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Writing your Will

Thank you for considering a gift in your Will to Goldsmiths. This page contains practical information on how to do so, including our free Will-writing offer.

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Free Will service

Goldsmiths alumni and staff can create a basic Will for free with MyIntent. MyIntent offers a simple and convenient Will-writing service designed to help you create the right Will for your needs, with clear guidance each step of the way.

How it works

  • Visit Goldsmiths page on MyIntent and complete the online Will interview.
  • Receive independent legal advice online, with tailored recommendations for your Will based on your circumstances.
  • Choose your next step. Book a free 30-minute video appointment with a legal expert to discuss your wishes further. Or, if suitable, proceed straight to requesting your free basic Will.
  • Receive your Will along with clear instructions on how to sign and witness it correctly.

Need to know: If your Will is more complicated, you might need to pay for a Will with additional protections. If this applies, you'll be told about any fees straight away. You can then decide whether you'd like to proceed.

There's no obligation to include a gift to Goldsmiths when you use this service, but once you've cared for your loved ones, you might consider leaving a legacy to the university. A gift in your Will can support talented students, fund groundbreaking research, and drive innovation across the arts and social sciences.

To explore other Will-writing options, please visit the Law Society website to find a solicitor.

Inheritance Tax

As an exempt charity, any gift in Will left to Goldsmiths is free from UK inheritance tax for UK residents.

In the UK currently, the value of your gift is deducted from the Estate's value before inheritance tax is calculated. This means that by remembering Goldsmiths in your Will, you may be able to reduce the taxable value of your assets and lower the amount of inheritance tax due.

For example, for those who choose to leave 10 per cent or more of their estate to charity, the inheritance tax liability can be reduced from 40 per cent to 36 per cent.

Please be aware that we can only provide this information about Inheritance Tax rules. These can change at any time, so it is important that you seek legal advice to discuss the contents of your Will.

Learn more about inheritance tax on the gov.uk website.

Types of legacy gift and suggested wording

Residuary bequest

This is when you leave a percentage of your Estate after expenses have been paid. A residuary gift is less likely to be affected by inflation so it's the most valuable way to leave money in your Will.

Pecuniary bequest

This is a fixed cash sum, which can be index-linked to rise with inflation and preserve its value.

Specific bequest

A specific asset, such as property, valuable artwork or stocks and shares, that would be sold by the university.

Reversionary bequest 

This enables you to pass your Estate (or asset) to an initial beneficiary for their lifetime. After that time, the estate (or asset) can be passed to the university absolutely.

A legacy endowment

An endowment is a significant sum invested wisely to grow and provide secure long-term income for the university. 

As a helpful basis for discussion with a legal professional, please download our suggested wording document.

Suggested wording (word)

Updating your Will

If you already have an existing Will, you can make an amendment and include a gift to Goldsmiths by completing our Codicil Form. You should always use an independent legal professional to advise you on how to add this Codicil to your Will.

Codicil Form (word)

Bequests from the USA

Goldsmiths’ College is registered with the British Schools and Universities Foundation, a US-based education foundation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. This means alumni and friends of the College living in the United States can possibly benefit from the tax deductions on their charitable donations. A legacy gift can be made to BSUF who will then send the funds to Goldsmiths’ College at no charge. Please be aware that we can only provide this information about charitable donations and it is important that you seek appropriate legal advice before leaving a legacy gift to BSUF.

Contact us

We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about leaving a gift in your Will or want to learn more about how Goldsmiths could support your wishes, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Legacy team: giving (@gold.ac.uk)

If you have chosen to include Goldsmiths in your Will, we would be grateful if you could let us know so we can welcome you to Goldsmiths Legacy Society.

Goldsmiths, University of London 
Development and Alumni Office  
London SE14 5PZ