Should we all be giving to charity in our wills?

Unless you're a Scrooge-like billionaire who relishes imagining the faces of your would-be legatees when they realise they’ve been left nothing but a broken teapot, then writing a will is probably not your idea of a good time. Yet it can be.

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No, wait... hear us out. If youre lucky enough to have something to leave, no matter how big or small, deciding who will benefit can bring much peace and contentment. Especially if you choose to leave a legacy to charity.

So let’s clear up some common misconceptions about giving to charity in your will. Firstly, it’s not just a nice thing to do for the incredibly rich - anyone can leave anything (and we mean anything). Secondly, it’s not complicated; a good adviser can help you include a charitable gift quickly and effectively. Thirdly, it can reduce inheritance tax: leaving at least 10% of your estate to charity can lower the rate on the rest from 40% to 36%, with everything left to charity entirely exempt. And fourthly — and arguably most importantly — it’s a meaningful way to both pay back and pay forward to a cause you care deeply about.

No wonder more and more people are doing it.