Gifts of Stocks and Bonds

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to your church or charity.

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Sample Bequest Language

An excellent way for you to support your local church's mission is to leave the church a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil. One significant benefit of making a gift by bequest is that it allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to charity during your life. Another benefit is that you are able to leave a lasting legacy.

Types of Bequests


There are a number of ways you can make a bequest.

Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to your local church.

Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to your church or favorite charity.

Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to a ministry that has touched your heart.

Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to your church or charity.

Bequest Benefits


A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.

Bequest Language


In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to your church or charity in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.

1. Specific Bequest

If you are considering making an outright bequest to your church or favorite charity, we recommend the following language:

Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, located at (insert address), Federal Tax ID #____________, for the church's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, (insert address), Federal Tax ID #_______________, for the church's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Real Estate

I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, (insert address), Federal Tax ID #_______________, for the church's general use and purpose.

2. Percentage Bequest

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to your local church or favorite charity, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, located at (insert address), Federal Tax ID #______________________, for the church's general use and purpose.

3. Residual Bequest

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, located at (insert address), Federal Tax ID # _________, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for the church's general use and purpose.

4. Contingent Bequest

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to (insert legal name) United Methodist Church, located at (insert address), Federal Tax ID # _________, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for the church's general use and purpose.

Restricted Bequests


If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please discuss your plans with your local church to be sure that the restriction you wish to place on the bequest is feasible for the church's ministry.The church can work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives.

If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give your church the flexibility should it no longer be possible for our the church to use your gift as you originally intended.

Contact Us


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to your church or charity or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to further the ministry of your church.

If you have included a bequest for your church or charity in your estate plan, please contact them to let them know. They would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.

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