What will your Catholic legacy be? A gift in your will can support your parish, help train our seminarians, assist retired priests after a lifetime of service, or help the Church prosper in many other ways in the coming years.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10)
Writing a will and leaving a legacy makes a significant difference to the Archdiocese and parishes within it. And you get to decide how the bequest is used.
Your gift to the Church can ensure that the work started in your lifetime continues into the future.
On this page, you can find out how to leave a gift in your will. Simply see the options below to discover more. You are under no obligation to leave your parish or the church a gift in your will but, once you have provided for your loved ones, we hope that you will choose to do so.
Thank you for your generosity.
Writing a will
Making a will is a simple and inexpensive process. You can write your own will, especially if your family circumstances are simple. The UK Government’s website has a good section on will writing. Click here to access it. Citizens Advice Scotland also has a section dedicated to writing a will. Click here to access it.
Contacting a solicitor
It is sensible to use a solicitor or a professional will writer if your circumstances are not straightforward. The Law Society of Scotland has good advice on will writing and how to find a solicitor near you who could assist. Click here.
Forms of words to include in your will
Whether you are writing your own will or asking a solicitor to assist you, the following forms of words might help.
Three examples are given for
(i) legacies for use in a parish.
(ii) legacies for use by the Archdiocese.
(iii) legacies supporting Priests’ Retirement.
The most common types of legacy gift are ‘residuary’ and ‘pecuniary’.
A residuary gift leaves a share of your estate. This is the residue, or a proportion of the residue, from the estate, after all other gifts, debts, and expenses have been paid.
A pecuniary gift is a fixed or specific amount of money from the estate. The following examples suggest text for inclusion in a will. Individuals preparing or updating a will should seek legal advice to ensure that the whole document is valid and appropriately witnessed.
For use in your parish
“I give % of my residuary estate free of all taxes to the Parish of in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
To support work across the Archdiocese
“I give % of my residuary estate free of all taxes to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
To support Priests Retirement (the AICF)
“I give % of my residuary estate free of all taxes to the Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for the support of retired Priests, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
For use in your parish
“I give the sum of £ (pounds only) free of all taxes to the Parish of in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
To support work across the Archdiocese
“I give the sum of £ (pounds only) free of all taxes to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
To support Priests' Retirement (the AICF)
“I give the sum of £ (pounds only) free of all taxes to the Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (Charity no SC008540) for the support of retired Priests, and I declare that the receipt of an officer of the Archdiocese shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors and trustees.”
The priorities of the Archdiocese are constantly changing, subject to the needs of the local community, and the parish buildings, and new ways of spreading the Gospel.
So the most beneficial gift would be an unrestricted bequest for general purposes. This allows us to make the best use of your legacy at the time we receive it.
However, we are equally grateful with a legacy dedicated to specific purposes (known as a restricted bequest). You can decide exactly what the legacy is used for.
Because we are a charity, if you make a legacy to the diocese, then such a donation does not count towards the taxable value of your estate. Depending on your particular circumstances, you can therefore cut the inheritance tax on the rest of your estate by leaving a percentage of it to a charity.
If you have any questions on legacies and how they can be used to support projects and parishes in the Archdiocese, please contact us at info@staned.org.uk.
