the people and organisations that you want to inherit them. Making or changing a Will is much easier than many people think - although if you're making a Will for the first time it is probably best to talk to a solicitor.

If you choose to include Capability in your Will, please include our registered charity number (SC011330) and be assured that your gift will make life better for a new generation of disabled people.

There are a number of different ways you can leave a gift and the most common of these are described below:

Residuary bequest

You can choose to leave part or all of what remains of your estate after other bequests have been made and any expenses paid.  This is called a residuary bequest.

Pecuniary bequest

A gift of a fixed sum of money in your Will is called a pecuniary bequest.  The value of a cash gift like this will decrease over time due to inflation.

Specific bequest

A particular named item left as a gift in your Will is known as a specific bequest - for example this might be a painting or an item of jewellery.

Conditional bequest

This is a gift in your Will which depends upon certain events which may or may not happen.  For example, a gift to a charity might only apply if other beneficiaries named in the Will die before the person who made the Will.

Any questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about writing a Will, Leanne Cornelius, Fundraiser at Capability, will be more than happy to talk things through. To contact Leanne call 0131 347 1049 or email Leanne.Cornelius@capability-scotland.org.uk.

Alternatively  you can contact our supporters Caesar Howie, the Scotland-wide law group, who provide a complete legal service for family issues such as Wills, Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives. The firm can also assist you to find out whether you may qualify for Legal Aid in preparing these documents.

Caesar Howie have very kindly adopted Capability as their charity and are donating £10 to us each time someone uses their services to prepare their Will. Call 0845 855 9944 and quote: pfp/capscot or visit their website.