Leave a Legacy
You can trust the Marine Corps League
Lake Havasu Detachment #757 to honor your legacy!
Charitable Bequests
A charitable bequest is simply a distribution from your estate to a charitable organization through your last will and testament. There are different kinds of bequests. For each, you must use very specific language to indicate the precise direction of your assets, and to successfully carry out your final wishes. In any charitable bequest, be sure to name the recipient accurately. A bequest to The Marine Corps might go to national headquarters, when you meant it to go to the affiliate in your community, the Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757.
Do you have an estate?
Your estate is the sum of your assets, including property you own, insurance policies, retirement accounts, cash on hand, etc. Wealthy people may have very large estates, but even people who aren’t wealthy often have the resources to make a charitable bequest. If every adult in America made a will and included a bequest of just $100, billions of dollars would flow to charitable causes every year.
Below, we have listed some of the more common kinds of bequests, and some bequest language. We always recommend that you carefully review the terms of your will with a professional trained in handling trusts and estates.
General Bequests
General Bequests are legacies left to certain people or causes that come from the general value of the estate, and are made by designating a specific dollar amount, a particular asset or a fixed percentage of your estate to the cause of your choice.
General Bequest Language
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757, the sum of $________(or a description of the specific asset), for its general purposes.”
Specific Bequests
Specific Bequests are made when a particular item or property is bequeathed for a designated purpose. (i.e., instruments bequeathed to the local school district for use in music education; dollar funds to be used in the operation of a school or church.)
Specific bequest language
“I give, devise, and bequeath to the Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757, the sum of $_______ (or a description of a specific asset), for the benefit of… (You may name one or more of the organizations we proudly support. See list below.)
… to be used for the following purpose (s): (state the purpose{s}). If at any time, in the judgment of the officers of the Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757, it is impossible or impracticable to carry out exactly the designated purpose(s), they shall determine an alternative purpose(s) closest to the designated purpose(s).”
We proudly support…
911 COMMITTEE
ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES
AMERICAN LEGION
ARIZONA COALITION FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
“ASYMCA”…ARMED SERVICES YMCA-MARINE CORRPS BASE TWENTTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA
ASU LAKE HAVASU STUDENT VETERANS
BE CONNECTED
“DAV”…DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
ELKS LODGE #2399 CLOTHE-A-CHILD PROGRAM
HAVASU MEMORIAL WALKWAY
HCHF FOOD BANK
HONOR FLIGHTS FOR WWII & KOREAN WAR VETERANS
HOSPICE OF HAVASU
LAKE HAVASU CITY MILITARY MOMS
LAKE HAVASU CITY STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
MARINE 4 LIFE
MARINES ASSISTING MARINES
MASONIC LODGE #64 CLOTHE-A-CHILD PROGRAM
MILITARY HONORS FUNERAL SERVICES
NAMI HAVASU
ST. VINCENT de PAUL FOOD BANK
TOYS FOR TOTS
VETERANS STAND DOWNS
VETERANS TREATMENT COURT
VFW POST #9401
VIETNAM VETERANS EVENTS
YOUNG MARINES
AND MORE
Residuary Bequests
Residuary Bequests are made when you intend to leave the residue portion of your assets after other terms of the will have been satisfied.
Residuary bequest language:
“All the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, I give to the Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757, for its general purposes.”
Contingency Bequests
Contingency Bequests allow you to leave a portion of your estate to a particular charity if your named beneficiary does not survive you.
Contingency bequest language:
“I devise and bequeath the residue of the property, real and personal and wherever situated, owned by me at my death, to (name of beneficiary), if (she/he) survives me. If (name of beneficiary) does not survive me, I devise and bequeath my residuary estate to Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757, for its general purposes.”
Without a will, there is no mechanism in place to make a bequest, so here are the steps you should take to make sure your wishes are granted.
- Make a list of organizations or causes that you would like to support.
- Make a detailed list of your assets (financial, real estate, vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, musical instruments, etc.)
- Set up an appointment with your financial analyst or attorney, or officer at the Marine Corps League Lake Havasu Detachment #757. These professionals will help sensitively guide you through the process.
Semper Fidelis!