There are a wealth of experts who can advise you, and we recommend speaking to a solicitor for any queries. Here you can find helpful information on how to write a will.
The Horniman has partnered with Octopus Legacy to provide a free will writing service. Through this service you can make a will online, and receive online, telephone or in person support from their inhouse experts throughout the process. You can start writing your will for free or visit our webpage to find out more about Octopus Legacy.
Do-It-Yourself wills can seem like an inexpensive option but are not always watertight and can lead to complications and unexpected costs further down the line. You can seek expert advice from a solicitor when making or changing your will. To find a solicitor in your local area, visit the Law Society website.
You must include:
The full name of our charity: The Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust
Our address: 100 London Road, London, SE23 3PQ
Registered charity number: 802725
We suggest using the following wording:
I leave [the sum of £____ / __% share of my residuary estate] for The Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust, 100 London Road, London, SE23 3PQ (registered charity number 802725) for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the proper officer for the time being of the said charity shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.
A pecuniary gift is a specific amount of money, while a residuary gift is a percentage of your estate’s remaining value after other bequests and debts have been settled. A residuary gift will hold its value better over time, while a pecuniary gift will fluctuate in value with the rate of inflation.
Leaving a gift to a registered charity in your will can reduce your rate of inheritance tax, which could make a difference to your loved ones. If you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, your estate could qualify for reduced inheritance tax rate of 36%, rather than the standard 40%.
Charities registered in the UK are exempt from inheritance tax which means any gift left to a registered charity will pass free of tax.
The Horniman is registered charity no. 802725 in England and Wales.
While you do not need a solicitor to write a will, using one is highly recommended to ensure it is legally valid and properly executed.
Writing a will online might not suit you. That’s why Octopus Legacy have the option make your will over the telephone or in person with member of their solicitor and will writing panel, with the option to visit the solicitor’s office to write your will. This is included in our free wills partnership offer. Please note that this offer does not include complex wills.
With Octopus Legacy it’s possible to make your will online from the comfort of your own home in as little as 15 minutes. Every will is checked by their legal team headed by solicitors and STEP approved lawyers. Rigorous will checking and safeguarding procedures has meant that to date wills written with Octopus Legacy’s service have had no upheld contestations.
However, an online will may not suit you or you may need extra time. Octopus Legacy have a team of experts available to provide advice and support over the phone. You also have the option to write your will over the phone, a video appointment, at a home visit appointment or they can arrange for you to visit a solicitor’s office to write your will in person. When making a will over the phone in this way, remember to specify that you’re are using the Horniman Museum and Garden’s free wills offer.
If you would like further specialist support please find a solicitor in your local area.
Wills are living documents, and as we experience significant changes throughout our lives our wills should change too. If you choose to make your will for free with Octopus Legacy, they can offer free will storage and an optional subscription service for unlimited changes to your will at £10 annually.
For more information on this service please contact Octopus Legacy direct on 02045253605 or emailing hello@octopuslegacy.com.
After making an online will with Octopus Legacy, there is an option to print your will at home. If you don’t have a printer, Octopus Legacy offers a print and post service for just £9.99. You’ll be given this option at the end of the online process.
Octopus Legacy offers a bundle deal automatically when writing your will, so you can also get your Lasting Power of Attorney sorted for only £50 (normally £120). If you don’t want an LPA you can remove this at the checkout page.
There are some cases where you may want to seek legal advice. If you have a complicated or larger estate then you may need a complex will. If you think this might be you, then you can speak to Octopus Legacy’s wills team on 0800 773 4014 and quote Horniman Museum and Gardens.
They can help you find the best option for getting your will sorted. If you do need a complex will, the simple aspect of the will is still free, however you’ll receive a no-obligation quote for the additional work needed.
To save the time and cost of writing a new will, you can add a codicil. A codicil is a simple legal document that makes minor changes to your will without rewriting it completely. A codicil needs to be signed in front of two independent witnesses (not beneficiaries) and kept with your will. Inform the executor of your will regarding the codicil. Speak to a solicitor before writing a codicil, as they can ensure it is legally valid.
If you are making more complex changes, it is recommended you create a new will and destroy previous versions to avoid confusion. You can take a look at our partnership with Octopus Legacy to make a new will for free, or you can look at Free Wills Month (every February and October), when will writing services in the UK provide their service for free to those over the age of 55.
An executor is responsible for locating your will, managing your assets, paying off any debts and taxes and distributing your estate to the beneficiaries.
Your executor can be a trusted family member or friend – it is common to appoint your partner, child or sibling – a solicitor or professional executor, a bank or trust company. You can have more than one executor and your executor may also be a beneficiary.
The most useful legacies are those which are left to our general work, so we can use them where our need is greatest. However, you might wish to support a particular area of our work, which could be one of the following:
- Maintaining our gardens
- Collections care
- Research activities
- Learning and community outreach programmes
Please speak to a member of the Fundraising Team about how to tailor your gift. You can ring 020 8699 1872 or email fundraising@horniman.ac.uk.
If you are executing a will that contains a gift to the Horniman, please send all correspondence to:
Fundraising Team
Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London Road
Forest Hill
London SE23 3PQ
Our Fundraising team will respond and organise the allocation of funds.
Cheques should be made payable to Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to receive a digital or print copy of the Horniman’s guide to leaving a legacy.