A bequest is a gift created now, in your will or living trust, and given at the end of your life. Your gift may take the form of a percentage of your estate, a specific amount, or a particular asset. A bequest to NVFS is deductible from your taxable estate and can help you reduce or avoid estate taxes.

Sample language: I give [all of the residue or my estate OR an amount equal to X percent of the residue of my estate/thereof OR $________] to Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), for general charitable purposes.

If you have provided for NVFS in your will or living trust, please let us know. We can work with you and your advisors to make sure the bequest is planned and administered properly. We are also available to help you create your will for free. Requests for anonymity are respected.

You can name NVFS as a primary beneficiary of your policy or as contingent beneficiary should your other beneficiaries not survive you. You can include a gift to NVFS in your estate plans without changing your will. Simply contact your insurance agent or IRA administrator and ask for a change of beneficiary form. For bank and brokerage accounts, ask your representative how you can make them Transfer on Death (TOD) accounts. Then name NVFS as the entity that will receive whatever remains in those accounts upon your death. You can name NVFS as a primary beneficiary of your life insurance policies, retirement plans, savings account, or brokerage account.

1. Appreciated Securities
2. Cash
3. Individual Retirement Accounts – If you are 73 or older, you can make a tax-free distribution from your traditional or Roth IRA to NVFS.
4. Personal Property
5. Real Estate
6. Retained Life Estate

1. Charitable Remainder Trusts
2. Charitable Lead Trusts
3. Charitable Gift Annuities