Remembering Queens' in your Will

Why should I leave a legacy to Queens'?

Remembering the college in your Will enables you to shape the future of Queens' well beyond your lifetime. Bequests, no matter how large or modest they may be, are essential to ensure the long-term financial security of the college. It is largely thanks to the generosity of our legators that we are able to provide a world-class education for the 1,100 students who call Queens' home today.

You can find out more about the impact of legacies on our dedicated page.

To recognise those who remember Queens' in their Will, we invite legators to join The Sundial Circle. As an expression of our gratitude, members receive invitations to regular annual events and a lapel pin.

How do I leave a legacy to the college?

1. Make a Will online

Queens' is proud to announce that we have partnered with MakeAWillOnline.co.uk to provide our alumni with a simple, safe, and secure way to create a free Will online and include a gift to the college.

Click the button above to get a solicitor-checked Will. You'll also receive complimentary access to Capacity Vault, an excellent tool for safeguarding your Will's wishes online.

Privacy:
If you create a will via MakeAWillOnline, the college will be notified when you include a gift to Queens' in your Will. This greatly aids our future planning. Creating an online Will through the link provides us with valuable information about our communications, based on when a Will is made, the amount pledges, and the type of gift. You can also consent to share your name and contact details with us, allowing us to invite you to join The Sundial Circle.

However, we understand that some supporters prefer to keep their Will completely confidential. If you wish to do so, you can still use the provided link to make a will online.

2. Make a Will face-to-face

If you would prefer to work with a solicitor in person or already have one, we encourage you to do so. This is especially important if your estate exceeds the inheritance tax threshold, or if it includes complexities such as trusts or foreign assets. Additionally, if there are concerns related to medication or dementia, consulting a solicitor face to face is advisable. You can find a local solicitor through the Law Society website.

What else do I need to know?

Tax benefits:

Leaving a charitable gift in your Will can mitigate the amount of inheritance tax your estate pays. We recommend that you speak to a solicitor or estate planner to learn more about how to make the most of this, thereby maximising the benefit to the college and your other beneficiaries.

Types of bequest:

1. Residuary legacy - a percentage of the estate that is gifted to the college once all other bequests, gifts, and fees have been distributed. The impact of a residual gift to the College is not dampened by inflation.
2. Pecuniary legacy - a gift that is a specific sum of money (e.g., £20,000). Pecuniary bequests are affected by inflation.
3. Reversionary legacy - the college receives the benefit of a legacy after the death of another named person (e.g., a partner). Lots of alumni have mirror Wills with their spouses, for instance.
4. A bequest in kind - property given to the college (e.g., a book collection for the library).

We encourage legators to leave residuary rather than pecuniary bequests so that the impact of the gift is not diminished due to inflation.

Recommended wordings:

When your Will is drafted, please ensure you include our full charity name, charity number, and registered address:

"The Queens' College of Saint Margaret and Saint Bernard, commonly known as Queens' College in the University of Cambridge, Silver Street, CB3 9ET, whose registered charity number is 1137495."

Gift designation:

The nature of leaving a legacy to the College means that it is impossible to predict exactly when a bequest will come to fruition. Hence, we encourage legators to be as broad as possible with regards to the desired allocation of their gift. Most alumni will leave a gift to the Unrestricted Fund as this means we can allocate the gift where it is needed most, as and when the time comes.

I am an executor. Who should I contact about a bequest?

If you are a solicitor or lay executor for a loved one, please reach out to Hannah Badger by emailing development@queens.cam.ac.uk. The college's bank details are below:

Account Name: Queens’ College Development Fund
Bank: National Westminster, 21 Petty Cury, Cambridge, CB2 3NE
Sort Code: 60-04-23
A/c number: 54605342
BIC/Swift Code: NWBK GB 2L
IBAN: GB91 NWBK 6004 2354 6053 42

No matter how you choose to remember us, we are incredibly grateful for your support.