Seagull Trust Cruises: Free Canal Cruising in Scotland for People with Special Needs

People generously remembering Seagull Trust Cruises in their Wills is an important part of the sustaining and developing our work. No matter what the amount every legacy is making a difference.

When it comes to your Will, it's only right that your family and friends come first in your thoughts, but that doesn't mean you can't also leave a gift to a cause close to your heart. Gifts in Wills help fund Seagull Trust Cruises services - both the Marion and the Marjorie Seagull boats were built with generous donations left to Seagull Trust Cruises by the late Mrs. M.H. Salvesen and the late Mrs. Marjorie Brown who the boats are named after. These were highly generous gifts, but even the smallest legacy makes a real difference.

If you have already made a will

If you have already made a Will, but would like to leave a gift to Seagull Trust Cruises, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will. This is called a Codicil.

If you have not already made a will

If you do not have a Will at the moment, you may need to see a solicitor. Although you will have to pay a fee, you will receive sound professional advice and can be sure that your wishes will be achieved.

There are two ways to give to Seagull Trust Cruises 

• Pecuniary legacy - You can choose to give a gift of a fixed amount of money. This is called a pecuniary legacy.
• Residuary legacy - Or you can choose to leave a share, or the whole, of what is left of your estate once you have provided for your loved ones.

Tell your solicitor which is the most suitable option for you. The correct wording for each type of legacy is shown below.

For a Pecuniary legacy

"I give free of inheritance tax £X to Seagull Trust Cruises Ltd, Registered Charity Number SC027163 whose Registered Office is at 19 Dean Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1NL, [for its general charitable purposes] [and I declare that the receipt of the treasurer or other proper officer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors]."

For a Residuary Legacy

"My trustees shall hold my/x share(s) of my residuary estate and the income thereof for Seagull Trust Cruises Ltd, Registered Charity Number SC027163 whose Registered Office is at 19 Dean Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1NL, absolutely [for its general charitable purposes] [and I declare that the receipt of the treasurer or other proper officer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors]."

Legacy Guidance and Inheritance Tax

Most gifts made during your lifetime are tax-free, as long as you make them at least seven years before your death. If you don't, inheritance tax will be taken from all that you own above the current threshold amount.

At the time of going to pint each individual has an inheritance tax level of £300,000. If your estate is worth more than this then your loved ones will pay 40% Inheritance Tax on the total amount above £300,000 when it passes on to them.

Under recent legislation married couples can add their two Inheritance Tax levels together to give a figure of £600,000. So under the new legislation for married couples amounts above £600,000 are taxable at 40% when the estate is passed on to family and loved ones.

Any gifts left in a Will to a charity are exempt from the 40% tax and therefore the whole of this gift goes to the charity – and none gets paid in tax.