Legacy Support
A Gift in Your Will Can Protect a Hero’s Future
If you’ve shared your life with a dog, you’ll know the bond is unlike any other. It’s built on trust, loyalty, and love that doesn’t fade, even when they’re gone. That bond can live on through a gift in your Will.
A gift in your Will
By leaving a gift to Hero Paws, you help ensure retired military and police dogs receive the care, respect, and peaceful retirement they have earned through years of service. Your legacy becomes part of theirs.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps us stand beside dogs who once stood on the front line — supporting them when their working life ends and they need us most.
A gift in your Will can help provide:
🐾 Safe, loving retirement environments where dogs can finally rest
🐾 Specialist veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care
🐾 Behavioural support to help dogs transition from service to home life
🐾 Expert teams of carers, trainers, and vets dedicated to each dog’s wellbeing
🐾 Ongoing support for the families who give these dogs their forever homes
Your kindness helps give dignity, comfort, and security for life.
Our Legacy Promise
We understand that leaving a gift in your Will is a deeply personal decision. In return, we promise:
🐾 Your privacy will always be respected, and your information will be kept confidential
🐾 Your family and friends will be treated with care, compassion, and respect
🐾 Your gift will be used thoughtfully and responsibly, with dogs at the heart of everything we do
🐾 You are welcome to tell us about your gift, but there is never any obligation
🐾 We fully respect your right to change your mind at any time in the future
A legacy gift is not just a donation.
It is a final act of loyalty, one that ensures no hero is forgotten, and no paw is left behind
Gift In Will
How to Leave a Gift in Your Will
Leaving a gift in your Will to Hero Paws is a powerful way to protect the future of retired military and police dogs. The process is straightforward, and support is available at every step.
1. Contact a Solicitor
A solicitor will ensure your wishes are clearly set out and carried out exactly as you intend. If you don’t already have a solicitor, The Law Society can help you find one in your local area.
2. Choose the Type of Gift You’d Like to Leave
There are several ways to leave a legacy gift. Your solicitor can help you decide what feels right for you.
A percentage share of your estate (Residuary gift)
A share of what remains after other gifts and expenses have been taken care of. This is often the most effective way to give, as it keeps pace with inflation over time.
A lump sum (Pecuniary gift)
A fixed amount of money of your choosing.
A specific gift
Some supporters choose to leave particular items such as jewellery, medals, artwork, or other meaningful possessions.
Every gift, regardless of size, helps protect the dignity, welfare, and retirement of service dogs.
3. Write Your Will
To leave a gift to Hero Paws, your solicitor will need our official charity details and recommended wording.
We are very happy to:
- Provide correct charity information
- Share example Will wording
- Answer any questions your solicitor may have
Please contact us and we’ll support you through this step.
4. Appoint Your Executor
Your Executor is responsible for carrying out the instructions in your Will. This can be:
- A trusted friend or family member
- A solicitor or professional executor
Your solicitor can advise you on what’s most appropriate for your circumstances.
5. Let Us Know (If You’d Like To)
There is no obligation to tell us about your gift — but if you choose to, it helps us plan for the future and allows us to say a heartfelt thank you.
We fully respect:
- Your privacy
- Your right to change your mind at any time
A legacy gift is deeply personal. Whether you tell us or not, we are profoundly grateful.
Leaving a gift in your Will isn’t just about the future,
it’s about honouring loyalty, service, and love that never fades.
Planning Your Gift
We would like to take a moment to sincerely thank you for considering leaving a gift in your Will to Hero Paws.
Retired military and police dogs give years of unwavering service, protecting lives, working in silence, and asking for nothing in return. Too often, when that service ends, the support they need is uncertain. That reality is why Hero Paws exists, and why legacy gifts matter so deeply.
We believe in a future where no service dog is left to navigate retirement alone. A future where injury, trauma, age, or circumstance does not determine whether a dog receives care, safety, or dignity. This is the world we are working towards, one where loyalty is honoured for life.
Legacy gifts play a vital role in making this possible. They help fund specialist veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, behavioural support, and long-term care, ensuring these dogs can finally rest, heal, and thrive.
We are immensely proud of what Hero Paws has already achieved, and grateful to everyone who has helped us stand beside these dogs when they need it most. But the need has never been greater.
By leaving a gift in your Will to Hero Paws, you have the power to create lasting change. Your kindness becomes part of a dog’s journey — offering comfort, security, and peace long after their working life ends.
