Legacies and Bequest Giving
Remembering the Church in your Will
The services and support provided by the Catholic Church is as vital today as it ever has been. The liturgical and pastoral services and ministries, the care for those members of society on the fringes, those in our prisons, hospitals, the hungry, the lonely; as well as the community that parishes provide.
If you are in a position to assist financially, this would be greatly appreciated.
There are a number of ways to leave a bequest or legacy, and the choice is entirely a personal one. Bequests can be a donation of a specified amount, or a specified asset, or a percentage or the balance of your estate once you have made provision for your family and loved ones.
Making a bequest can enable someone to do perhaps what they could never contemplate in their lifetime.
How to make a Bequest
Making a bequest is very straightforward; you don’t need to make a whole new Will.
If you already have a Will:
If you would like to include a bequest to your Parish or the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton in your existing Will, you can make a simple modification by adding a Codicil. To make sure your Codicil is legal, we recommend it is checked and approved by a legal adviser. Find out more about a Codicil for an existing Will.
Sample Codicil Wording for an existing Will
My Name is _____________________________________________ (full name)
My Address is ____________________________________________________
________________________________ Postcode ________________________
My Occupation is __________________________________________________
This is a Codicil for my Will dated _____ /_____ /_____
I give, devise and bequeath, free of all charges and duties to the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, the sum of $ __________________
or __________________________________________________________________________________________________ (nominated property)
or ________ % of my residual estate.
For the general purpose of the said Bishop of Hamilton.
I Further declare that the receipt of the Diocesan Manager or the Accountant of the Bishop of Hamilton shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my trustees for the same and my trustees shall not be bound to see the application thereof.
In all other respects I confirm my Will
DATED this ________________ day of __________________
SIGNED BY
in our presence and attested by us in his / her presence :
Name : _______________________________________ Name : _______________________________________
Occupation : _______________________________________ Occupation : _______________________________________
Address : _______________________________________ Address : ________________________________________
If you don’t have a Will:
A Will is an important legal document so it should be prepared by a legal professional. It is important to discuss options and specific wording with your legal advisor to make sure your Will reflects your wishes, giving specific guidance on how you want your assets and personal belongings distributed when you die. Find out more about Wording for a bequest.
Sample Bequest Wording
Here’s an indication of the accepted form of words that can be used to leave a bequest to the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton:
“ I give and bequeath the sum of $ _____________________ (or) _______ % of my estate (or) residue of my estate, (or) property or assets as follows
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
free of all charges, to the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton. The official receipt of the Diocesan Manager is an absolute discharge to my execute”.
With or without string attached
You may choose to leave your bequest freely, ie. “no string attached”, so that the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton can apply the funds in the areas where they are the most needed, or you can specify where you would like the funds to be spent.
You can let us know about the bequest
There is no requirement to tell us that you are leaving a bequest to the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton. However we would like to make sure that your generous giving is suitably thanked and acknowledged in your lifetime. Deciding to tell us about your bequest can also be a good thing if you Will is challenged. If we are in a position to demonstrate that we have a relationship with you, your wishes are less likely to be amended by the court.
Strictest confidence guaranteed
Any bequest inquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence by the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton. We will respect your wishes if you choose to remain anonymous.
Endorsements
Here is what some of our parishioners have said
“My wish was to support the Bishop and in particular those disadvantaged children who wished to attend a Catholic secondary school” – The late James Grace
“For Bishop to use for the education of Priests” – The late Noreen McBurney
Want to speak with someone in person?
If you are considering a bequest to your Parish or the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton but would like to speak to someone in person, you can contact Fred Ralaimihoatra at fredr@cdh.org.nz or Greg Schmidt at gregs@cdh.org.nz to organise a time.
Contact the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton
Address: 47 Clyde Street, Hamilton East 3216
Phone: 07 856 6989
Postal: PO Box 4353, Hamilton East 3247
Email: office@cdh.org.nz
Established in 1980, the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand spans from Te Kauwhata to Waihī, and Taumarunui to Gisborne.
"Living the Truth in Love"
