We recognise that writing a Will is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make. It's important to take the time you need and have all of the information to help you make up your mind. Leaving clear instructions and sharing your decisions with your family and friends can give you the peace of mind that your final wishes will be understood and respected after you've gone.

We hope that our achievements and plans for helping children long into the future inspire you to include a gift in your Will to Save the Children, helping us to continue our much-needed work for generations to come.

To make this decision easier for you, we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions that our supporters have about including gifts in their Wills. We hope you find this helpful.

Please take a look and see if we can answer any of your questions. If you would like to speak to someone about including a gift in your Will, you can call Ross Anderson on (03) 9938 2078 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You can download a printable version of these questions and answers here.

Do I need a Will?

If you are over 18 you really should have a Will which clearly lays out what you would like to happen after you have passed away. Unfortunately, over 50% of Australians never get around to making a proper Will. This means that when they die, state laws then determine how their assets will be distributed and their final wishes may never be realised. That's why we recommend that you make a Will if you haven't already done so.

Why is having a Will so important?

Leaving clear instructions and sharing your decisions with your family and friends can give you the peace of mind that your final wishes will be understood and respected after you've gone. We recognise that writing a Will is one of the most significant decisions you'll ever make. That's why we know it's important to take as much time as you need and have all of the information to help you make up your mind.

How long will it take to include a gift in my Will?

We recognise that leaving a gift in your Will is a decision that may take you some time to consider. But you should also know that it is relatively easy to arrange. A few phone calls and a visit to your solicitor is all it should take.

I don't want my family and friends to miss out. What should I do?

We understand that your loved ones come first. All we ask is that once you have taken care of your family and friends, you also consider including a gift to Save the Children. No matter what the size of your gift, you'll be making a difference to the lives of the world's most vulnerable children. We think that is an amazing thing to do.

What will it cost?

Writing or updating a Will is not as expensive as you might think and it won't affect your disposable income or finances today. But it does allow you to consider making the kind of gift you may not be able to make during your lifetime. Solicitors can provide estimates on request, but the cost will depend on how complex your personal affairs are.

Can I get a free or discounted Will?

We do recommend that you seek legal advice before writing or updating your Will. However, if you'd prefer to write your Will yourself, Save the Children has partnered with the Charity Wills website which provides you with an opportunity to write you Will online or download a Will kit, totally free of charge. For more information about creating your free online Will, please visit our page on the Charity Wills website.

Why should I include a gift in my Will to Save the Children?

Save the Children has been working tirelessly for over 90 years to improve the lives of children everywhere. With help from our supporters, we can create a better life for the world's most vulnerable children, and future generations. You can be part of this by including a gift in your Will.

Everybody who supports Save the Children becomes part of our heritage and involved in our achievements. We can't think of a better way for your kindness to live on than to leave a gift in your Will to Save the Children. You'll be helping us to make history in the future.

Why are gifts in Wills so important to charities?

The reality is that without the gifts left in Wills by people like you, many charities wouldn't exist today. Every supporter remembering us in their Will should know that their gift makes a valuable contribution toward giving children a better future.

How do I know my money will get there?

As the world's leading independent organisation for children, our promise to you is that we will use your gift wisely and effectively to achieve the greatest impact for the children we work with. We keep our administration costs to a minimum through sharing expertise, coordinating activities and pooling resources throughout our global network.

Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my Will?

It's a common myth that only the rich, famous and eccentric leave money to charity in their Wills. This couldn't be further from the truth. Thousands of Australians do it. Every gift we receive, however large or small, is important to us. They all add up. Even a small percentage of your estate can make an enormous difference to the lives of the world's most vulnerable children.

What types of gifts in Wills are there?

There are three different types of gifts in Wills (bequests) - residuary, pecuniary, and specific.

• A residuary bequest is when a person leaves a percentage of their estate after all of their other gifts have been made and their debts cleared. One of the advantages of a residuary bequest is that it has the benefit of being inflation-proof and means you're less likely to need to update your Will in the future.
• A pecuniary bequest is a gift of a specified sum of money.
• A specific bequest is a gift of a particular item such as furniture, paintings, antiques, or jewellery.

You may wish to think about what type of gift you would like to include and which one will be the most effective and suitable for your personal circumstances. Once you have decided what type of gift to include in your Will, it should be left to Save the Children Australia and should also include reference to our ABN 99 008 610 035.

Can I have a say in where and how my gift is used?

Of course. Please let us know if you would like your gift to support a particular area of our work and we can advise you about how to ensure that this happens. We prefer gifts that give us as much flexibility as possible to respond to ever-changing needs. We would be delighted to discuss your wishes and will give you as much choice as possible. Click here to contact us.

How do I make a gift to Save the Children in my Will?

If you wish to remember Save the Children in your Will, you can use the wording we have suggested in our Gifts in Wills booklet on page 11 as a guideline or click here. [Link to Suggested wording for your Will] However, we do recommend you speak to a solicitor or legal advisor to make sure your wishes are properly reflected in your Will. To find out more about finding a solicitor or Trustee Company, click here.

What information do I need to include?

It is important that bequests are left to Save the Children Australia and that your gift also includes reference to our Australian Business Number - ABN 99 008 610 035.

Can I add a gift to Save the Children in my existing will?

If you have already written a Will but would like to add a bequest to Save the Children, you can easily do so by adding a codicil (a short legal amendment) to your existing Will with the help of your legal advisor. It may be just as easy to insert your gift the next time you update your Will. You can ask our National Bequest Officer more about this.

Do I need to let you know about my gift to Save the Children?

If you do decide to include a gift to Save the Children in your Will, or if you've already done so, we'd really appreciate if you could let us know. There is a response form on the back of the Gifts in Wills booklet alongside a reply paid envelope. Doing this helps us enormously with understanding your intentions as we plan for our future work. We also understand that you may not want to discuss your plans with us or let us know about your gift. We fully respect your wishes either way.

Is the gift in my Will private?

Save the Children respects your privacy at all times and honours your gift with the care, sensitivity and respect it deserves. We will not pass on any details of your Will or any confidential information you provide us.

If you would like to share your personal reasons or story as to why you have chosen to remember Save the Children, we would love to hear from you. This can be a great way to encourage others to consider this wonderful way to support our work in future.

How else could I help Save the Children?

You could help us to raise awareness about how important bequests are to our work by:

• introducing gifts in Wills to your friends
• passing on our materials and information
• sharing your personal story about supporting us in this way with others

What do I do if I have more questions?

Please feel free to contact us to ask us any questions or to talk about how to include a gift in your Will.

You can find the wording that we suggest you use to include a gift in your Will by clicking here. Or you can download a copy of our Gifts in Wills booklet.