Leave a Legacy
Families. Friends. Homes. Jobs. School. Health. Community. Memories. They left everything behind.
What will you leave behind?
A Will is a legal document and it is a statement of your wishes that are to be executed when you pass away. Having a Will gives you the comfort of knowing that the rewards of your life’s work will be distributed and managed according to your wishes.
The assets you leave behind can hold both financial and sentimental value, and you may want specific items to be inherited by a certain family members or friends.
Donating all or part of your estate to UNHCR through your Will means your generosity will help those fleeing from violence and persecution to survive, recover and build better futures. Your compassion will live on in the world’s most vulnerable refugees. The decision to make a legacy gift is a deeply meaningful and highly personal one.
Personal and practical benefits of leaving a legacy gift:
Including a charity like UNHCR in your Will can reduce the tax burden on your beneficiaries. The government looks favourably upon giving through one’s Will.
Estate planning is a continual process. As your life changes so should your estate plans. What’s more, legislation and rules can also change or evolve over time.
An estate plan gives you peace of mind that your final wishes will be fulfilled. Once you have considered the needs of your loved ones, you may also wish to consider leaving a humanitarian legacy gift to UNHCR Canada. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that your generosity will protect refugees and others who are forced to flee their homes due to war or persecution.
How to include UNHCR in your Will
We highly recommend that you consult with a qualified solicitor to help write your Will to avoid any errors that can cause problems in the future and make the document invalid.
However, if you have an existing Will, you can amend to include beneficiaries like UNHCR by adding a codicil to make your wishes known. Below is some sample wording that you may use to include UNHCR in your bequest intention:
Percentage of Estate: “I give to UNHCR Representation in Canada __________ per cent of the value of my estate to be used for its general purposes.”
Residual Gift: “I give to UNHCR Representation in Canada one hundred percent (100per cent) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate for its general purposes.”
Fixed Amount Gift: “I give to UNHCR Representation in Canada the sum of $___________ to be used for its general purposes.”
Our legal name is: UNHCR Representation in Canada
The information provided is general in nature. UNHCR Canada strongly encourages all donors who are planning a legacy gift to seek advice from their financial advisor or lawyer. All significant financial decisions should also be made in consultation with family members or heirs.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your planned giving options, please contact us at: plannedgivingunhcr@gmail.com