Bequest Language for gifts to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed
An excellent way for you to support your parish, a Catholic school, or the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando's mission is to leave us a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil. One significant benefit of making a gift by bequest is that it allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to charity during your life. Another benefit is that you are able to leave a lasting legacy.
There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.
1. Specific Bequest
If you are considering making an outright bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed, we recommend the following language:
If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate we recommend the following language:
If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.
If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give your parish, Catholic school, or the Bishop flexibility should it no longer be possible for us to use your gift as you originally intended:
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to us.
If you have included a bequest for us in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.
Types of Bequests
There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed.
Bequest Benefits
A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.
Bequest Language
In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.
1. Specific Bequest
If you are considering making an outright bequest to your parish, a Catholic school, or the Bishop to use where most needed, we recommend the following language:
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: $______ for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: [DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
Bequest of Specific Real Estate
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: [ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: $______ for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
Bequest of Specific Personal Property
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: [DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
Bequest of Specific Real Estate
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID # [xx-xxxxxxx], the following: [ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY] for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
In the event that [your parish, a Catholic school, diocesan ministry] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Bishop to serve a substantively consistent purpose.
2. Percentage BequestIf you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate we recommend the following language:
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN
ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID #
[xx-xxxxxxx], the following: _____ percent (___%) for [its general use and
purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN
ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of
the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or
juridic person, designated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a
substantially consistent purpose.
3. Residual BequestI hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN
ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID #
[xx-xxxxxxx], the following:
ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate
for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that
[LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within
the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest
shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman
Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose.
4. Contingent BequestIf (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to [LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN
ENTITY] located at [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP], Federal Tax ID #
[xx-xxxxxxx], the following: [AMOUNT, PERCENTAGE, REMAINDER, OR OTHER SPECIFIC
ASSET] for [its general use and purpose/SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. In the event that
[LEGAL NAME OF PARISH OR DIOCESAN ENTITY] shall no longer exist or be within
the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest
shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Roman
Catholic Bishop of Orlando to serve a substantially consistent purpose..
In the event that [your parish, a Catholic school, diocesan ministry] shall no longer exist or be within the jurisdiction or possession of the Roman Catholic Church, then such bequest shall inure to the successor or juridic person, designated by the Bishop to serve a substantively consistent purpose.
Restricted Bequests
If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.
If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give your parish, Catholic school, or the Bishop flexibility should it no longer be possible for us to use your gift as you originally intended:
If, in the judgment of the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando, it shall become impossible for the parish, Catholic school, or diocesan ministry to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, the parish, Catholic school, or diocesan ministry may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as they determine is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to us.
If you have included a bequest for us in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.
