Leave a legacy

Gifts in Wills help bring our brave lifeboat crews home safely, and provide the training and protective gear they and our lifeguards need to save lives. After you’ve looked after your family and friends, please consider leaving a gift in your Will to the RNLI.

Do I have to be wealthy to leave a gift in my will? 

Not at all. Many of our lifeboats are paid for by a gift, or a number of smaller gifts, that people leave in their Will. But gifts in Wills also pay for lots of other things too - crew kit, lifeguard training and the fuel that keeps our lifeboats running. So whatever the size of your gift - large or small - you can be sure we will use it to help save lives.

Will my money be put to good use?

We promise to use your gift wisely and effectively. Six out of ten RNLI rescues at sea are paid for by gifts in Wills. They pay to keep our lifeboat crews safe – the brave volunteers who put their lives on the line to save others. Gifts in Wills also support our lifeguards, who keep families safe around our coastline.

What types of gifts can I leave?

Pecuniary gifts are specified sums of money. If you would like a gift of money to keep its value over the years, it is a sensible idea to ask your solicitor to index-link it.

Residuary gifts are made from whatever is left over once gifts of money and specific items have been distributed. You can give the whole of the residue to a person or a charity like the RNLI, or a portion of it. 

Specific gifts are things, such as a painting, a house or a ring.

Your solicitor will be able to explain this in more detail.

Whether you want to update an existing Will, or you’re planning to write your first Will, leaving a gift to charity is easy to do. An up-to-date Will ensures your wishes for your family and any charities you support will be clearly understood.

When you leave a gift to the RNLI in your Will, we promise:

• your loved ones come first – we respect that
• we’ll use your gift wisely and effectively
• if you want your gift to be spent in an area that’s special to you, we can arrange that *
• we won’t put you under pressure.

* In your Will, you can specify whether the gift is to be reserved for use by the Jersey branch of the RNLI, or whether the gift is to be made available for use by the RNLI nationally, or possibly for specific purposes such as training; your solicitor will be able to assist with drafting the relevant wording. 

Dying without a Will can create many problems for those left behind, at an already difficult time. Here are some tips to help you make your Will.

Make a new Will

Before you begin the Will making process, it is a good idea to think about: 

• the main things you own - like a house, shares, endowments, savings or life insurance policies - and roughly what they are worth
• who you would like to include - after you have looked after your loved ones, we do hope you’ll consider leaving a gift to the RNLI in your Will
• who your executor(s) will be
• what kinds of gifts you want to leave the people and charities you care about – items like a house or valuables or money.

Update an existing Will

It is important to keep your Will up to date. It is a good idea to review your Will if your circumstances change - for example getting married or having children. Before you update your Will, think about:

• the main things you own - like a house, shares, endowments, savings or life insurance policies - and roughly what they are worth
• who you would like to include - after you have looked after your loved ones, we do hope you’ll consider leaving a gift to the RNLI in your Will
• who your executor(s) will be
• what kinds of gifts you want to leave the people and charities you care about – items like a house or valuables or money.