Leaving A Legacy Gift

You can support Nova Vita in many ways – when the time is right, consider a legacy gift in your will.

Read through our FAQs below about including Nova Vita in your will, review the list of Sample Will Clauses for you or your lawyer to consider, or contact us directly. We’re here to help. However you choose to contribute to Nova Vita, every dollar you give goes a long way. We keep our administrative and fundraising expenses low, so more of your donation dollar goes straight to work to help women and children fleeing violence and homelessness.

Have you already included Nova Vita in your will? Please take a moment to connect with us so that we can offer you any additional support you need. All inquiries will be handled with confidentiality and discretion.

For more information, please contact:

Anne Herbison-Ruddell, Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives Manager
519-752-1005 x 228 | aruddell@novavita.org

FAQs

How do I go about leaving a gift in my will?

The two most frequently used methods of making a gift in your will are specific bequests and residual bequests.

A specific bequest gives a definite amount of money to the named beneficiary; and a residual bequest gives the remaining amount, or a percentage of the remaining amount, after all of your specific bequests have been honoured.

Your lawyer or financial advisor can help you decide which option is best for you and your loved ones – here is a list of sample will clauses for you or your lawyer to consider.

A carefully constructed will can help you avoid excessive taxes. When you make a charitable donation through your will, the tax credit can be claimed up to 100% of net income in the year of death, significantly reducing the tax paid by your estate.

Even if you already have an existing will, your lawyer can easily amend your will by making an addition called a codicil. Be sure to review your will on a regular basis to ensure that it is up-to-date.

Our full legal name is Nova Vita Women’s Shelter Incorporated. Any legal document used to make a planned gift must include the full legal name of the charity. Nova Vita is a registered Canadian charity – our Charitable Organization Number is 107771727RR0001.

Remember – a will is a legal document. We strongly encourage you to seek legal estate planning advice from a qualified lawyer if you are making a will or changing your will. We’d be pleased to confer with you and your lawyer to help draft specific bequest clauses. All calls will be kept confidential.

Sample Will Clauses

Sample language for including a gift in your will to Nova Vita.

To give a percentage of the estate:
“I give to Nova Vita Women’s Shelter Inc. twenty-five percent (25%) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for the most urgent needs as determined by its Board of Directors.”

To give a specific amount:
“I give to Nova Vita Women’s Shelter Inc. the sum of $10,000 to be used for the most urgent needs as determined by its Board of Directors.”

To give a specific asset, such as shares in a company:
“I give to Nova Vita Women’s Shelter Inc. 500 shares of XYZ Co. Inc. to be used for the most urgent needs as determined by its Board of Directors.”

Legal name
Nova Vita’s full legal name is Nova Vita Women’s Shelter Incorporated. Any legal document used to make a planned gift must include the full legal name of the charity. Nova Vita is a registered Canadian charity – our Charitable Organization Number is 107771727RR0001.