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Los Angeles Zoo's Bequest Language

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association is the entity through which bequests and other gifts can be made to support the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Please ensure that gifts are designated to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association on behalf of the Zoo.

An excellent way for you to support the Los Angeles Zoo's mission is to leave a bequest to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association 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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.
 
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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.
 

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 in your estate plan to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association on behalf of the Los Angeles Zoo. 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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, we recommend the following language:
 
Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath _________ and No/100 dollars ($DOLLARS) to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's general use and purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby give, devise, and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association'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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's general use and purpose.
 
2. Percentage Bequest

If you are considering making a bequest of a percentage of your estate to Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, 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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's general use and purpose.
 
3. Residual Bequest
 
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, ALL OR A PERCENTAGE of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's general use and purpose.
 
4. Contingent Bequest
 
If (primary beneficiary) does not survive me, then I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, a nonprofit organization located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1451, Federal Tax ID #95-2369545, DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to be used for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association'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.

If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to give the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association flexibility should it no longer be possible for us to use your gift as you originally intended:
 
If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, it shall become impossible for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association may use the income and principal of this gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.
 

Contact Us


Please contact us if you have any questions about how to make a bequest to the L.A. Zoo through the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association 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 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association in your estate plan, please contact us to let us know. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.
 
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