Giving to ECU

A Simple Will, often called a “Mum & Dad Will”, is suitable for relatively straightforward situations.

For instance, you may initially leave your Estate to your spouse, who would, in turn, leave it to your children, with a few gifts for friends and charities.

However, you may need a Complex Will and further legal assistance if any of the following circumstances apply to you:

• Complex financial situations - including property investments and extensive business interests.
• Blended families - including children from previous relationships.
• Ongoing care & support - including caring for dependents with special needs.
• Tax considerations - such as strategies to minimise estate tax and financial burdens on beneficiaries, and trusts.
• Business continuity - management and succession planning.
• Self-managed superannuation funds - tax considerations and trustee responsibilities.
• Protecting the Estate – including testamentary trusts to provide protection when the beneficiary has addictions, is not financially responsible, or requires protection in the event of a divorce.

1 in 2 Australians don’t have a Will, so you are not alone in querying its necessity.

Keep in mind, however, that if you do not have a valid Will, the legal system oversees your Estate's distribution, not your preferred Executor, a family member or a friend.

A Will makes your intentions clear, including:

You can create a Simple Will for no cost via our online partner, Gathered Here, our online option, or register to attend our Free Wills workshop.

We can also connect you to a legal professional from our network of trusted solicitors who can assist you with drafting a Simple Will. When a donor is leaving a Gift in their Will to ECU, a Simple Will is free, however, more complex Wills are likely to incur additional costs.

A bequest is a gift left in your Will.

You can leave gifts to any beneficiary you choose, including individuals, families, and charities like Edith Cowan University.

There are several different types of bequests, including:

• A pecuniary bequest is a gift of a specific sum. It ensures the beneficiary receives a set amount regardless of the Estate’s overall value. These are usually distributed from the estate immediately after the costs have been settled and before the balance or residuary is shared.
• A percentage of an Estate distributes a specific portion of the Estate to a beneficiary. This type of bequest is flexible, as it is based on the Estate's overall value and automatically adjusts for inflation.
• A residuary bequest is the most common way to distribute your Estate fully. It allocates any remainder of your Estate after settling all other bequests and debts.
• Assets in Wills can vary from real estate to shares, works of art and even jewellery.
• An endowment bequest uses the gifted assets to establish a fund, which is then invested. The income from the interest generated is then used to benefit the designated beneficiary. This type of bequest can be structured to generate income forever.

Your kind gift can be designated to any area that you are passionate about, from scholarships for student teachers and nurses to medical research to Western Australia’s future theatre stars, or it can be left to us to allocate where we see the most need.

Tip: Keep in mind that situations can change, and what’s crucial today might not be needed tomorrow. That's why we often suggest keeping your directions for the use of your gift flexible and broad.

If your solicitor wishes to propose alternative wording, we are happy to review it and will work with them in alignment with your wishes.

Firstly, thank you for considering including ECU in your Will.

There are many ways to phrase a bequest in your Will. You and your independent solicitor may wish to consider including:

“I give (whole of my Estate) or (specific percentage of my Estate) or (specific assets) or (the residue of my Estate) or (sum of $___) to EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY of 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027, for the purposes of supporting Edith Cowan University in a manner to be determined through the discretion of the University. I declare that the receipt of Edith Cowan University shall be sufficient discharge to my trustees."

The details of your Will are private, so you may wish to keep your intentions to yourself. We recommend you inform your Executor where your Will is kept or provide a copy to them.

If you plan on leaving a gift to Edith Cowan University in your Will or if you have already done this, we invite you to please share this intention with one of our friendly team members. This will enable us to recognise your generosity, invite you to special events each year with our donor community, and keep you updated on our latest news and other events, should you wish.