Set a sustainable mark against animal testing
A legacy or inheritance is a great gift for Animalfree Research. If you are considering including our foundation in your will or inheritance contract, we will be happy to assist you.
Why does it make sense to settle your estate?
Settling your estate provides clarity and ensures that the people, animals and causes that were important to you throughout your life continue to receive support after your death.
In a will or inheritance contract, you can set out your last wishes for animals and animal welfare organizations in writing. Animalfree Research can also be included in your last will and testament in this way. We are exempt from inheritance and gift tax, which means that the amount of your chosen legacy/bequest to Animalfree Research will go entirely towards the replacement of animal experiments and animal welfare.
What is your contribution used for?
- Contributions from your estate to Animalfree Research are tax-exempt and are therefore used in full to replace animal experiments.
- They make new projects and campaigns possible that we could not realize from our regular donation income alone.
- For example, your legacy/bequest allows us to advertise and finance targeted research projects to replace particularly harmful animal experiments. We can also use your legacy/bequest to help the widespread use of an animal-free method achieve a breakthrough. For example, a replacement method co-funded by Animalfree Research for testing certain tetanus vaccines is currently about to be included in the European Pharmacopoeia, which contains the legal standards for the manufacture of medicinal products in Europe. The listing of this animal-free replacement method will save thousands of guinea pigs from the laboratory, as they have been used for safety tests up to now.
What forms of testamentary gifts are there?
- Your next of kin come first; they receive a minimum share from your estate, which is determined by law. You can decide on the remaining share yourself and donate it, in whole or in part, to charitable organizations such as Animalfree Research
- A rather uncomplicated form of testamentary support is the bequest (also known as a legacy). This allows Animalfree Research to be bequeathed a share of the assets (amount of money, material value, etc.) without the organization becoming an heir or member of the community of heirs. A bequest/legacy has hardly any potential for conflict because the charitable organization is not involved in any inheritance disputes and receives the bequest free of debt and unencumbered. Bequests/legacies can be earmarked or not. This means that you can either leave it to Animalfree Research to decide where your contribution will have the greatest possible impact, or you can have a say in what your bequest is used for. We will be happy to advise you on any decision on the intended use and inform you about current and planned projects.
- Alternatively, you can appoint Animalfree Research as your (co-)heir, subject to the compulsory portions of protected heirs – or as your sole heir if there are no legal heirs with compulsory portions. In this way, Animalfree Research participates in your estate as a member of the community of heirs at the rate you specify.
How do you draw up a legally valid will?
- You can write a will in your own hand which (i) is legibly handwritten from beginning to end, (ii) bears the place, date and your signature, and (iii) is entitled “Testament” or “Testamentary disposition”.
- You can also have a public will drawn up by an official person (notary or other cantonally appointed notary), which is signed by you in the presence of two witnesses.
How do you draw up What is the difference between a will and an inheritance contract?a legally valid will?
- Contributions to Animalfree Research can of course also be specified in inheritance contracts.
- A will is a unilateral disposition by the testator which can be revoked or amended at any time. In an inheritance contract, the testator and one or more future heirs set out inheritance arrangements, including bequests/legacies, which are binding for all parties.
- Inheritance contracts can only be amended with the consent of all parties and must always be notarized.
