Leave a Legacy

The BDD Foundation relies on donations to be able to fund its activities and plan for the future.

Please consider leaving a legacy in your will to the BDD Foundation. It can make a lasting difference to the lives of people affected by BDD. By leaving a gift, you can be confident that people can access the support and information that they need long after you are gone.

How to leave a legacy

If you have already made a Will, but would like to leave a gift to the BDD Foundation, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will. This is called a Codicil.

If you do not have a Will at the moment, you may need to see a solicitor or a Will writer. Although you will have to pay a fee, you will receive good professional advice and can be sure that your wishes will be achieved. Good advice on leaving a legacy to charity can be found at Remember a Charity 

When you die, inheritance tax will be taken from all that you own above the current threshold amount. In the UK , the current nil rate band is £325,000 and the rate of tax is 40%. A gift to a registered charity, however, is always free from inheritance tax. If however you give 10% of your estate to charity, then currently your inheritance tax is reduced from 40% to 36%. So a legacy to the BDD Foundation could significantly reduce any inheritance tax you have to pay.

There are two ways you can leave a legacy to the BDD Foundation in your Will:

  • Pecuniary legacy – You can choose to give a gift of a fixed amount of money. This is called a Pecuniary legacy. The alternative is…
  • Residuary legacy – You can choose to leave a percentage or the whole, of what is left of your estate once you have provided for your loved ones.
  • A Codicil – You should choose this option if you already have a will.

Tell your solicitor or will-writer which is the most suitable option for you. The correct wording for each type of legacy is shown below.

For a Pecuniary Legacy

 “I give free of inheritance tax £X to the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, 45b Stanford Rd, London N11 3HY, Charity Registration No. 1153753, to be applied by the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation for its general charitable purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.”

For a Residual Legacy

“I give to the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, 45b Stanford Rd, London, N11 3HY, Charity Registration No. 1153753 (insert the percentage here) % of the residue of my estate absolutely, to be applied by the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation for its general charitable purposes, and I declare that the receipt in writing of the Treasurer or other proper officer of the charity for the time being shall be sufficient discharge to my executors.”

For a Codicil

If you already have written a will, and you would like to donate a legacy to the BDD Foundation you would need to write a “Codicil”. This is a separate document that is kept with your will and witnessed in the same way. Again you will need to sign the will or a codicil in the presence of two witnesses, but neither they nor their spouses should benefit from it any way.

An example of a codicil is:

“I, (your full name) of (your full address, including postcode) declare this to be  (first, second, or appropriate number) Codicil to the will I made on the date (in words). In addition to any bequests of legacies in my said Will, I give free of inheritance tax £x to the to the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, 45b Stanford Rd, London N11 3HY, Charity Registration No. 1153753, to be applied by the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation for its general charitable purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.” 

Lastly make sure your Executors know where to find your will!

Further advice on leaving a legacy to charity can be found at Remember a Charity.

Please contact us if you would like further advice, or just to let us know you’re planning to leave a gift in your Will, although we cannot provide legal advice.

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. Charity no. 1153753.