Gift Planning

Specific Bequest

This type of bequest is the most common Special Gift received by the church. The donor may specify a sum of money, or a percentage of the estate or a specific property, such as real estate or securities.

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Residual Bequest

With this type of bequest, you may direct that a portion or the balance of your estate pass to the church after providing for other beneficiaries.

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Contingent Bequest

This type of bequest directs that the church receives all or a portion of your estate in the event of a prior death of certain other beneficiaries.

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Residual Bequest Subject to Life Interest

This type of bequest directs that the church be the ultimate beneficiary of your estate, after certain other beneficiaries have had use of the income from the estate for their lifetimes.

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Benefits to you

• Bequests made to the church are eligible for tax receipts that can be used against 100% of the estate's taxable income in the year of death as well as the previous year.
• You can direct that your bequest, if sufficiently large, be used to create an endowment in which only the annual income is spent, or the income plus a percentage of the principal. This would allow your gift could go on for many years.
• Bequests can be unrestricted or can be designated for a specific purpose, so long as that purpose continues to exist.

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Questions to ask Yourself

Do I have a will?

You cannot direct the disbursement of your estate unless you have a legal will.

Is my will up-to-date?

Your will should change as your life does. For instance, at the time of a marriage, a divorce, a birth or a death, or a significant increase or decrease in your worldly wealth.

Have I remembered the church in my will?

People leave a portion of their estate to the church in their wills for the same reasons they gave a portion of their earnings to the church while living. You cannot leave anything to the church, however, unless you have stated this clearly in your will.

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Your Will

Your Will should not be too rigidly worded. Many donors designate bequests to areas of church work which may not exist at the time of their death, thus freezing future use of the money. You may leave your bequest to The United Church of Canada.

If it is your wish that your bequest benefit the total work of the church, then your designation should state: To The United Church of Canada, Mission and Service Fund.

A bequest to a specific congregation should read: To the _____ Congregation of The United Church of Canada, (address of church), or, if such congregation does not exist at the time of my death, to The United Church of Canada.

You may want your bequest to be directed to one of the Units of the General Council of The United Church of Canada.

To obtain information about the Unites and their specific programs contact the Executive Secretary of the Unit or ask your Gift Planning Consultant.

Flexibility in your will can be achieved in several ways. You can assign a specific sum to the church in your will, or a percentage of your estate. If you have a specific intention for your gift, then you can use a clause such as, To The United Church of Canada, the sum of $_____, with the request that it be used to assist theological education / overseas missions / ministers' pensions / etc.

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Resources

The Financial Stewardship unit has produced a Will Workbook to help you plan your will and your bequest to the church. Download and print a copy, ask your Regional Consultant for a copy, call, toll free, 1-800-465-3771.

• Will Workbook [PDF: 32 pp/147 KB]