Can I leave a gift to a charity?

Yes. A will or trust can name a qualified charity as a beneficiary. Accurate legal names and identifying details reduce the risk of the gift going to the wrong organization.

General information

• Charities may merge or change names.
• A restricted gift can be harder to administer.
• Tax results depend on the asset, estate, and current law.

Service steps to consider

1. Confirming the charity's full legal name and tax ID.
2. Considering whether to name an alternate purpose or group if appropriate.
3. Possible resource or approach: a tax or legal expert for large or restricted gifts.

Quick check

• Are all names spelled the right way?
• Did I name backups?
• Do my account forms match my will?

How Complete Wills can help

Complete Wills' will-based questionnaire can record the names, beneficiaries, executor choices, guardian nominations, and other instructions used to prepare the included documents. The customer remains responsible for reviewing the result and completing the applicable state signing requirements. Support can explain fields but cannot tell the customer whom to choose or how to divide property. Customer support can explain website features and questionnaire fields, but it cannot choose documents, people, distributions, or legal terms, interpret a completed document, or explain how the law applies to a person's facts. Only a separately engaged licensed attorney may provide legal advice within the attorney's engagement.

Important limits

• A will does not control every asset. Title, contract terms, trust ownership, and beneficiary forms may control instead.
• Spousal rights, omitted-family rules, disinheritance, and will-signing rules vary by state and may require an attorney. This article gives general information only. A licensed attorney can explain how state law applies to a specific estate plan or document.