The Bequest
Bequests are the most popular type of planned gifts. Anything you leave to Legal Services of North Florida will reduce the size of your taxable estate while helping us. You will want to be as clear as possible in describing what you want given to whom. Below are several common ways to make a bequest.

1. Specific bequest. This is a gift of a specific item to a specific beneficiary. For example, "I give my golf clubs to my nephew, John." If that specific property has been disposed of before death, the bequest fails and no claim can be made to any other property. (In other words, John wouldn’t receive the value of the golf clubs instead.)

2. General bequest. This is usually a gift of a stated sum of money. It will not fail, even if there is not sufficient cash to meet the bequest. For example, "I give $50,000 to my daughter Mary." If there is only $2,500 cash in the estate, other assets must be sold to meet the bequest.

3. Contingent bequest. This is a bequest made on condition that a certain event must occur before distribution to the beneficiary. For example, "I give $50,000 to my son, Joe, provided he enrolls in college before age 21." A contingent bequest is specific in nature and fails if the condition is not met. (A contingent bequest is also appropriate if you want to name a secondary beneficiary, in case the primary beneficiary doesn't survive you.)

4. Residuary bequest. This is a gift of all the "rest, residue and remainder" of your estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid. For example, you own property worth $500,000, and you intend to give a child $50,000 by specific bequest and leave $450,000 to a spouse through a residuary bequest. If the debts, taxes and expenses are $100,000, there would only be $350,000 left for the surviving spouse. You may prefer to divide your estate according to percentages of the residue (rather than specifying dollar amounts), to ensure that your beneficiaries receive the proportions you desire.

Any of the previous items can apply in the case of bequests to individual heirs or bequests to charitable organizations.

Let Us Know
We hope you'll tell us when you have named Legal Services of North Florida in your will. We would very much like the opportunity to thank you for your generosity.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, your gift will be kept completely confidential. But at the same time, recognition of your gift can encourage others to do the same. Whatever the case, we will honor your wishes, because we appreciate your support immensely.

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The information on this site is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax professional or investment professional.

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