Frequently Asked Questions

A gift for general purposes will allow us to use it where it is needed most. We will use your generous gift wisely, to ensure it will have the greatest impact for our patients and the future of healthcare.

Alternatively, you can direct where your Gift in Will can have an impact, and we will always respect your wishes and intention of your gift.

Your Will is a record of your wishes at a particular point in time. It is advisable to regularly review your Will, especially when circumstances change so that it accurately reflects your current wishes.

If your current Will still reflects most of your wishes, and you just want to make small additions or changes, your solicitor can help you create a codicil (an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a Will or part of one). It’s important to consult your solicitor to ensure the original Will is not affected.  

This is entirely up to you. However, if you have chosen to support us in this very generous and personal way, we would be delighted to hear from you so we can understand your wishes.

We would also like to keep you updated on our work, and most importantly, to thank you personally for your kind support. 

A Will is the only way of being assured that your estate is gifted to your loved ones and the causes you care about. If you don’t have a Will upon death, you’re said to die intestate, and your assets will be distributed by the state according to a pre-determined formula. This means your wishes may not be carried as per your instructions.

If you have a current and legal Will, it avoids delays, problems, and extra expense at a challenging time for your loved ones. Making a Will is not expensive but failing to make a Will can be costly. Regardless of age, by having a Will, you can ensure adequate planning for the future and give yourself peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out after you pass.

Your Will needs to be carefully written to comply with legal requirements and to ensure your wishes are acted upon. It is advisable to seek assistance from a solicitor or an accredited Wills and Estates specialist.

Your Will is a record of your wishes at a particular point in time. It is advisable to regularly review your Will, especially when circumstances change so that it accurately reflects your current wishes.

If your current Will still reflects most of your wishes, and you just want to make small additions or changes, your solicitor can help you create a codicil (an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a Will or part of one). It’s important to consult your solicitor to ensure the original Will is not affected.

To leave money or a bequest gift to the charity/charities of your choosing in your Will, you can either write a new Will or update your existing Will. A solicitor, lawyer or estate planner can assist you.

Gifts in Wills are future donations to charity, the donations of which are recorded in your Will. Your future donation can be in the form of shares, property, a specified monetary amount, or a residue of your estate. Your gift in Will will be distributed to your chosen charity after you pass.

Learn more about the different ways to include a gift in your Will. The type of gift that is right for you will depend on your personal and family circumstances. Your solicitor will be able to help you choose the best option for you.

• Residuary gift
• Specific amount
• Percentage gift
• Whole of Estate
• Specific item

Learn more about the different ways to include a gift in your Will.

Bequests and legacies are gifts of personal property under a Will to a specified person or organisation. A devise is a gift of real estate under a Will. These are all referred to as “gifts” in a Will. Gifts can be a specific sum of money, item of real estate or personal property, a percentage of the estate assets, or a residuary gift after all specific gifts have been made and debts paid.

A charitable gift is a gift in a Will for a charitable organisation. Charitable gifts can be directed by the testator (Will maker) to be applied to a particular purpose of the charity or towards the general purpose of the charity.

A legacy gift is another way of describing a Gift in a Will or a charitable bequest.

It can be easy to underestimate the overall value of the assets that will eventually form part of your estate. This is particularly true if you own property, which may have increased in value over time. No matter how much or how little you may own, it is still worth having a Will written to ensure that what you do own, is distributed as per your wishes.

Leaving a gift in your Will to St Vincent’s Foundation Victoria, no matter how large or small, will have a meaningful impact on the care we provide.

Wills aren’t just for older people. A Will is something you should have as soon as you enter a marriage/de facto relationship, buy a house/property, or have children. If you have assets, no matter what your age is, is it a sensible idea to have your affairs in order via a Will.

We are extremely grateful for any type of donation we receive, at whatever time suits you the most. However, gifts from Wills are incredibly powerful in helping us to plan for the future and they are a great way for your support to continue even after you have passed.

Of course. We will keep your information confidential in accordance with our privacy policy.

St Vincent’s Foundation Victoria is a registered charity, which means no tax is paid on the gift you leave to us in your Will.