Leave A Legacy

Please Consider Leaving a Legacy

By leaving a lasting gift in your Will, your support for our precious oceans will continue

The generosity of supporters leaving a Gift in their Will makes a real difference. Your gift will help to support our work for the preservation and the protection of our oceans and the unique marine life they harbour. Please think about the difference your legacy will make to a cause close to your heart.

If you would like to support the SEA LIFE Trust by considering a gift in your Will, whether in support of our Cornish Seal Sanctuary, our Beluga Whale Sanctuary in Iceland, or our global projects to protect the world’s oceans, please email us at help@sealifetrust.com for more information.

Please Remember us in your Will and Help Our Work Live On …

We are delighted to announce SEA LIFE TRUST is collaborating with the the Goodwill Partnership.

The Goodwill Partnership provides a consultation service to make the process of writing a solicitor-provided Will as easy as possible. Consultations can be conducted by home-visit, online video call, or by phone.

The Goodwill Partnership provides Wills via home appointments in England and Wales or telephone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please note that the Goodwill Partnership does not provide urgent wills and the will writing process typically takes 4-6 weeks.

Click here for full information and guidance: SEA LIFE Trust - The Goodwill Partnership

Your gift can help us to expand our work and have a positive, long-term impact on

the conservation of threatened marine species.

Please think about the difference your legacy will make to a cause close to your heart.

We recommend seeking legal advice when making or updating your Will. If you leave a gift in your Will to a charity like the SEA LIFE TRUST, the gift is exempt from inheritance tax. Your solicitor will be able to offer you further advice and guidance on efficient tax planning; please see FAQs below.

If You Already Have a Will

A codicil is a supplement to a Will which allows you to amend your existing Will without drawing up a new one. If you have already made a Will and would like to include a gift for the SEA LIFE Trust, you can complete a codicil form. We recommend that you seek the guidance of a solicitor when you are writing your Will or codicil, so that your intentions can be fully carried out. Please note that any codicil must be signed and witnessed in the same way as a Will. Once completed, the codicil should be stored with the original copy of your Will.

When leaving gifts in your Will, you can elect to give the gift to the general funds of the charity, or to a specific activity.

If you would like to support the SEA LIFE TRUST by considering a gift in your will, whether it’s in support of our Cornish Seal Sanctuary, our Beluga Whale Sanctuary in Iceland, or our global projects to protect the world’s oceans, please contact us for more information.

Thank you for considering leaving a legacy to the SEA LIFE TRUST.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a solicitor to write my Will?

A solicitor helps to ensure that your Will is valid and that your wishes will be met. We recommend that you seek the guidance of a solicitor when writing your Will. However, you can choose to use a will writer or online will provider, such as the Goodwill Partnership featured above. The charity will not receive a copy of your Will.

How much does a Will cost?

The cost of writing a Will varies and will depend on how complicated it is. You could ask several solicitors what they charge before making your decision.

What if I change my mind about the content of my Will?

We understand that circumstances often change and you can amend the content of your Will at any time. During the Will writing process, you will be asked if you wish to share certain information with the charity, such as whether you have left us a gift in your Will and the value of this gift.

What kind of gift could I leave to the SEA LIFE TRUST?

There are three types of gift you can leave in your Will. These gifts are sometimes called a legacy:

A share of your estate: this is a percentage of your estate, after all other gifts and expenses have been paid. These gifts often maintain or increase in value and are very valuable to the charity. This option also means you're less likely to need to amend your Will at any stage.

A specific sum: this is when you gift a set amount of money.

A specific item: this could be something valuable such as shares, antiques, paintings or property that would then be sold to raise funds for our work.

If you already have a Will but would like to add a gift to the SEA LIFE TRUST, see above for details of adding a codicil.

What about Inheritance Tax?

If you leave a gift to the SEA LIFE Trust in your Will, it will not be included when valuing your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. The value of your gift will be deducted from your estate before Inheritance Tax is applied. However, please note that the rules on Inheritance Tax can change, so we recommend you discuss your Will and the type of gift you might like to leave with your solicitor.