Leave a gift in your will
Together we can shape the future for autistic people. A future that is a fairer place, where autistic people do not have to face the future alone and where specialist support and advice is available to all that need it. Once you have remembered your family and friends in your will, please consider supporting the National Autistic Society with a gift.
Why should you write a will?
Making a will gives you the opportunity to make sure your loved ones are provided for, and your final wishes are carried out. Without making a will, you have no say in how your estate is distributed.
A will isn’t just a way to distribute money or possessions to the people you want – it also indicates your beliefs and values, and how you want to be remembered. For example, you can also leave gifts to organisations that are particularly meaningful to you to support their work.
A gift in your will to the National Autistic Society ensures we can continue our advice and guidance, services, and campaigning for autistic people and their families well into the future. It will create a solid foundation for us to ensure our vital work is sustainable, long into the future, so that autistic people and their families do not have to face challenges alone.
Your gift could:
- Help us continue providing vital services to autistic people and their families in different parts of the UK
- Allow us to sustain the community of autistic people and families through local branches and our Online Community
- Ensure we continue campaigning for autistic people in policy and law-making, as well as fighting misinformation about autistic people
You can write your will for free with us today, and leave the National Autistic Society a gift that will change lives.
How can I write my will?
It is always best to write your will with a qualified legal advisor, who can ensure your will is legally valid and will do what you want it to do.
The easiest way to do this is through our free wills offer, which allows you to write a simple will completely free of charge with a qualified solicitor local to you. This will ensure your will is valid and comes at no expense to you, removing stress and complications from the process.
How can I update my will?
If you already have a will, it is easy to update it. Professionals recommend that you re-visit your will every few years, or if you have a significant change in your life such as buying a new home, just to make sure that it still covers everything you need it to.
For small changes or additions to your will you can complete a codicil which can be kept with your will and read out alongside it when the time comes. Please note however that you must not attach anything to your will as this makes your will invalid. For larger changes it is always best to consult a solicitor such as those through our free wills offer – the offer allows you to update your previously made simple will for free with a qualified local solicitor.
Our free wills offer
If you are thinking of writing or updating your will, you should consider taking up our free wills offer for our valued supporters.
Our charity partners with the National Free Wills Network, which means you’ll be able to write your will for free with a qualified solicitor, and save the average £250-£350 it costs to write a simple will.
Find out more information about this exciting offer, and to find out why gifts in wills are so important to us.
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You can leave a defined amount as a gift which is called a 'pecuniary gift'. For example, you may choose to leave £1,000 in your will to the National Autistic Society. You should consider whether your gift will still be worth what you had planned, if you account for inflation in the future. Alternatively, you can leave a percentage or portion of your estate which is called a 'residuary gift'. For example, you may choose to leave 10% net (i.e. after all outstanding bills have been paid) of your estate to the National Autistic Society.
Either type of gift is gratefully received and will go towards our work supporting autistic people and their families.
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Here is some suggested wording you can use when writing your Will with a qualified solicitor.
Standard wording for a pecuniary gift is: “I give (insert amount) to the National Autistic Society, registered charity number 269425 (England and Wales) or SCO39427 (Scotland), 2nd Floor, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH to be applied for its general purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Chief Executive, or appropriate officer, shall be a complete discharge to my trustees.”
For a residuary gift the standard wording is: “I give (insert percentage) of my residuary estate to The National Autistic Society, registered charity number 269425 (England and Wales) or SCO39427 (Scotland), 2nd Floor, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH to be applied for its general purposes. I declare that the receipt of the Chief Executive, or appropriate officer, shall be a complete discharge to my trustees.”
If you would like a codicil form in order to leave a gift of a set amount, please click here to download one.
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We'd be grateful if you could tell us about any bequests by emailing legacyteam@nas.org.uk. Or you can contact us by post.
National Autistic Society
Weston House
42 Curtain Rd
London
EC2A 3NH
If your query is urgent, please include your contact details and request a call back. Thank you for your support.
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Before you make any decisions about your will, it is important to speak to a legal professional.
Our free wills offer is designed so you can speak to a qualified legal professional that is local to you and write your will with them.
Other useful websites for finding qualified legal professionals who can write your will are: