Include the gift of a donation in your will

A solicitor will help ensure that your will is valid and that your wishes will be met. However, you can choose to use a will writer or online will provider.

The cost of writing a will varies depending on how complicated it is. You can ask several solicitors what they charge before making your decision.

From time to time we have Free Will offers, which allow you to write or update your will for free through a solicitor or online will provider. To find out more please contact John Sharp on 020 7793 4594 or email [email protected]

We understand that circumstances can change. You can change the content of your will at any time. We will never ask you to tell us whether you have left WaterAid a gift in your will, although we're always very happy to hear from you, so we can say thank you.

There are three types of gift you can leave in your will:

• A share of your estate – This is a percentage of your estate after all other gifts and expenses have been paid. These gifts are very important to us as they usually maintain their value or increase over time. This also means you're less likely to need to amend it in the future. Just a small percentage can transform lives around the world with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.
• A specific sum – This is a gift of a set amount of money.
• A specific item – This could be something valuable such as an antique, painting, property or shares that we would sell.

If you already have a will and simply wish to add a gift to WaterAid you can complete a codicil form and store it with your will. A codicil is read alongside your will and allows you to make changes to your will, without having to rewrite it.

Download a codicil form >

At the moment, if you leave a gift to WaterAid in your will it will not be included when valuing your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. The value of your gift will be deducted from your estate before Inheritance Tax is applied.

However, Inheritance Tax rules can change so it’s always best to discuss your will and the type of gift you might like to leave with your solicitor.

If you decide to leave a gift to WaterAid, it's really straightforward to include this in your will. All you have to do is give your solicitor our registered address and charity numbers and your solicitor will do the rest.

Address: WaterAid, 20 Canada Square, London, E14 5NN

Registered charity numbers: 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland).

If you prefer, you can take the following wording to your solicitor. They will make sure your will is valid and that your wishes are followed.

A share of your estate

My bequest to WaterAid of the residual estate (or a proportion of) - a residuary or percentage legacy "Subject to the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, I give the whole (residuary) or ______% of my estate not otherwise disposed of by this my Will to WaterAid (Registered charity numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland)) of 47-49 Durham Street, London SE11 5JD, for the general purposes of WaterAid and I declare that the receipt of their Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge.”

A specific sum of money

My bequest to WaterAid for a set sum - a pecuniary legacy "I give free of tax to WaterAid (Registered charity numbers 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland)) of 47-49 Durham Street, London, SE11 5JD, the sum of £______ for the general purposes of WaterAid and I declare that the receipt of their Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge."

Yes, under Wasiyyah Muslims can leave up to a third of their estate to other beneficiaries, such as WaterAid. A gift in your will can transform lives by bringing the joy of long lasting clean water and decent toilets to entire communities, helping them break free from poverty and changing their lives for forever. Your gift could be an act of Sadaqah Jariyah and help change the lives of the world’s poorest families through a sustainable supply of clean water.