Learn About Wills and Bequests


What are the benefits of making a bequest?

  1. You leave a lasting legacy to be remembered
  2. You lessen the burden of taxes on your family
  3. You may receive estate tax savings

How can I learn more?


How do I make a bequest?

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends or University of Arkansas, Fayetteville as part of your estate plan.


What are my options?

A bequest can be made in several ways:
  1. You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset
  2. You can gift a percentage of your estate
  3. You can gift from the balance or residue of your estate
  4. You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets

How do I get started?



University of Arkansas' Bequest Language

An excellent way for you to support the University of Arkansas' mission is to leave us a bequest in your will, living trust or with a codicil. One significant benefit of making a gift by bequest is that it allows you to continue to use the property you will leave to charity during your life. Another benefit is that you are able to leave a lasting legacy.

Types of Bequests


There are a number of ways you can make a bequest to University of Arkansas.

Specific Bequest. A specific bequest involves making a gift of a specific asset such as real estate, a car, other property or a gift for a specific dollar amount. For example, you may wish to leave your home or $10,000 to University of Arkansas.

Percentage Bequest. Another kind of specific bequest involves leaving a specific percentage of your overall estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 10% of your estate to University of Arkansas.

Residual Bequest. A residual bequest is made from the balance of an estate after the will or trust has given away each of the specific bequests. A common residual bequest involves leaving a percentage of the residue of the estate to charity. For example, you may wish to leave 30% of the residue of your estate to the University of Arkansas.

Contingent Bequest. A contingent bequest is made to charity only if the purpose of the primary bequest cannot be met. For example, you could leave specific property, such as a vacation home, to a relative, but the bequest language could provide that if the relative is not alive at the time of your death, the vacation home will go to the University of Arkansas.

Bequest Benefits


A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose so you have the peace of mind knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.

Bequest Language


In order to make a bequest, you should speak with your attorney. Your attorney can help you include a bequest to the University of Arkansas in your estate plan. We have provided some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.

1. Specific Bequest

If you are considering making an outright bequest to the University of Arkansas we recommend the following language:

Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to the University of Arkansas Foundation, for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the University of Arkansas Foundation, for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Real Estate

I hereby give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS OR DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the University of Arkansas Foundation, for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

2. Percentage Bequest

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, we recommend the following language:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath ____ percent (___%) of my total estate, determined as of the date of my death, to the University of Arkansas Foundation, for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

3. Residual Bequest

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the University of Arkansas Foundation, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

4. Contingent Bequest

If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the University of Arkansas Foundation, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's general use and purpose.

Restricted Bequests


If you are considering a bequest but would like to ensure that your bequest will be used for a specific purpose, please let us know. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney to help you identify ways to give and meet your charitable objectives. We will also work with you and your attorney to craft language to accomplish your goals.

Contact Us


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to University of Arkansas or to request any additional information that might be helpful to you and your attorney as you consider making a bequest to us.

If you have included a bequest for the University of Arkansas in your estate plan, please click here or contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.

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