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Leave a gift in your Will

As a life-long animal lover, there’s no better way to show you care than by leaving a legacy. A gift in your Will for the RSPCA means you will always be there for animals at risk of cruelty and neglect.

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Changing animals’ lives for 200 years

In 1824, we made it our responsibility to protect and care for all animals, and never tolerate their abuse. It’s a promise to animals we've worked hard to keep ever since – and one that thousands of people have helped us to deliver, by remembering us in their Will.

As we mark our 200th anniversary, over half of our work is funded by people who have left us a gift in their Will. These gifts are so important and valued. They will help change animals’ lives for years to come.

By deciding to remember us in your Will, you’ll help our teams be there to rescue and protect animals in need, adapting to any new challenges the future holds. You’ll help us create a better world for every animal.

Here to help

Whatever your query, contact us and we’ll do our best to help. Let us know your email address or phone number so we can easily get back to you.

  • 0300 1230 239
  • RSPCA, Gifts in Wills Team,
    Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham,
    West Sussex, RH12 1GY

Five easy steps to making a Will

  • 1 Add up the estimated value of your estate (that’s everything you’ve saved and own). Make a list of people and organisations you’d like to leave money, property or possessions to.
  • 2 Appoint one or more executors (up to four) to carry out the terms of your Will. This can be a relative, friend or legal adviser.
  • 3 Visit a legal adviser to draw up or update your Will. If you don’t have one, you can find one through the Law Society or STEP. If you’re including a gift to us, here’s some suggested Will wording.
  • 4 Keep your Will in a safe place and tell someone you trust where it is. It’s also important to make a copy of your Will for your own records. Your legal adviser may be able to store your original Will.
  • 5 If you choose to remember the RSPCA in your Will, thank you. Gifts in Wills make up over half of the funds we rely on for our work with animals. This means it’s incredibly valuable for us to know your intentions. So if you are happy to tell us, please use our online pledge form, or download a pledge form to do so.

“Leaving a gift will make things better”

In our short film, below, you’ll meet RSPCA supporter Geoff – and the beard-loving cat who’s adopted him! Geoff reflects on the role pets have played in his life, and why he wants to create a kinder future for animals by leaving us a gift.

What other people are asking...

You may have questions about making your Will or leaving a gift for animals. We’ve collected the most common questions and answers here for you. But if you would still like to discuss anything, we’re happy to help – see above.

Choosing the RSPCA

  • If protecting animals from cruelty and neglect is something you strongly support, then leaving a gift in your Will to us is a wonderful way to do just that.

    Gifts we receive make a genuine difference to vulnerable animals. They will always need us, and your gift will always matter.

  • There are three main types of gift you can leave, and we are hugely grateful for all of them

    • A residuary legacy is a percentage of whatever is left over from an estate after debts, funeral expenses, administration costs, and all other gifts have been paid. This can be any percentage you like. Many people choose this type of gift as it makes sure their loved ones are taken care of first.
    • A pecuniary legacy is a fixed sum of money that can be any amount, big or small. When it comes to protecting animals from cruelty, every gift counts.
    • A specific legacy is a gift of a particular item, such as property or an item of jewellery.

  • Gifts that are unrestricted (meaning we can use wherever they'll make the biggest difference) are the most valuable to us. We can use them wherever they’re most urgently needed at the time we receive them.

    But you can also leave a gift in your Will to a particular area of our work, such as animal centres, campaigning, education, inspectors or a certain geographical area. If you’d like to do this, please contact our Gifts in Wills Team.

General Will questions

  • A Will can make sure that when you die, your loved ones are taken care of and that your wishes are clear to all. It can also make things simpler for those you’ve left behind.

    A Will covers everything from what you leave to family and friends, to whether you’d like to remember a charity such as ours, and even your funeral arrangements.

    What’s more, problems can arise if you don’t make a Will – for example the government will decide how to share your estate. They may not do so in a way you feel is fair, or in line with your values and beliefs.

  • We always recommend speaking to a legal adviser when making or amending a Will, but we do have suggested wording that you can use, depending on the type of gift you want to leave.

    Whatever type of gift you choose, your legal adviser will also need to know our full name (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), address (Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1GY) and charity number (219099).

  • Generally, Inheritance Tax is paid if a person’s estate is worth more than £325,000 when they die. This is called the ‘Inheritance Tax threshold’.
    However, most gifts to charity in Wills aren’t subject to Inheritance Tax.

    If you believe your estate is liable to Inheritance Tax, we recommend you speak to your legal adviser.

    To find out more about how Inheritance Tax might affect your Will, visit the Government’s website or download our Inheritance Tax information sheet.

  • We recommend you seek legal advice when changing your Will to make sure it still carries out your wishes and all the legal formalities are complied with. There is likely to be a charge for this.

    In certain circumstances, some legal advisers offer a reduced rate for the preparation of a Will or Codicil, a legally binding document used to amend or update a Will.

    Find a local adviser using either the Law Society or STEP websites.

  • If we know whether you intend to remember us in your Will, we can plan better for the future. Let us know by filling in our pledge form online or download the pledge form.

  • Anyone can be appointed as an executor, including a relative, friend or legal adviser.

How do I pay you someone else’s legacy gift?

  • If you're acting on behalf of someone who has passed away and has left a gift in their Will - whether to the national RSPCA or a specific branch – you'll find the answers you need on our Information for executors page.

More information and support