The Legacy Alliance
EXAMPLES
Example # 1 - Residuary Bequest
Mrs. Mary Burns, a widow with one living son and two grandchildren, has enjoyed her pet Westies as companions all her life. As she thinks about her estate plan, she decides to make a RESIDUARY BEQUEST to the Foundation. In this way, she can remember family members who are dear to her and provide support for Westie health research in perpetuity.
Suggested language: "I give, devise and bequeath to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc. (all or a percentage) or the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for endowment purposes."
Benefits
EASY TO SET UP
PROVIDES FOR FAMILY FIRST
INCOME FOR THE FOUNDATION IN PERPETUITY
The "Suggested Language" is for concept purposes only. A Qualified Estate planning attorney should be consulted to establish the exact wording appropriate in your state.
Example #2 - General Bequest
John and Mary Monroe have been active in breeding and showing Westies for many years. In the process of updating their wills, they include a $45,000 bequest to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc. In this way, they are contributing to the Foundation's stability, creating a family legacy, and helping to ensure that their interest in Westies will be sustained for generations to come.
For estate planning purposes, the $45,000 of assets has been removed from the taxable estate, reducing the final estate bill their heirs will have to pay.
Suggested language: "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., the sum of (state amount or describe real or personal property) to be used for endowment purposes."
Benefits
EASY TO SET UP
INCOME FOR THE FOUNDATION IN PERPETUITY*
REMOVES ASSETS FROM TAXABLE ESTATE
*only the income from your gift can be spent.
The "Suggested Language" is for concept purposes only. A Qualified Estate planning attorney should be consulted to establish the exact wording appropriate in your state.
Example #3 - General
James and Susan Douglas have enjoyed their Westies for many years and have been active members of their local Westie club. They have been consistent supporters of the Foundation.
As the Douglas' think about their estate plan, they notify the Foundation of their intent to leave the Foundation a bequest in the sum of $400,000, and ask what naming opportunities are available for this gift. After discussing the available options, they decide to endow a program for ATOPIC DERMATITIS research. Their gift would be known as the "James and Mary K. Douglas Endowment." The income from the gift will be used for that purpose until such time as the cure for that affliction has been accomplished. At that time the income may be used to fund research to solve other Westie health problems.
Once the Endowment is in place, the Foundation would annually request research proposals that would deal with the Douglas' designated research. The Foundation's peer review process would select the very best research for funding for the proceeds of the "James and Mary K. Douglas Endowment."
The gift provides Jim and Mary with the double satisfaction of knowing they have made a substantial contribution to our Westies' better lives in the future and that their Legacy Gift will be recognized in perpetuity.
Suggested language: "We give, devise and bequeath to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., the sum of (state amount) for the purpose of endowing (describe name of endowment and program).
Benefits
EASY TO SET UP
INCOME FOR WESTIE HEALTH RESEARCH IN PERPETUITY
PERPETUAL RECOGNITION
The "Suggested Language" is for concept purposes only. A Qualified Estate planning attorney should be consulted to establish the exact wording appropriate in your state.
BECOMING A PART OF THE LEGACY
Why should you consider including the Westie Foundation of America Endowment Fund in your will?
Our Westie Breed will go on long after we are no longer here. By its very nature, the endowment fund will also go on after we, too, are no longer here, assuring that your gift to the Westie Foundation will outlast all of us and the Westie Breed will not outlast your gift.
All assets left to the Endowment Fund remain there. Only the income derived from your gift will be spent on Heath Research and Education. Thus, your gift remains intact into perpetuity.
Bequests to the Endowment Fund will be a major source of revenue to the Foundation in the future. A strong endowment will mean that in the future our Westies will be healthier as a result of the research funded by the Foundation.
By remembering the Westie Foundation in your will, you can continue to provide income for it in perpetuity. A bequest is an ideal way to ensure that this organization -- THE ONLY NATIONAL FOUNDATION DEDICATED PRIMARILY TO ADVANCING THE HEALTH OF WESTIES -- will continue to serve the needs of the breed into the future.
All the assets left to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., are removed from your taxable estate thereby reducing the estate bill your heirs must pay.
THE LEGACY ALLIANCE
To recognize the importance of legacy gifts, such as bequests and trusts to the Westie Foundation's future, the Board of Directors of the Westie Foundation of America has instituted a special program to be identified as THE LEGACY ALLIANCE. Membership in this Alliance is open to all those who make a minimal provision of $15,000 for the Westie Foundation through a will or trust, or who make another type of deferred gift of comparable amount, such as life insurance, to the Foundation.
Members of the Legacy Alliance will be included in a listing published in all winter editions of the Foundation's newsletter. Most importantly, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they are leaving a legacy that will continue to provide support for the future of Westies after they are gone.
For questions about the Legacy Alliance or about making a bequest to the Westie Foundation, or to notify the Foundation that you have made a provision for the Foundation in your will, please contact the Westie Foundation of America.
