Gifts That Reach the People (and Causes) You Love
Specific bequests, charitable gifts, family heirlooms - we draft the clauses that make sure what you want to give actually ends up where you meant it to go.
- Specific cash, asset, and charitable bequests
- Tax-effective charitable giving strategies
- Precise wording to prevent disputes
What’s included
- Specific cash gifts
- Specific asset bequests (property, jewellery, art, vehicles)
- Charitable bequests (fixed amount or percentage)
- Substitute beneficiary clauses
- Ademption protection where relevant
- Tax-effective structuring for large charitable gifts
A vague gift is a contested gift
The gift clauses in a will are one of the most common sources of dispute - and almost always because the wording was loose. 'My jewellery to my daughter' raises questions no one wants to answer at a reading of the will. Was the engagement ring included? What about the watches? The estate hesitates, the family argues, and the gift's meaning is lost.
- Vague gifts lead to family disputes
- Gifts to charities need the exact legal name
- Gifts to deceased beneficiaries need substitute clauses
- Specific asset gifts need 'ademption' protection
A clear process, not a legal maze.
List what you want to give
We sit down with you and list the gifts - cash sums, specific assets, charities, family heirlooms. Each gift gets its own attention.
Draft precise clauses
Sam drafts each gift clause with legally precise wording - naming, substitute beneficiaries, ademption, and residue fall-through.
Include in your will
Gift clauses sit inside your main will. If you want to change gifts later, we can update them without rewriting the whole will.
Here’s what you get when you work with Sam.
Excellent service and very knowledgeable, I would highly recommend Sam to anyone!
Frequently asked questions
A charitable bequest is a gift in your will to a registered charity. You can give a fixed amount, a percentage of your estate, or a specific asset. Charitable bequests are generally exempt from CGT and can reduce estate administration tax issues.
By using the charity's full legal name, ABN, and a short descriptive clause so the gift can't be misdirected. We also draft substitute clauses - in case the named charity ceases to exist, the gift passes to a similar cause.
Yes. We draft specific bequest clauses for items like jewellery, artwork, vehicles, family heirlooms. Best practice is to list the item with enough description to identify it uniquely, and to include a clause covering 'replacements' (e.g. if you sell a car and buy a new one before you die).
Without a substitute clause, the gift 'lapses' - falling back into the residue of the estate. With a substitute clause, the gift passes to your nominated backup (often the beneficiary's children). We build substitute clauses into every specific gift.
Ademption is the legal rule that a specific gift fails if the asset no longer exists. If you leave your Ford to your nephew but sell it before you die, he gets nothing. We draft ademption clauses that either replace the gift with equivalent cash, or apply the gift to a successor asset.
You can express a wish, but it's not legally binding. Organ donation is governed by the Australian Organ Donor Register, and body donation is arranged directly with medical schools. We include any wishes in your will so family is clear on your preferences.
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Learn moreMake your gifts count
Book a conversation with Sam. We'll walk through the specific gifts you want to include and make sure each one is drafted to reach the right person.
- Free 20-minute initial conversation
- Fixed-fee quotes before any work begins
- Home visits available across Adelaide
- Typically 2 weeks to signed documents