Life Without Debt

Legacy giving · Australian PBI

A gift in your will can free future Australians from debt during their most vulnerable moments.

Bequests are held in the LWD Gift Fund (per clause 20 of our constitution and ITAA s.30-130) and used exclusively to fund free debt-mediation for terminally-ill Australians. Every dollar has one job.

This page provides general information only. Please seek independent legal and tax advice before finalising a bequest (ASIC RG 96.62).

An Australian sunroom writing desk with a fountain pen, open photo album and a handwritten note reading 'for the ones who come after' — a moment of legacy reflection.
Room E · dignity-first visual identity · why we photograph this way

Solicitor-friendly gift-clause wording

Provide this wording to your solicitor. Three variants — choose the one that matches your intention.

Variant A · Pecuniary (fixed sum)

"I give the sum of [$AMOUNT] to Life Without Debt Ltd (ABN [to be inserted on registration]) for its general charitable purposes, and I declare that the receipt of the Company Secretary or authorised officer of Life Without Debt Ltd shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my executor."

Variant B · Residuary (share of estate)

"I give [X percent / the whole] of the residue of my estate to Life Without Debt Ltd (ABN […]) for its general charitable purposes, and I declare that the receipt of the Company Secretary or authorised officer of Life Without Debt Ltd shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my executor."

Variant C · With gift-over (recommended)

"I give [SUM or SHARE] to Life Without Debt Ltd (ABN […]) for its general charitable purposes. If Life Without Debt Ltd has ceased to exist at the time this gift takes effect, my executor shall pay the gift to another Australian registered Public Benevolent Institution with substantially similar purpose, in accordance with ITAA s.30-125(6) and ACNC s.40-5."

Why this matters

Constitutional protection

Your gift is protected by cl.20 of our constitution (Gift Fund), cl.4 (single charitable purpose), and cl.33 (gift-over on winding up). No other purpose. No political-party support (cl.6.2(b)).

Tax treatment

On endorsement as DGR-1 with the ATO, gifts and bequests to LWD will be deductible per ITAA s.30-45. This is general information only — please seek independent legal and tax advice. Nothing on this page constitutes tax or legal advice (ASIC RG 96.62).

Governance oversight

Every dollar in the Gift Fund is separately accounted, subject to ACNC oversight per s.40-5, and reported under AASB 124 related-party discipline. Our published Constitutional Congruence Register is the authorised claims register per Room × funnel stage.

Common questions about bequests

How do I include LWD in my will?

Speak to your solicitor and provide them with the LWD gift-clause wording above. Your solicitor will incorporate it into your will as a specific pecuniary gift, residuary gift, or percentage share as you prefer.

Is LWD a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)?

LWD's DGR-1 endorsement is pending with the Australian Taxation Office. Once endorsed, gifts and bequests to LWD will be tax-deductible per ITAA s.30-45. General information only — please seek independent legal and tax advice before finalising your bequest (ASIC RG 96.62).

How does LWD safeguard bequests?

All gifts and bequests are held in the LWD Gift Fund per clause 20 of the constitution, in accordance with ITAA s.30-130. The Gift Fund is separately accounted, subject to ACNC oversight per s.40-5, and used exclusively for the purpose of relieving financial distress arising from terminal illness.

Can I direct my bequest to a specific purpose?

Yes. LWD accepts restricted bequests provided the restriction is within the scope of LWD's constitutional purpose (cl.4). Speak to your solicitor and to LWD before finalising restricted-purpose language — some restrictions may narrow the class of beneficiaries (cl.4(b) sufficient class) and cannot be accepted.

What if LWD ceases to exist before the bequest takes effect?

LWD's constitution includes a gift-over per ITAA s.30-125(6) and ACNC s.40-5: any remaining Gift Fund assets pass to another registered PBI with substantially similar purpose. Our recommended gift-clause template (Variant C above) incorporates this fallback wording.

Do I need to tell LWD about my bequest?

You are not obliged to. Many donors choose to let us know confidentially so we can steward the relationship appropriately during their lifetime. Others prefer their bequest remain unknown to us until it takes effect. Both are entirely welcome.

Speak to us — confidentially, no obligation

If you or your solicitor would like to discuss a bequest to Life Without Debt, we would welcome a short conversation. There is no obligation. Your enquiry is confidential.

General information only. Please seek independent legal and tax advice before finalising a bequest. Nothing on this page constitutes personal financial, tax, or legal advice (ASIC RG 96.62).