Benefits of writing your will and including a gift for charity

Niall O’Sullivan

Chairperson, My Legacy

Only one in three Irish adults have a Will. Learn how simple estate planning can secure your family’s future and make a lasting charitable impact.

Have you made a Will? The answer might be: ‘Oh, I haven’t gotten around to it yet’ It often is. Just one in three Irish adults have written their Will, although it is very straightforward to do.

Wills look after family and society

People assume that thanks to succession laws, their family will inherit anyway. However, without a Will in place, difficulties and delays can arise for grieving loved ones. Moreover, there’s great satisfaction in knowing you have put your affairs in order, looked after family and friends and perhaps considered your legacy.

Estate planning is not just for the very wealthy, and more families are having open discussions about the future. That might also include a charity or cause that means something personal to them.

Impact of charitable Wills

For a growing number of people, including a gift in their Will is recognised as a meaningful way to help a charity that supported them or someone close to them or a practical way to shape a better future for our society. Whatever your motivation for including a charitable gift in your Will, it has a real impact.

Did you know that between €8–€10 billion is transferred to the next generation annually through the Probate Office? Of this, €100 million is gifted to Irish charities, providing a sustainable and precious resource to strengthen and ensure their great work continues to support individuals, our environment and communities.

Anyone can leave a lasting legacy

My Legacy is an umbrella group of 90 Irish charities raising awareness of legacy giving as a form of philanthropy that everyone in Ireland can participate in. Niall O’Sullivan, Chair of My Legacy, says: “Charitable gifts in Wills are very democratic — anyone can be a philanthropist and can decide how and where they want to have a positive impact on the future of our shared society.

“Our members have noticed more enquiries and interest in this way of giving support and, as part of My Legacy Month this September, we thank everyone for their generosity and forethought and the precious and very personal gifts they’ve made.”