Your attorney will be the principal advisor in preparing or amending your will. Here are three types of bequests with sample language to help you plan:
Specific Bequest
You can give a specified dollar amount or percentage of your estate in your will by using the template below.
Sample Language:
“I give and bequeath unto Rainforest Trust, a charitable nonprofit organization duly recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with Federal Tax ID #13-3500609, incorporated in New York on December 8, 1988 and having its principal office at 6801 Kennedy Road, Warrenton, VA 20187, the sum of $ ________ (or _____% of my estate), to be used for its general purpose of protecting threatened rainforests and saving endangered wildlife.”
Residuary Bequest
Only the remainder of your estate is gifted to Rainforest Trust after all other bequests you’ve designated to your loved ones and other charities have been satisfied and after taxes, debts and expenses have been paid.
Sample Language:
“I give and bequest to Rainforest Trust, a charitable nonprofit organization duly recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with Federal Tax ID #13-3500609, incorporated in New York on December 8, 1988 and having its principal office at 6801 Kennedy Road, Warrenton, VA 20187, ____% of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal to be used for its general purpose of protecting threatened rainforests and saving endangered wildlife.”
Contingent Bequest
Require that certain conditions must be met or that a certain event must occur before the bequest can be fulfilled.
Sample Language:
“In the event that [insert name of primary beneficiary] does not survive me, or shall die during the administration of my estate, then I give and bequest to Rainforest Trust, a charitable nonprofit organization duly recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with Federal Tax ID #13-3500609, incorporated in New York on December 8, 1988 and having its principal office at 6801 Kennedy Road, Warrenton, VA 20187, all of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate [or identify here a specific sum of money, a specific asset or the percentage of the residual estate that would have been given to the primary beneficiary], to be used for its general purpose of protecting threatened rainforests and saving endangered wildlife.”