Raising your children alone was one of the great challenges of your life, and your proudest achievement. Through the happy times and those when the struggles seemed insurmountable, you remained steadfast in your determination to create a wonderful life for your family and a future for your children.
Now, you can ensure support of single mothers and their children and advocacy for their rights and dignity continues.
Leaving CSMC a gift in your Will is a very personal and effective way to make sure that single mothers have the support they need to build a bright future for themselves and their children.
Sadly, single mothers today need our support more than ever.
Our most recent national survey of over 1100 diverse single mother revealed that disadvantage amongst these families remains widespread.
Responses reveal that 61 per cent of single mothers support their families on less than $60,000 a year, despite 56 per cent holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Low levels of government benefits, reduced incomes arising from child raising responsibilities, unpaid child support, and reliance on the private rental sector all combine to put these families in financial hardship.
The impacts of poverty are devastating for children. Their education suffers, their social isolation increases, and the pattern of disadvantage can follow them through their entire lives.
When you leave a gift in your Will, you can help change the future for generations of single mothers.
Your gift will provide ongoing support for single mothers and their children. We do this through the distribution of emergency relief, our telephone and email support, giving single mothers a greater voice and advocating for their rights in financial security, affordable housing, safety, and respectful treatment from government agencies.
How to leave a gift in your will
Step 1. Speak to your family and loved ones
Have a conversation with family and friends about your decision to leave CSMC a gift in your will, and why it is so important to you. Explain what you want your legacy to be, and how CSMC will help you realise it.
Step 2. Decide what kind of gift to leave
There are three main ways to leave a gift in your Will to CSMC.
Residual gift: You can make a gift of the remainder, or a percentage of the remainder, of your estate once your family and expenses have been taken care of.
Specific gift: You can make a gift of a specific amount to CSMC.
Asset: You can make a gift of a specific asset, for example real estate or stocks.
Step 3. Consult a solicitor
To avoid unintended ambiguity or confusion, it’s safest to get the advice of a solicitor.
We suggest you provide your solicitor with the following wording:
“I [insert name] bequeath to the Council of Single Mothers and their Children ABN 28 796 387 679 [insert the percentage or residue of your estate, the amount of money, or the details of assets your client wishes to leave].
My bequest is to be used for the general purposes of the Council of Single Mothers and their Children. I declare that the receipt of the Secretary or other proper officer shall be a complete discharge of my bequest.”
Step 4. Let us know
Request that your solicitor notify us of your plans to leave CSMC a gift in your Will, to ensure a seamless, easy execution of your wishes.
Contact us
Leaving a gift in your Will is a deeply personal decision. If you would like to speak with us about your gift or how it will be used, please telephone Jenny Davidson on (03) 9654 0327 or email ceo@csmc.org.au.