A gift in your will

Make a Will Online

We’re offering all of our supporters a free will writing service through Make A Will Online. They’re members of the Society of Will Writers, and every will is checked by a fully-qualified UK solicitor. Start writing your will now, or find out more about the offer below.

Make a will online for free

Using the free service is easy – just click the button above and answer a straightforward set of questions. You’ll be able to review your answers before you submit them, and once it’s ready you’ll get your will by email, with full instructions on what to do next. We’ll cover the cost of the service (£40 per will), though you can opt to make a donation to contribute to this payment at the end of the process.

When you make your will using the link or button above, Make a Will Online tell us about the existence of the will and the details any gift you make to us (including how much is pledged and the types of gifts included). No other information will be shared with us, although you can choose to let us know your name and contact details. Understanding more about the gift you intend to give helps us plan our work. This will also enable us to invite you to join the Anna Bidder Society, established to celebrate the generosity of all our legacy supporters.

However, if you would like to keep you gift completely confidential, it is possible to make a will online using this alternative link www.makeawillonline.co.uk - please check the website for up-to-date pricing.

All users of Make A Will Online also benefit from free access to Capacity Vault, a brilliant way to protect the wishes in your will online. 

Make a will face to face

If you already have a solicitor or if you would rather speak to a solicitor face to face you should do so. Also, if you have a large estate above the inheritance tax threshold, or if you have a complex estate (e.g. trusts or foreign assets) you should also speak with a solicitor. Where there is a worry due to medication or a dementia-related illness we always suggest speaking with a solicitor face to face. You can find a local solicitor using the Law Society website. 

Please make sure your solicitor uses our full details. Our name: Lucy Cavendish College in the University of Cambridge, our charity number: 1137875 and our registered address: Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, CB3 0BU

Please note, Lucy Cavendish College is unable to offer legal advice.

By remembering Lucy Cavendish in your will, you will be supporting our mission to build a better, fairer future and furthering our commitment to education, learning and research. Legacy donations fuel transformative initiatives including:

• unique support services to unlock each student's full potential

• modern facilities to enhance the student experience and contribute to our vibrant community

• growing the endowment to ensure long-term sustainability and impact

• scholarships to empower talented students, regardless of background

While lifetime contributions are incredibly impactful, leaving a legacy is a powerful and lasting way to support causes that are important to you. Once provisions for loved ones are in place, many find they can contribute to charities such as Lucy Cavendish through their wills. A legacy gift will: 

• provide a world-class education

• support Lucy’s vision of a truly diverse and inclusive community

• equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills to tackle global issues

• leave a lasting legacy - your generosity will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come

• After providing for your family and friends, it is possible to leave to Lucy either a capital amount or a share of the residue of your estate. Whether £2500 or £2,500,000, or from 1% of your estate to 100%, your legacy gift will make a significant difference.

• A legacy gift to Lucy Cavendish is free of tax and may reduce the inheritance tax liabilities on your estate.

• Legacy gifts keep on giving, long into the future. By pledging a legacy gift you are enabling our College to plan ahead and become more financially sustainable.

• Your gift will ensure that more students of outstanding academic potential from under-represented groups have the opportunity to study at Lucy, thrive academically at Cambridge, and progress successfully within their chosen fields.

• You will be supporting an extraordinary college to remain the go-to college for students intending to have a positive impact on society. Whether our students go on to address inequalities of opportunity in our country, or to become leaders in solving the greatest challenges facing our world, your legacy gift will have lasting and far-reaching benefits.

• We recommend that you seek professional legal advice when writing or amending your will. We are unable to offer legal advice.

• Once you have included a legacy gift in your will please let the College know using the form below (see 'Informing us'). The Development Team will then be in touch to check that you have everything you need, and - if you wish - to discuss your legacy in more detail. 

• We suggest using the following wording in your will:

  • I give to the President and Fellows of Lucy Cavendish College in the University of Cambridge (Registered Charity Number 1137875) [the residue of my estate ] / [ ______ % of the residue of my estate] / [the sum of £ ____________ ] free of tax for the general purposes of the College. I declare that full receipt of the Bursar or other authorised officer of the College shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my Executors and Trustees.

By making your gift unrestricted you will provide even greater flexibility, enabling the College to adapt and thrive.

If you would like to discuss your giving intentions in more detail, please contact the Development Office by email on development@lucy.cam.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)1223 339241.

Lucy Cavendish College takes very seriously its responsibility to protect and process your personal data. To read our data protection policy in full, please visit https://www.lucy.cam.ac.uk/data-protection

Legacies can benefit your estate as well as the College.

• A legacy gift to a charity such as Lucy Cavendish College is exempt from tax in the UK
• If you leave at least 10% of your taxable estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate for the rest of your estate decreases from 40% to 36%. In effect you may be able to leave more to charity while reducing the impact on your loved ones’ inheritance.

Take a look at Inheritance Tax Zero to find out how you can maximise the philanthropic impact of your will:

For further information on Inheritance Tax please visit www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax. We recommend that you seek professional financial advice if your estate is likely to be liable for Inheritance Tax.

If you are based in the United States, please visit Cambridge in America’s Planned Giving website: 

Planned Giving - Cambridge in America

Cambridge in America is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, and kindly handles living and legacy donations from US residents on behalf of the College.

You will become a lifetime member of The 1209 Society. Membership includes invitations to special events, receipt of a recognition certificate, receipt of a bi-annual newsletter and e-newsletter and listing in The 1209 Society Roll of Honor (a bound book listing honorees kept by the University).

Our colleagues at Cambridge in America can be contacted on (212) 984-0962, by email to plannedgiving@cantab.org or in person at 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

I’ve already included Lucy Cavendish College in my will – should I let you know?

Yes. Please complete the form in the 'Informing us' section above; this will enable us to thank you personally for your generosity and invite you to join the Anna Bidder Society.

How will my gift be used?

Leaving an unrestricted legacy is particularly valuable, as it enables us to respond flexibly to areas of the greatest need. You may prefer give funds to a particular area of the College that’s meaningful to you – perhaps student support, scholarships, the Library or the buildings and gardens. Whatever you decide, we will respect your choices. Please get in touch to discuss your intentions.

I already have a will how do I update it?

It is possible to amend an existing will, or to add a codicil, by consulting with your solicitor.

Are legacy gifts to charity tax efficient?

Yes, legacies are tax-efficient. Leaving 10% of your net estate to a charity such as Lucy Cavendish could reduce your inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36%. As Lucy Cavendish College is a charity, we don't pay tax on legacy gifts. 

For more information on Inheritance Tax, please visit gov.uk

I live overseas, can I still make a legacy gift?

US tax payers can support Lucy Cavendish College through an estate plan via Cambridge in America (CAm). See the section above to find out more about giving through Cambridge in America.

If you live overseas (outside the US) please contact us for further information. 

What is the registered charity number for Lucy Cavendish College?

Registered charity number: 1137875

Address: Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, Lady Margaret Road, Cambridge, CB3 0BU.

What wording should I use in my will?

You should seek advice from your solicitor to confirm the appropriate wording for your Will. Please see the 'Making your pledge' section above for more information.

Someone I know has left a gift to Lucy Cavendish in my will, and I am the executor. Now what?

If you are administering an estate that includes a gift to Lucy Cavendish College, please let us know. You can contact us by email or phone (+44 (0) 1223 339241). Alternatively, write to us at Development Office, Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, CB3 0BU, United Kingdom.

If you have further questions, or would like to discuss your wishes in confidence with a member of the Development Office, please email us or call: +44 (0) 1223 339241.