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Leaving a legacy

RSPCA gifts in Wills FAQs

Click the drop-down boxes below to find answers to common questions about leaving a gift to the RSPCA in your Will.

seal laying in water looking directly at the camera

Choosing the RSPCA

  • If you believe in protecting animals from cruelty then leaving a gift in your Will to us is a great way to help us do just that.

    Gifts we receive make a real difference to vulnerable animals. They will always need us, and your gift will always matter.

  • Gifts that are 'unrestricted' (i.e. that we can use wherever they'll make the biggest difference) are the most valuable to us as they can be used where they're most urgently needed.

    You can also leave a gift in your Will to a particular area of our work such as animal centres, campaigning, education, inspectors or a certain geographical area. If you'd like to do this, please get in touch.

  • We're hugely grateful for every gift and there are three main types of gift you can leave:

    • A percentage gift (otherwise known as a residuary gift) - this is where you set aside a percentage of your remaining estate after funeral expenses, debts and other gifts have been paid. As you may not know the final value of your estate, you may find it easier to apportion gifts to your chosen beneficiaries (individuals or charities) by leaving residuary gifts.
    • A cash gift (otherwise known as a pecuniary gift) - this is a gift of a specified sum of money. All gifts make a real difference to the animals we care for, but it’s worth remembering that the eventual value of this type of gift is likely to be impacted by inflation. For example, a gift of £2,000 left today may only be worth £1,500 in 10 years’ time.
    • A specific legacy - this is a gift of a specific, named item. For example, it could be property, a piece of jewellery, artwork, or a car.

Writing your will

  • A Will can ensure that when you die, your loved ones are taken care of and that your wishes are clear to all. It can also make things simpler for those you've left behind.

    A Will covers everything from what you leave to family and friends, to whether you'd like to remember a charity such as ours and even your funeral arrangements.

    What's more, problems can arise if you don't make a Will. Not least, in the absence of a Will, the government will decide how to share your estate. They may not do so in a way you feel is fair, or in line with your values and beliefs.

  • The cost of legal services can vary, but is unlikely to be more than around £130 for a simple Will. We recommend you seek legal advice to ensure your Will carries out your wishes and all the legal formalities are complied with.

    In certain circumstances some legal advisers offer a reduced rate for the preparation of a Will. Find a local adviser using either the Law Society or STEP websites.

  • We always recommend speaking to a legal adviser when making or amending a Will, but we do have suggested wording that you can use, depending on the type of gift you want to leave.

    Here is the suggested wording you need in order to include the RSPCA in your Will:

    Unrestricted gifts
    Many people choose to leave an unrestricted or general gift. It’s the most helpful because it allows us to use your gift wherever the need is greatest for animals. You can leave an unrestricted gift, which can be either residuary or pecuniary, using the words below:

    “I give the sum of £______ [or specify percentage of estate] to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1GY (registered charity number 219099) for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of the said Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.”

    Restricted gifts
    You can also specify how or where you’d like your gift to be used by leaving a restricted gift. If you’d like to leave a restricted gift, please contact us to discuss the area of our work you’d specifically like to support, using the contact details on the back page. To leave a restricted gift, use the wording below:

    “I give the sum of £______ [or specify percentage of estate] to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1GY (registered charity number 219099) for its general purpose and I express the wish but without creating any binding trust that this legacy be used for [specify area of RSPCA work] and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of the said Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.”

    Gift to a specific RSPCA branch
    You can choose to remember a specific RSPCA branch. These are separately run organisations to the main RSPCA charity. Here’s the wording you’ll need:

    “I give the sum of £______ [or specify percentage of estate] to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [specify] Branch (specify registered charity number for that Branch) and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of the said Branch shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy. In the event the aforesaid Branch shall no longer exist at the date of my death I give the legacy to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1GY (registered charity number 219099) for its general purposes.”

    Whatever type of gift you choose, your legal advisor will also need to know our full name (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), address (Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1GY) and charity number (219099).

  • It’s your decision and you need to be comfortable. If you change your mind later, that’s fine. If you do choose to change your Will later we recommend you seek legal advice to make sure it still carries out your wishes and all the legal formalities are complied with.

  • Generally, Inheritance Tax is paid if a person's estate is worth more than £325,000 when they die. This is called the 'Inheritance Tax threshold'.

    However, most gifts to charity in Wills aren't subject to Inheritance Tax.

    If you believe your estate is liable to Inheritance Tax, we recommend you speak to your legal adviser.

    To find out more about how Inheritance Tax might affect your Will, visit our guidance on Inheritance Tax or visit the Government's website.

  • Gifts in Wills to charities are exempt from IHT and can reduce or eliminate the tax liability. Please seek
professional advice when planning your estate.

  • Anyone can be appointed as an Executor including a relative, friend or legal adviser. It can even be us, in certain circumstances. Please phone us on 0300 1230 239 if you would like to discuss appointing us as your Executor.

After writing your Will

  • If we know whether you intend to remember us in your Will, we can plan better for the future. Let us know by completing our ‘decision to leave a legacy’ form.

Paying someone else’s legacy gift

  • If you're acting on behalf of someone who has passed away and has left a gift in their Will - whether to the national RSPCA or a specific branch – you'll find the answers you need on our Information for Executors page.

Remember the RSPCA in your Will

Initially we didn't feel we could include a gift to charity as our concern was for our family after we've gone. But then we learned about residuary gifts where we could benefit our children as well as the causes we hold dear to our hearts - so we've provided for our children and yet been able to leave a percentage of our estate to charity too.

Pauline and Cliff Ride, Hampshire

Here to help

Have a question about gifts in Wills? We’re here to help. Find answers to common questions in gifts in Wills FAQs, or contact us and include an email address or phone number so we can get back to you.

  • 0300 1230 239
  • RSPCA, Gifts in Wills Team, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1GY

*RSPCA’s Trustees reports and accounts. Based on 5-year average.

Find out more