Together, we can ensure that loyalty is never forgotten, service is always honoured, and no hero is left behind.
Writing Your Will
A Will is one of the most important documents you will ever write. It ensures the people and causes you care about are protected, and that your wishes are respected after you’re gone. It gives you control over your legacy — and, if you choose, the opportunity to leave a meaningful gift to a cause close to your heart.
For many, the process can feel daunting. Please know you don’t have to navigate it alone. We are here to support you and help answer questions at every stage.
This guide walks you step by step through writing your Will and explains the lasting difference a gift to Hero Paws can make for retired military and police dogs who need care, dignity, and peace in later life.
Identify Your Assets
Step 1
Begin by creating a list of everything you own that has value — financial or sentimental. This might include:
- Property
- Savings and investments
- Personal belongings
- Items of special meaning
Estimating the value of your assets will help you understand the size of your estate and decide what type of gift you may wish to leave.
Types of Gifts You Can Leave
There are three main ways to leave a gift in your Will:
Residuary Estate Gift
Leaving all, or a percentage, of your estate after other gifts and expenses have been taken care of.
Pecuniary Gift
Leaving a fixed lump sum of your choosing.
Specific Gift
Leaving a particular item, such as jewellery, medals, artwork, or another meaningful possession.
Every gift, whatever its form or size, helps ensure retired service dogs are never forgotten and always supported.
Make a List of What You Owe
Step 2
Alongside your assets, it’s important to document any financial commitments you have. This helps calculate the overall value of your estate and ensures everything is handled smoothly.
This may include:
- Mortgages
- Loans
- Credit cards
- Other outstanding obligations
Having this information written down makes things clearer for those managing your Will and helps your wishes be carried out as intended.
Choose Who You’d Like to Support
Step 3
Next, decide who you would like to receive your estate. This may include:
- Family members and friends
- Organisations or charities that matter to you — such as Hero Paws
These recipients are known as your beneficiaries. You can decide how your estate is divided between them, based on what feels right for you.
Some people choose to support loved ones first and include a gift to charity alongside this. Others choose to leave a specific or percentage gift. There is no right or wrong approach — only what reflects your values and the legacy you wish to leave.
Hero Paws Charity Details
If you choose to leave a gift in your Will to Hero Paws, thank you. To ensure your gift reaches us correctly, your solicitor or Will writer will need our official charity details.
Our registered charity details are:
- Registered charity name: Hero Paws SCIO
- Scottish charity number: SC051486
- Please contact us for suggested wording for inclusion in your Will.
Please contact us, and we will be happy to support you or your solicitor with this information.
Choose Your Executors & Speak With a Professional
Step 4
Your executors are the people responsible for carrying out the instructions in your Will.
Choose individuals you trust — this may be:
- A family member or close friend
- A solicitor or professional Will writer
Once chosen, meet with your solicitor or Will writer to clearly discuss your wishes and ensure everything is recorded exactly as you intend.
Step 5
Keep Your Will Safe & Up to Date
Once your Will is complete, store it securely. This is usually:
- With your solicitor or Will writer, or
- In a safe place at home
Make sure your executors know:
- Where your Will is stored
- How to access it when the time comes
It’s also important to review your Will periodically — especially after major life changes such as marriage, moving home, or changes in family circumstances — to ensure it continues to reflect your wishes.
Leaving a gift in your Will to Hero Paws is a thoughtful and lasting act of support. It helps ensure that loyalty, service, and love are honoured — for life
Identifying Your Assets
Step 1
Before meeting with a professional, it’s helpful to have an overview of what you own and its approximate value. This will help you understand the size of your estate and the type of gifts you may wish to leave.
You don’t need to calculate precise amounts — a best estimate is more than enough.
Please note: assets held jointly with another person may pass to them automatically. Be sure to tell your solicitor about any jointly held assets so they can advise you correctly.
