Gifts in Wills

Has Liver UK helped you or someone you love? One of the most profound ways you can support us long into the future is to leave a gift in your Will.

By remembering Liver UK in your Will, you are commemorating all the lives of those touched by liver disease. Any legacy, no matter how large or small, costs you absolutely nothing now but will make a lasting difference – for years beyond your years.

How to write your Will

Changing an existing Will

Frequently asked questions

Let us know your intentions

What is a gift in a Will or a legacy?

A gift in a Will (sometimes called a legacy) is a way of leaving something to a person or group after you die.

There are three different types of gift you can leave to charity in your Will:

Pecuniary gifts – a set amount of money
Residuary gifts – a percentage, or the whole, of your estate (what’s left after other specified gifts, costs, and tax)
Specific gifts – a specific object, asset or property

Many people choose to leave a gift in their Will to charity, particularly if they have a personal connection to the cause.

Why writing a Will is so important

A Will is one of the most important things you’ll ever sign, for both you and your family. If you haven’t got around to making a Will, or you’re putting off updating an existing Will, you’re not alone. Staggeringly, more than half of British adults don’t have a Will.

There are lots of good reasons to make a Will, but most importantly, having a valid Will is the only way you can make sure everything you’ve worked hard for – your home, possessions and money – gets passed on to the people and causes you care most about.

Without a Will, it’s left to the government to decide who gets what. It can be complicated and distressing for your loved ones if your wishes are not written down and known in advance.

How do I make a Will?

The act of leaving a gift in your Will to the Liver UK is actually very straight forward – you simply need to include ‘Liver UK, registered charity number 298858’ in your Will.

Before you speak to a solicitor or Will writing service, they will need you to have an idea of what you own and what it’s worth. Don’t worry, this only needs to be a rough starting point. Remember a Charity have a comprehensive step-by-step guide to get you started, available here.

You should always use a solicitor to write your Will. Liver UK have partnered with expert estate planners, Octopus Legacy, so you can write or update your will for free*.

As having an up-to-date Will is so important, if you choose to use this service, the charity will cover the cost of a standard Will, up to £150, so you can write or update a simple Will for free or get a Will with trust at a discounted rate.

*Applies to simple Wills only. Discounts are applicable for Wills with trusts.

Find the right will for you. You can write your Will:

Online
Over the phone/video call
In-person (At home or in-branch)

Start your Will with Octopus Legacy here or call Octopus Legacy directly on 020 4525 3605 and quote Liver UK. If you would prefer to contact a solicitor directly, the Law Society website can help you find one in your area. In return for helping you make your Will quickly, easily and for free, we ask if you could support us with a gift in your Will. You have the option (but not the obligation) to donate or to leave a gift in your Will to Liver UK. If you decide to leave 10% or more to charity there are tax benefits for your estate.

All gifts in your Will can be a specific amount or a percentage of your estate, and charitable gifts are the same. Specifying a percentage to leave to loved ones and causes you care about means the amounts will hold their value over time. To include Liver UK in your Will, please make sure you include our registered charity number and address details to ensure the gift reaches us.

Registered Office: Venta Court, 20 Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8FE

Registered Charity England and Wales 298858, Scotland SC042140. Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales, Company No 2227706

For further information on leaving a gift in your will to charity can be found on the Remember a Charity website.

Changing a Will

It is important to review your Will when a major life event occurs, such as a marriage, a divorce, a separation, the birth of a child, the death of a relative or a change in your financial situation. These events may have an impact both on your wishes for the distribution of your estate and on the validity of your current Will. More information about updating your Will can be found on the Remember a Charity website.

If you decide to amend your Will to include a gift to Liver UK, your solicitor can add a codicil (a legal document that explains or alters your Will) to your Will that lists all changes you wish to make to your original Will.

It’s used as a way to make simple amendments like adding a charity, changing a gift amount or adding an executor. This is all quite straightforward but problems can occur if you ever want to cancel the Will in the future.

When you cancel a Will that contains a codicil, the codicil does not get cancelled automatically, so when you write a new Will it can create inconsistencies and legal problems. To avoid this, make sure that any new Will clearly states that you are revoking all Wills and codicils previously made.

