Leave a legacy

Leaving a gift in your will is a lasting legacy that supports the hospitals that care for our community every day, helping future patients when they need it most.

Make your will for FREE

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Your kindness could help our hospitals care for generations to come

Many people feel a lasting connection to East Kent Hospitals. You may have experienced the care provided, or your connection comes from the memory of a loved one who was cared for in our hospitals. Moments like these stay with us, reminding us how much compassionate care can mean at the most important times in our lives.

After you have taken care of your loved ones, leaving a gift in your will is a meaningful way to ensure that same care and kindness continues for others. By planning today, you can look ahead with confidence, knowing your wishes are clear and that your generosity could help improve treatment, comfort and support for generations to come.

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What will my gift do?

Whatever the size of your gift, your legacy could help us fund innovative equipment, enhanced facilities and wellbeing initiatives that NHS funding is unable to provide, making a real difference to patients, families and staff. Many of the improvements we are able to make today are thanks to the kindness of supporters who chose to remember our hospitals in their will. Whatever inspires you, a gift in your will could make it happen. Any gift, large or small, makes a difference!

See our impact

£1,000

Could brighten a patient room with calming artwork or murals

£25,000

Could refurbish a staff area or a family room

£100,000

Could fund vital research or specialist medical equipment

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Did you know?

The good news is that any gifts left to charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax. On top of that, sometimes by including a gift to a charity you can reduce the tax on everything else you leave behind. But Inheritance Tax is a complex and often changing area of law, so we advise you visit the government website for all the latest information and speak to a professional.

Inheritance Tax Guidance

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Make your will for FREE online

Writing your will can now be completed securely and conveniently from home. We have partnered with Make a Will Online to provide a solicitor-checked online service for our supporters.

You will be guided through each step. Every will is reviewed by a fully qualified solicitor, and if you have any legal queries along the way, expert support is available.

For added reassurance, the service includes complimentary access to Capacity Vault, helping to safeguard your wishes in case of any challenges and provide additional protection for your will.

Make my will for FREE online

When a face-to-face solicitor may be more suitable

An online will is appropriate for many people. However, you may prefer to consult a solicitor in person if:

You already have a trusted solicitor
Your estate may exceed the current Inheritance Tax threshold - you can find guidance at How Inheritance Tax works: thresholds, rules and allowances: Overview - GOV.UK
Your affairs are more complex, for example involving trusts or overseas assets
There are concerns about mental capacity, including where medication or dementia-related conditions are involved

You can search for a regulated legal professional via the The Law Society website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk

If you decide to leave a gift to us through a solicitor, please ensure they use our full details:

Charity name: East Kent Hospitals Charity
Charity number: 1076555
Registered address: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Trust Offices, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, KENT CT1 3NG

What do I do next?

Choose how you want to write your will

Choose whether you want to write your FREE will with us, or use your own solicitor.

Make my will for FREE online

Choose an executor

This is the person or people responsible for carrying out the instructions in your will and administering your estate.

Think about how to divide your estate

Work out what you have to pass on and who you’d like to benefit.

Decide what kind of gift you’d like to leave

You could leave a residuary gift (a percentage of what remains after your loved ones are provided for), a pecuniary gift (a fixed amount of money) or a specific gift (a valuable item). See our frequently asked questions below for more information.

Frequently asked questions

If you choose to create your will online for FREE through us, certain information will be shared with us, such as confirmation that a will has been completed, the type of gift pledged, and basic contact details including your name, year of birth, email address and postal address. Where you have given permission, this allows us to thank you and keep you updated about our work.

We fully respect that some supporters prefer to remain anonymous. If you would rather leave a gift confidentially without us being notified, you may do so by using this link: Make a Will Online: the only solicitor-checked online wills service

Whichever option you choose, your support means a great deal to everyone connected with East Kent Hospitals Charity. Thank you for thinking of future generations in this special way.

After you’ve taken care of your family and friends and paid off any debts or taxes, you can gift either a portion or all of what’s left – it’s up to you.

Even a small percentage of what remains of your estate could make a real difference. Many supporters like this kind of gift because, as a part of your overall estate, it keeps its value over time.

Another option is to leave a fixed amount of money, which you set aside in your will. This type of gift is paid out before the residue of your estate is calculated. But over time, inflation can reduce its value and make it less impactful.

A specific gift is a particular valuable item – like property, shares or a piece of jewellery or art. Specific gifts are often left to charities on the understanding they will be sold to raise funds. Please contact us if you would like to leave a gift such as this so that we can discuss this first.