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Wills & Probate
About Lyons Bowe
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Postal Address: 54 High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AS
Find answers to common questions about including charities in your Will. Learn how to make a lasting impact while protecting your loved ones with Lyons Bowe Solicitors.
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Wills & Charities FAQ | Leave a Legacy with Lyons Bowe
Leaving a gift to charity often called a legacy gift allows your values to live on and make a difference beyond your lifetime. It’s a simple way to support a cause that matters to you while still providing for your family and friends.
At Lyons Bowe, we help clients structure their Wills so that charitable giving is clear, tax-efficient, and fully aligned with their wishes.
Absolutely. You can do both.
Most people leave a percentage of their estate to charity after taking care of loved ones. This is known as a residuary gift. Alternatively, you can leave a fixed sum of money (a pecuniary gift) or a specific item, such as artwork or shares. Your solicitor will ensure that your Will balances both your personal and charitable priorities.
Yes: and often significantly.
If you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate on the rest of your estate can drop from 40% to 36%.
Because registered charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax, gifts to them are deducted before your taxable estate is calculated- meaning your donations help both your cause and your family.
Lyons Bowe’s private client team can guide you through structuring your gift for maximum impact and tax efficiency.
There are several ways to give:
Your solicitor will advise which option best suits your financial and family situation.
Most clients choose organisations that reflect their values or life story from medical research and animal welfare to local community causes.
Ensure the charity is registered with the Charity Commission and record its official name and number in your Will to avoid confusion.
During Remember A Charity Week, Lyons Bowe partners with leading UK charities to raise awareness of legacy giving and make it easier to include a charity in your Will.
Yes. Your Will should reflect your current intentions.
You can update your charitable gifts by creating a new Will or a codicil (a short supplementary document). Lyons Bowe recommends reviewing your Will every three to five years or whenever your circumstances change.
If a named charity ceases to exist, your gift could fail unless your Will includes a “fallback clause.” We draft this automatically so that your legacy is redirected to a similar charitable purpose.
That way, your intentions are honoured no matter what happens in the future.
Technically, no but it’s strongly advised. A professionally drafted Will reduces errors and ensures your gifts are legally valid and tax-efficient. Lyons Bowe’s private client team handles everything from initial drafting to registration and safe storage.
Yes and many people do. You can divide a percentage of your estate between several organisations or create a charitable trust that continues to support causes over time.
Our specialist Wills and Probate team make legacy giving simple. We’ll help you:
Whether you’re updating an existing Will or starting from scratch, we’ll help you create a legacy that lasts. Protect your loved ones and support the causes you care about.
📞 Call your local Lyons Bowe office or visit www.lyonsbowe.co.uk to book your Will consultation today.
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The team at Lyons Bowe have been great, replying promptly to any questions and always helpful. The progress updates throughout the process, has been very helpful and really keeps you informed as to where you are within the timeline.
Excellent service. Quietly attentive, sympathetic listeners, and efficient practitioners, all that a worried applicant could wish for. And especially unusual in this day and age....
Honestly I've never wanted to review solicitors before, they've been ok and have done their job at varying timescales. From the start, my partner and I have commented every single time when something happened how quick they are, and they're a delight to communicate with too! And their app is brilliant and has made things so much easier. We will use in the future and will not stop recommending.
I recently used Lyons Bowe Solicitors and had the pleasure of working with Holly as my point of contact. From start to finish, the service was outstanding. Holly was professional, approachable, and incredibly efficient - she kept me updated throughout the entire process and made everything feel smooth and stress-free.
Rhea, and everyone so far at Lyons Bowe, have been truly fantastic. Excellent communication, chasing me rather than me chasing them, very pleasant in conversation and always ready to help. Highly recommend to anyone.
Everything was done quickly and efficiently and the app means you are kept informed every step of the way. Thank you.
The team at Lyons Bowe have been great, replying promptly to any questions and always helpful. The progress updates throughout the process, has been very helpful and really keeps you informed as to where you are within the timeline.
The Mirror Guy, Firm Review
Excellent service. Quietly attentive, sympathetic listeners, and efficient practitioners, all that a worried applicant could wish for. And especially unusual in this day and age....
Brian, Firm Review
Honestly I've never wanted to review solicitors before, they've been ok and have done their job at varying timescales. From the start, my partner and I have commented every single time when something happened how quick they are, and they're a delight to communicate with too! And their app is brilliant and has made things so much easier. We will use in the future and will not stop recommending.
Chris, Firm Review
I recently used Lyons Bowe Solicitors and had the pleasure of working with Holly as my point of contact. From start to finish, the service was outstanding. Holly was professional, approachable, and incredibly efficient - she kept me updated throughout the entire process and made everything feel smooth and stress-free.
Manuel, Firm Review
Rhea, and everyone so far at Lyons Bowe, have been truly fantastic. Excellent communication, chasing me rather than me chasing them, very pleasant in conversation and always ready to help. Highly recommend to anyone.
Rich, Firm Review
Everything was done quickly and efficiently and the app means you are kept informed every step of the way. Thank you.
Nina, Firm Review
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At Lyons Bowe, we do not just give legal advice, we guide you through life’s biggest moments with clarity, care, and confidence. Whether you are buying a home, making a will, or navigating a separation, we make the process simple, structured, and built entirely around you.
Lyons Bowe is a trading name of Lyons Bowe Limited, a limited company registered in England & Wales (registered number OC11526226) which is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 652616. A list of Directors is available at our registered office 54 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AS
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