A solicitor or Will writer can help with writing a codicil.

Letting us know about your decision

Letting us know your intentions for leaving a gift in your Will to Liver UK can help us to plan ahead and ensure our work has the greatest impact in the future. However your Will is a personal document and, if you leave a gift to us and choose not to tell us, we respect that decision and say thank you. If, however, you do want to let us know, you’d like more information or would like to discuss how your gift may be used then please use the form below, or email us at [email protected].

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Name*

Your pledge*

I have already left a gift to Liver UK in my Will

I intend to include Liver UK in my Will

I am considering whether or not to include Liver UK in my Will

What type of legacy have you included in your Will?

What type of legacy do you intend to include in your Will?

Please use this box to provide us with any details that you are happy to share with us. Or let us know if you have any questions or need any more information, and we will get in touch.

Phone

Email address

Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City County Postcode

Find answers

FAQs

Why should I make a Will?

If you do not have a Will, your wishes may not be carried out and loved ones and charities that you care about may not receive what you wish from your Estate.

How much does it cost to make a Will?

Fees vary from solicitor to solicitor, generally starting at around £175 + VAT for a standard Will. Liver UK has some free and discounted offers for supporters.

Do I have to rewrite my whole Will if I decide to leave a gift to Liver UK?

You do not need to rewrite your whole Will. Your solicitor can add a codicil to your Will that lists all changes you wish to make to your original Will.

I have previously left a gift in my Will to the British Liver Trust or Children's Liver Disease Foundation - do I need to change this?

On 14th July 2026 the British Liver Trust and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation became Liver UK. You do not need to make any changes to your Will at this time, any gifts already left to either charity will still reach us to continue to support our work.

Do younger people need a Will?

No one can predict the future. It takes a small amount of time and effort to make a Will, and lets your loved ones avoid a lot of expense and heartache later on. Without a Will, the fate of your assets is out of your hands. An unmarried partner, for example, may not inherit anything, which may come as a shock and cause financial hardship. Don’t leave your loved ones in a vulnerable position – once you have prepared your Will, you will have peace of mind that those closest to you will be looked after and any charities you wish to include will be supported.

Who should I appoint as Executors and Trustees?

It is vital that he person you choose to act as Executor or Trustee of your Will is someone who you trust absolutely to ensure your wishes are complied with. There is no reason you cannot appoint someone who is a beneficiary of your Will, though some people prefer to appoint a firm of solicitors to act as this ensures the estate is administered fairly, promptly and properly. Appointing a solicitor as your Executor will reduce the risk of any mistakes or losses, and the solicitor will have insurance, in the unlikely event that such a loss occurs.

What if my circumstances change?

Your Will is only your last Will until you make a new one to replace it. If you are not sure if your Will still works in your current circumstances the best advice is to speak to a solicitor (most solicitors will not charge for such a meeting).

How often should I review my Will?

Personal and financial circumstances change, as does tax law and inheritance law. You should review your Will every 5 years (or sooner if your circumstances change dramatically) to ensure it still reflects your wishes, protecting your family and any charitable gifts. Most solicitors will offer a free short review meeting, where they will advise if any changes are needed, and what the costs will be.

How do I leave a gift to charity in my Will?

All gifts in your Will can be a specific amount or a percentage of your estate, and charitable gifts are the same. 1% to a charity would leave 99% for your loved ones, and the amount will hold its value over time.

Your solicitor will know the wording to use, but here is an example: “I leave to (CHARITY NAME) of (CHARITY ADDRESS) Charity Registration Number: (xxxxxxx) x% (of my estate) for its general purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other duly authorised officer of the charity shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.”

For further information on leaving a gift in your Will to charity, visit www.rememberacharity.org.uk

Information for executors and solicitors

An Executor is the person named in a Will who is legally responsible for carrying out the instructions left in it.

If you are an executor or solicitor who wishes to pay in a legacy gift to Liver UK, please email [email protected] or phone 0300 1311 292 with details of the gift and the name of the deceased, and we will provide payment details.