5 things to know about leaving a Legacy in your Will

Leaving a Legacy in your Will is the perfect way to ensure the causes you care about are supported after you’re gone. 

However, we know this isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Here are five things to know about leaving your Legacy.

Please note: the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation cannot offer legal advice. The information below is presented only for awareness. Please consult a solicitor for advice and guidance.

Scottish supporters are suggested to consult local solicitors as Scottish inheritance law is different to England and Wales.

Leaving a Legacy in Your will

1.  It won’t affect your finances now 

One common concern about leaving a gift in a Will is how it might affect finances during your lifetime. 

The good news is that leaving a legacy gift has no financial impact until after you’re gone. Your assets remain under your control for the rest of your life, so you don’t need to worry about immediate costs to you or your family.

2. A Legacy left to a charity does not mean forsaking your loved ones

Will writing and deciding what to leave behind and to who is incredibly important. We understand that making these kinds of decisions can be difficult.

We know that family, friends and others important to you Will come first and may be remembered in your Will.

But once you have made arrangements for them, we would be extremely grateful for the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation to be included in your Will.

3. You do not need to be wealthy to leave a gift to a charity 

If you’re thinking charitable gifts are preserved for the wealthy, think again.

Charities like ours rely on charitable donations to continue our work. 

Gifts of all sizes are welcome, and even a small percentage of your estate can make a significant impact on our work. 

A modest donation will help fund important projects like our Speakers and Tour Guides programme, offering free talks and tours to anyone interested in learning about those we care for.

4. You can write your Will for free with our partners at Bequeathed

Did you know the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation offers a free Will writing service with our partners Bequeathed? 

In just a few short steps, you can come away with a Will document, outlining your wishes and requirements at no cost to you.

Visit the CWGF Bequeathed page for more information.

5. Your support makes a real impact

When you leave a Legacy to a charity in your Will, you are continuing to support the causes you felt passionately about in life. You are helping ensure their future is secure, and that the projects that inspired you to give can carry on.

Each of the 1.7 million men and women commemorated by Commonwealth War Graves has a story to tell. We are dedicated to ensuring their memories, their sacrifice, and their stories are remembered forever.

A gift, no matter how large or small, helps us continue our important education and outreach projects, such as:

If you have any questions or queries, you can contact our team

If you have any questions or queries about leaving a Legacy, please don’t hesitate to contact our Fundraising team.

While we cannot offer you legal advice, we can discuss how your gifts will support our work, give you information on our free Will writing service and answer any questions you may have.

Please feel free to contact us via e-mail at legacies@cwgc.org.

Help us tell every story for evermore by leaving your Legacy 

For us, the mission of preserving and telling the stories of the Commonwealth men and women who fell in the World Wars alive is vitally important. Even as living memories fade, we want to ensure that they are not forgotten.

With your help, we can tell every story, for evermore.

For more information, please visit our Legacies page.