Wills and Bequests

Many of us want to ensure that we contribute to the health and welfare of the community long after we have gone and choose to add one or more charities as beneficiaries of our wills.

Why is it important to have a Will?

During our lifetime we all accumulate many, many possessions:

• Houses
• Land
• Investments
• Superannuation
• Shares
• Paintings
• Antiques
• Furniture
• Jewellery
• Insurance policies
• Family heirlooms
• Bank accounts

It is our responsibility to ensure that we make a Will (last will and testament) to enable our possessions to be passed on or distributed to those family members, friends or charities who we want to benefit from our estate (value of our possessions at the time of death).

Where can I have a Will made?

• The Law Society – www.lawsocietysa.asn.au can suggest solicitors who specialize in the preparation of Wills
• The Public Trustee  - www.publictrustee.sa.gov.au (08) 8226 9200
• Australian Executor Trustees (Austrust)  - www.aetlimited.com.au (08) 8127 1600.

Do I really need a Will?

Yes – You need to appoint someone to act on your behalf when you are no longer here. The alternative may be added stress for family and friends and lengthy court proceedings to ensure the estate is distributed fairly but not necessarily as you would have wanted.

Remembering Diabetes SA in your Will

A bequest to Diabetes SA will be your final gift which will go on helping people of all ages for many years after you have gone. Bequests are essential to the future of Diabetes SA to enable us to provide and improve our support, education and information services for people living with, affected by or at risk of developing diabetes.

There are three major types of bequests:

1. Specific bequests are gifts such as property, art works, jewellery etc made to an individual or an organisation
2. General bequests are usually sums of money or a percentage of the value of your estate made to a person or an organisation
3. Residual bequests are what remains of your estate after the specific and general bequests have been distributed to nominated persons or organisations

Changing your Will

If you have already made a Will, you can change it whenever you like. It is advisable to review a Will at least every five years and particularly when changes in your life occur for example:

• Marriage
• Parenthood
• Death of a beneficiary of your estate
• Divorce
• Death of a spouse
• Retirement
• Grandchildren
• Illness

It is only your latest Will that matters at the time of your death.

What is a codicil?

Some people have the intention of including a bequest to a particular person or organisation in their Wills but delay because of the time, effort and the perceived expense of drafting a new Will. The is a simple alternative - a Codicil

A Codicil usually consists of a single sheet of paper containing an additional instruction for your Will and in effect becomes part of your Will.

A Codicil is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure that your estate is shared amongst the people and organisations that you really care about, without re-writing your existing Will.

Please consider including a bequest to Diabetes SA in your Will

Contact us:

• If you would like information about the work of Diabetes SA
• If you would like more information about leaving a bequest to Diabetes SA
• How to include a Codicil in your current Will
• Advice about preparing your Will
• A visit from our Bequest Officer.

Please call Diabetes SA on 1300 136 588 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wording for your Will

Recommended wording for a Gift of Money

`I give……….dollars ($) to the Diabetic Association of SA Inc. for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of such amount by its Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer or other Authorised Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executors’

Recommended wording for a Specific Gift

`I give my (insert description of property) to the Diabetic Association of SA Inc. for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of such amount by its Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer or other Authorised Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executors’

Recommended wording for a Residuary Gift

`I give……….percent (%) of the residue of my Estate to the Diabetic Association of SA Inc. for its general purposes and I declare that the receipt of such amount by its Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer or other Authorised Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executors’

Bequest Notification

If you have decided to include Diabetes SA in your Will we would certainly appreciate it if you let us know. Our bequestors are a special part of this organisation and we would like to ensure that you are invited to any special events that we have in the future and are kept informed about the work the organisation is doing.

Please call Diabetes SA on 1300 136 588 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it