A Will is a document instructing on how you would like your estate to be divided or transferred when you pass away. Your estate, or assets are classified as everything that you own, including property, savings, investments, pensions, and even objects. Without a Will, your estate may go to the Government, however with a Will you are able to determine where your estate is left. Your estate can be divided between different individuals (i.e., family, friends), or even a percentage towards a charity. If you would like to make a Will, please talk to your solicitor to discuss your wishes.

Please contact your solicitor for more information.

Yes - if you already have a Will in place, you may be able to make simple changes, such as gifting to the Staffordshire University Horizon Fund, by using a legal document called a codicil. Your solicitor should be able to advise whether or not your Will can be changed in this way, or if you need to draft a new Will.

No – whilst we can provide support on what your gift will be used for within your Will, we are unable to write or update your Will and advise you contact a solicitor.

If you or your solicitor would like suggested wording for your legacy gift to Staffordshire University, we are able to provide wording based on your legacy wishes.

We understand that you may wish to remain anonymous and not let us know in advance about your intention to leave a gift in your Will.

If that is not the case, however, we would love to have the opportunity of meeting you and thanking you for your generosity. We would also like to stay in touch by providing you with regular updates on how donations like yours have and will transform students’ lives through sending you a copy of our Impact Report and to keep you up-to-date with news, events and exciting developments at the University by sending you a copy of our Horizon magazine.

Yes – often known as a gift in memory. Losing someone close to you is always difficult and can create a feeling of loss, a gift in memory is a heartfelt way to celebrate their life by making a positive impact on future generations in their name.

If this is something you would like to consider or require further information, please get in touch and we can set up a gift in memory that memorialises your loved one.

Depending on your individual circumstances, it may be possible to reduce the tax liability on your overall estate by making Staffordshire University a beneficiary of your Will.

This is because you can make gifts to certain people and organisations without having to pay any inheritance tax (Assuming your estate is above the threshold where inheritance tax would be due).

As a Higher Education Corporation, Staffordshire University is listed as an exempt charity under Schedule 2 to the Charities Act 1993. Charity exemption number XN80928.

This means for its charitable activities, the University benefits from the status of a charity and is exempt from paying tax on any gifts of money or property that you choose to make.

This also means that without the burden of inheritance tax – and with no tax to pay on the University’s part – the gift you make could be more generous than you imagined possible.

No – as a legacy is paid out of capital rather than income, a legacy gift cannot qualify for gift aid.

Please contact developmentoffice@staffs.ac.uk - we will be happy to answer any and all queries you may have.