Why include Cancer Council Victoria in your Will?

Imagine a better future for your loved ones, unburdened by cancer. A gift in your Will allows us to plan and work towards this future now.

By enabling us to translate research into programs and policies that improve health outcomes, discover new cancer risk factors we can tackle, find gentler ways to treat cancer, and support anyone through a cancer diagnosis, you can have a positive impact.

By including a gift in your Will to Cancer Council Victoria, you will allow us to continue with this vital work that will benefit generations of people to come.

Any gift you include in your Will – big or small (even just 1% of your estate) –
will help build a better future for generations to come. 

Planning your Will to ensure your wishes are carried out.

A gift in Will, also known as a bequest, is a contribution left to a person, not-for-profit organisation, or charity of your choice, as stated in your Will. Below you will find information to help prepare and word your Will.

"I personally have left a gift in my Will because my family's been touched by cancer and I would like to ensure that Cancer Council Victoria is continued to be funded for research and development into cures for cancer."
- Malcolm, bequestor, lawyer and accredited specialist in Wills and estates

What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document that sets out what you want to happen to your personal assets after you pass away. The assets you leave when you pass away is known as your 'estate'. Your Will gives instructions on how your estate will be distributed and can also include your wishes about other matters, such as burial.

What is a bequest or gift in Will?

A gift in Will, also known as a bequest, is a charitable donation left to a person, not-for-profit organisation or charity of your choice, as stated in your Will. 

How to write your Will

There are many ways to write or update your Will. This can include using a solicitor, a trustee company, an online Will-writing platform, or a DIY kit sold through a newsagent or post office.

Cancer Council Victoria has partnered with Safewill and the Planned Giving Platform to help you write or update your Will.

Writing your Will with Safewill

You may choose to write a Will yourself if your wishes are relatively straightforward or if you want to save money on legal fees. Cancer Council Victoria has partnered with one of Australia's leading online Will’s writing platforms, Safewill, to support people writing their Will, and to help make the process easy and affordable.

Through the online service that Safewill offers, you can produce a simple, legally binding Will that is reviewed by Safewill's legal advisers. This will help you protect the people and charities that mean the most to you.

Organising your Will online helps you create an official legal document, and you can complete your Will in less than 20 minutes. Our partnership with Safewill offers a 50% discount, allowing you to prepare your Will today for just $80.

If you have any questions, you can reach our Gift in Wills team by calling (03) 9514 6828 or emailing giftsinwills@cancervic.org.au. 

 

Start your easy Will process here

Writing your Will with a solicitor

You may prefer to draft your Will with a solicitor – especially for larger or more complex estates. Cancer Council Victoria has partnered with the  Planned Giving Platform to provide a Solicitor Search Tool.

Y ou can connect with a network of trusted solicitors through the Solicitor Search Tool. These solicitors understand charitable giving and can support you through the process of writing a Will that includes a gift to Cancer Council Victoria.   

For a limited number of supporters, Cancer Council Victoria is offering a free initial consultation with a trusted solicitor. Depending on your circumstance and the complexity of your Will, additional legal service fees may apply - your solicitor will provide a tailored quote.  

If you have any questions, you can reach our Gift in Wills team by calling (03) 9514 6828 or emailing giftsinwills@cancervic.org.au. 

 

Start your search for a solicitor here

Contact us

Get in touch with our friendly Gifts in Wills team who can discuss different options with you. 

Contact us

Download the guide

Learn more about the impact you’ll make and how to leave a gift.

Download now

Let us know you left a bequest

If we know your intentions it helps us plan ahead and allows us to thank you.

Let us know

How to word your bequest to Cancer Council Victoria

When including a charitable gift to Cancer Council Victoria in your Will it is important to use the correct wording to ensure your wishes are legally valid. Use the form below to generate your Will wording.


Will wording

I give to Cancer Council Victoria (ABN 61 426 486 715), 200 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002  _________________, free of all duties and deductions, for its  _________________ purposes. The receipt of an authorised Cancer Council officer shall be deemed proof of payment.

Submitting... Please wait.

Amending an existing Will

Amending an existing Will

If you already have a prepared Will, there are still ways to make amendments. Revising your Will to include Cancer Council Victoria could be as easy as adding a “codicil”. A codicil is a separate document that is kept with your Will and read alongside it.

It’s best to discuss this option with your solicitor who will advise you if they can add a codicil or whether it would be best to update your Will.

Seeking legal advice

If you’re writing a Will for the first time, or updating an existing one, and are uncertain about how to proceed, we advise you to engage a solicitor, financial planner or accredited Wills and estates specialist. If you don’t have one already, you can search for a local professional.

Making sure your Will is valid

For a Will to be formally valid it must be:

  • in writing
  • intended to be your Will
  • signed by you on each page in front of at least two witnesses
  • dated at the time of signing

A Will is invalid if it is made by a person who does not:

  • make the Will freely and voluntarily
  • have testamentary capacity
  • intend to make a Will

Keeping your Will up-to-date

It’s important to keep your Will up-to-date. It’s a good idea to review your own Will every few years, to make sure it still reflects your wishes and assets. You should also review it whenever circumstances change. When big life events such as marriage, divorce, having children, buying or selling property and retirement happen, it is a good time to review, create, update or change your Will.