Bequests

Making a Will is an important part of planning for the future. After you have provided for loved ones, you may wish to consider Scope as a beneficiary.

When people leave bequests to Scope in their Will, their gifts both large and small, contribute significantly to our work. By leaving a lasting legacy, your gift enables us to support people with a disability to live the lives they choose to live. A bequest is a special way of making a positive difference beyond your lifetime.

There are several different ways you can include Scope in your Will.

Residuary Bequest

Residuary Bequests are simply a gift of whatever is left of your estate - or a percentage of it - after all other gifts, taxes and debts have been taken care of.

This form of bequest maintains a relative value and automatically adjusts as the value of the estate increases. In practical terms, Residuary bequests are a particularly wonderful way to support Scope because you can decide exactly how much you want to leave to your loved ones and leave whatever is left over to us.

Pecuniary Bequest

This refers to leaving a gift of a set dollar amount which you decide to include in your Will at the time of drawing or updating your Will.

Specific Bequest

This is where you specify anything of value as your bequest. It could be property, a work of art, or an insurance policy, with Scope named as the sole owner and/or beneficiary of the policy. It may be proceeds of bank accounts, or other investments.

Wording your bequest to Scope:

If you choose to make a bequest to Scope in your Will, we suggest using the following wording:

I give to Scope free from all duties, ………………………………………. (please specify the size and nature of the bequest) for its general purposes and direct that the receipt of an Executive Officer at the time will be sufficient to discharge my Trustees).

• where it says ‘please specify’ you may write, for example:
  * A percentage of your estate, or
  * The whole of the residue of your estate (this would only apply if you have no children or other dependants) or
  * A specified sum of money, or
  * Specific items

Consultation from a legal practitioner will ensure that your wishes are properly expressed with the correct legal wording. If you do not know a solicitor or Trustee Company we can assist you in finding someone in your area.

Endowments

The setting up of a trust or foundation in which Scope is named as a beneficiary is also a way of providing a lasting legacy for the organisation. An endowment provides funds on an ongoing basis generated by the principal and which contributes to the long term sustainability of Scope programmes.

Forever Friends Club

When you make your Will, you have the opportunity to ensure your care for others lives on. It can also be a time to remember the important work of Scope and how your generosity can contribute to our work, well into the future.

To help us thank and recognise people who choose to remember Scope in their Will, we offer an invitation for you to become part of our 'Forever Friends Club'. Members of the Club are invited to visit our centres and attend special informal functions to discover more about the comprehensive programs and services provided for our clients. Members also receive a Certificate of Membership and a lapel badge.

More information on Bequests?

If you would like more information or would like to receive a copy of Scope’s Guide to Wills and Bequests please contact Dianne Sharpe, Manager Bequests on 03 9843 3059 or dsharpe@scopevic.org.au. 

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late”.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ways to consider Scope

In summary, ways you might like to consider supporting Scope into the future include but are not limited to:

-    bequests                        -    life insurance
-    endowments                   -    bonds
-    specific items                 -    PAF's
-    investments                    -    Other
 
Disclaimer
Before making any decision on how you would like to support Scope, we advise that you consult your legal or financial advisor before proceeding.