How to leave a gift in your Will 

STEP 1 – Write or update your will  

A gift in your Will, no matter how much, can make a real and lasting difference to the lives of many people in need in our world. 

If you already have a Will but would now like to leave a gift to Mary Ward International Australia, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will. This is called a Codicil. 

If you do not have a Will, you can include a gift when you do decide to write one. 

Whatever your circumstances, we would advise you see a solicitor to ensure your wishes can be fulfilled. 

Financial flexibility is crucial to our ability to respond to priority needs, so we ask that you do not designate your gift to a particular project, country or region. 

STEP 2 – Decide your gift 

There are several ways you can leave a gift in your Will to MWIA, depending on your circumstances. 

• Residuary – a percentage of what remains of an estate after costs have been covered and specific gifts (including provision for family and loved ones) have been disbursed. This is the most effective way to leave a bequest to MWIA. 
• Pecuniary – a gift of a fixed cash amount
• Specific asset – real estate, shares, bonds or other items of value 

Residuary and percentage gifts are considered the most beneficial forms of a gift in Will for MWIA as they hold their value over time and are therefore most likely to have the greatest impact. In contrast, a fixed cash amount means the value of your bequest could be significantly reduced by inflation between the time you write your Will and the time it is realised.  

STEP 3 – Suggested wording for your Will  

Here is our suggested wording to use when writing or updating your Will: 

“I give, free of all duties or taxes, [the sum of $ … or … % or the rest and residue] of my estate (‘the bequest’) to Mary Ward International Australia (ABN 34 852 517 693) (or its successor). It is my preference that the bequest be used for general purposes and direct that the receipt of the authorised officer of Mary Ward International Australia will be a sufficient discharge to my trustees.”

You may also like to add the following wording to ensure your charitable giving intent is honoured – 

“If at the date of my death any of the above charities have changed their name, merged with another entity or ceased to exist then their bequest will not fail but shall be paid to that charitable organisation which my executor considers I most intend to benefit”

STEP 4 – Notify loved ones and Mary Ward International Australia 

We believe it is important to talk to family and loved ones about your Will. Communication will ensure your final wishes are respected and carried out. Let your family know that leaving a gift to MWIA is important to you and advise any executors and guardians of your wishes. 

We also suggest that you let us know once you have left a gift in your Will to MWIA. Knowing when someone has chosen to support us in this way helps us to plan more confidently for the future. More importantly, we would love to thank you personally for your generous support and welcome you into our wonderful community of donors.   

Get in Touch 

We would be delighted to discuss your interest in leaving a gift in Will in person. Please be assured that any conversations you have with us are confidential and non-binding. We encourage you to contact us using the form below, or by contacting our Executive Officer, Hannah George on (03) 8832 0411 or hannah.george@loreto.org.au.

give in memory