Real Estate Assets
Keep Your Will Safe & Up to Date
| Real Estate Assets | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Primary Residence | £………………. |
| Second or Holiday Home | £………………. |
| Rental properties | £………………. |
| Park / mobile home | £………………. |
| Overseas property or timeshare | £………………. |
| Vehicle Assets | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Car | £………………. |
| Motorcycle | £………………. |
| Other vehicles (e.g. boat, campervan) | £………………. |
| Financial Assets | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Savings accounts | £………………. |
| Current accounts | £………………. |
| Investment accounts (stocks, bonds, funds) | £………………. |
| Pensions / ISAs / retirement accounts | £………………. |
| Online or digital savings | £………………. |
| Personal Property | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Jewellery | £………………. |
| Art collections | £………………. |
| Collectables (medals, watches, coins, stamps) | £………………. |
| Furniture and antiques | £………………. |
| Business Interests | |
|---|---|
| Name of Business: | |
| Estimated Value | £………………. |
| Other Assets | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Trusts | £………………. |
| Digital assets | £………………. |
| Miscellaneous items | £………………. |
| Total estimated value of everything I own: | £………………. |
Make a List of What You Owe
Step 2
Understanding any outstanding debts helps calculate the net value of your estate. Again, exact figures are not required — estimates are sufficient.
| Mortgages / Equity Release | |
|---|---|
| Lender: | |
| Estimated outstanding balance | £………………. |
| Personal Loans | |
|---|---|
| Lender: | |
| Estimated Outstanding Balance | £………………. |
| Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| Provider: | |
| Estimated Outstanding Balance | £………………. |
| Overdrafts | |
|---|---|
| Bank: | |
| Limit | £………………. |
| Current Balance | £………………. |
| Student Loans | |
|---|---|
| Provider: | |
| Estimated Outstanding Balance | £………………. |
| Car Finance / Loans | |
|---|---|
| Lender: | |
| Estimated Outstanding Balance | £………………. |
| Other Debts | |
|---|---|
| Type: | |
| Provider: | £………………. |
| Total Estimated Outstanding Balance | £………………. |
Charitable Gifts & Inheritance Tax
Leaving a gift to charity in your Will can reduce inheritance tax (IHT) in the UK and increase the impact of what you leave behind.
For more information, visit: gov.uk/inheritance-tax
Choose Who You’d Like to Remember
Step 3
This template helps you think about who you’d like to include in your Will and what you wish to leave them — whether that’s a financial gift or a treasured item.Many people choose to look after loved ones first and then consider leaving a gift to a cause that reflects their values, such as Hero Paws.
| Family Members |
|---|
| Name |
| Address |
| Relationship |
| Gift |
| Friends |
|---|
| Name |
| Address |
| Relationship |
| Gift |
| Charitable Gift Consideration |
|---|
| Charity name |
| Charity registration number |
| Gift |
| Hero Paws (please contact us for details) |
Taking time to plan like this can make the Will-writing process clearer and more reassuring, and helps ensure your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend
Choose Your Executors & Speak With a Professional
Step 4
An executor is the person — or people — you trust to carry out your wishes and ensure your Will is followed exactly as you intended.
Many people choose:Hero Paws can:
- A trusted family member or friend
- A solicitor or professional Will writer
- Or a combination of both
It’s important to ask anyone you’re considering whether they are willing to take on this responsibility. While you don’t need to share the full details of your Will, it can be helpful to let them know if you intend to leave a gift to charity, such as Hero Paws, so they understand your wishes clearly.
Choosing the right executor helps ensure everything is handled with care, respect, and integrity.
Support With Writing Your Will
Writing or updating a Will can feel like a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Hero Paws can:
- Help explain the process in plain, supportive language
- Provide correct charity details and suggested wording
- Answer questions from you or your solicitor
From time to time, we may also be able to signpost supporters to free or low-cost Will-writing services, depending on availability.
If you’d like guidance or support, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Taking the time to plan your Will is an act of care — for your loved ones, and for the dogs whose loyalty and service you believe should never be forgotten
Our Promise
If you choose to leave a gift in your Will to Hero Paws, thank you. We understand this is a deeply personal decision, and in return we promise to honour your wishes with care, respect, and sensitivity.
We know your loved ones come first, and that circumstances can change. Whether your gift is large or small, and whether you choose to tell us or not, every legacy gift is deeply appreciated and makes a lasting difference.
Your support helps ensure retired military and police dogs receive the care, dignity, and peaceful retirement they have earned through years of service, today and for generations to come.
By thinking ahead, you are helping to protect a future where loyalty is honoured for life and no service dog is left behind.
We’re Here to Help
While we’re not legal advisers, we are always happy to help with general questions about leaving a gift in your Will or about the work Hero Paws does to support retired service dogs.
If you or your solicitor need information, guidance, or reassurance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for considering a gift that carries loyalty forward — long after service ends