Be assured that both your inquiry and commitment will be held in the strictest confidence, unless you choose otherwise.
WAYS TO LEAVE MONEY OR ASSETS
Testamentary bequests of money or assets to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., may generally be accomplished in one of the following ways.
FIRST WILL, OR NEW WILL
If you are making your first Will, or if you are replacing your old Will with a new Will, you can make a specific bequest to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., by using language similar to the following in that section of your will dealing with specific items you are leaving to your beneficiaries.
Example I. Bequest of Money Clause.
To the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., I hereby bequeath the sum of ________ Dollars ($____). [insert in words and figures the specific amount of money you wish to leave to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc.
Example 2. Bequest of Assets Clause.
To the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., I hereby bequeath the following assets:_____ . [insert specific identification of assets, e.g., all of my collection of West Highland White Terrier paintings by a specific artist, or, all of my stock in a specific company.]
MODIFICATION OF EXISTING WILL BY CODICIL
If you have an existing Last Will and Testament with which you are otherwise satisfied, you can amend it by executing a Codicil which simply works like a supplement to the existing Will. A sample of such a Codicil is as follows:
CODICIL
to
Last Will and Testament
of
(Insert your full name as it appears in your Will)
I, ____________ [insert your name exactly as it appears in your Will], of the County/City of ___ [insert the county/city in which you currently live] in the State of_________ [insert the state in which you currently live] being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make, publish, and declare this Codicil to my Last Will and Testament of ___, 200_. [insert date of the will you are supplementing]
I hereby modify my aforementioned Last Will and Testament by adding thereto the following specific bequest:
Example 1. Bequest of Money Clause.
To the Westie Foundation of America, Inc., I hereby bequeath the sum of_______ Dollars ($____). [insert in words and figures the specific amount of money you wish to leave to the Westie Foundation of America, Inc.]
Example 2. Bequest of Assets Clause.
To the Westic Foundation of America, Inc., I hereby bequeath the following assets: _____. [insert specific identification of assets, e.g., all of my collection of West Highland White Terrier paintings by a specific artist, or all of my stock in specific company]
As so modified, my Last Will and Testament is hereby ratified, affirmed, and republished as of the date hereof.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, the said __________________ [insert your full name] have
signed this Codicil to my Last Will and Testament on this ____ day of [insert month], 200_ [insert year]
_________________________________ [your signature]
Witnesses Execution:
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said ____________ [insert your full name] to be the first [or second or third, etc., as applicable] Codicil to his/her Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who, at his/her request and in the presence of each other, do hereunto set our hands as witnesses.
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(Witness #1 Signature)
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(Witness #2 Signature)
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____________________
(Witness #3 Signature)
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____________________
(Witness #1 Print Name)
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____________________
(Witness #2 Print Name)
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____________________
(Witness #3 Print Name)
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____________________
____________________
(Witness #1 Address)
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____________________
____________________
(Witness #2 Address)
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____________________
____________________
(Witness #3 Address)
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Testator/Testatrix Certification:
I, ______________ [insert your full name] the above-mentioned Testator/Testatrix, sign my name to this instrument this _____ day of ____________ [insert month], 200_ [insert year] and being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that I sign and execute this instrument as the first [or second or third, etc., as applicable] Codicil to my Last Will and Testament, that I sign it willingly, that I execute it as my free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed, and that I am eighteen years of age or older and of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.
_______________________________________________
[your signature exactly as your name appears]
Witness Certification:
We, _____________________ and _______________ [insert names of the Witnesses], the witnesses, sign our names to this instrument being first duly sworn, and do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator/testatrix _________________ [insert your full name] signs and executes this instrument as a Codicil to his/her Last Will and Testament, that he/she signs it wi1lingly, and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the testator/testatrix and each other, hereby signs this Codicil to the Last Will and testament of said _______ [insert your full name] as witness to the signing of the same by said_______ [insert your full name] and that to the best of our knowledge, the said_________ [insert your full name] is eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.
____________________
(Witness #1 Signature)
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____________________
(Witness #2 Signature)
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____________________
(Witness #3 Signature)
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____________________
(Witness #1 Print Name)
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____________________
(Witness #2 Print Name)
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____________________
(Witness #3 Print Name)
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____________________
____________________
(Witness #1 Address)
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____________________
____________________
(Witness #2 Address)
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____________________
(Witness #3 Address)
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NOTARIZATION:
STATE OF_____________ COUNTY OF_____________
Subscribed, sworn to and acknowledged before me by _____________ [insert your name], the testator/testatrix, and subscribed and sworn to before me by ______________and
_______________ and _______________ [insert names of witnesses], the witnesses, on this the
______day of _____________200_.
_____________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires on ___________
Please be aware that the laws pertaining to Wills and Estates differ widely from state to state. The information offered, therefore, is presented as a planning guide only. We highly recommend that, before finalizing your gift, you consult a licensed attorney experienced in the laws of estate planning.
We appreciate all considerations given the Westie Foundation of America, Inc.
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