Legacy for Justice

Specific bequest is a specific asset named in your will or living trust as a gift to the Asian Law Caucus. For example, “I give, devise, and bequeath 100 shares of Microsoft Corp. to Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus.” (Almost any asset can be given as a specific bequest, such as a vehicle, jewelry, or a particular bank account or other financial asset.) However, if circumstances change and you don’t own that particular asset in your name at the time of your death, then the gift is void. For this reason, we suggest that gifts be made as general or residuary bequests.

General bequest is a specified dollar amount named in your will or living trust as a gift to the Asian Law Caucus. For example, “I give, devise, and bequeath $25,000 to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus” This kind of gift is paid from the general pool of assets in your estate or trust.

Residuary bequest distributes the remaining balance of your estate or trust, after general and specific bequests are paid, and is typically stated as a percentage. For example, “I leave the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate as follows: 25% to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus.”

Contingent bequest specifies that your estate, or a portion of it, passes to the Asian Law Caucus only if your beneficiaries fail to survive you. For example, “If my partner survives me, then I leave my entire estate to my partner. If my partner does not survive me, then I leave my estate to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus.” Often, two partners will use such clauses in conjunction with each other, so that each receives the other’s assets upon the death of the first-to-die. Other heirs and organizations receive the remaining assets upon the death of the surviving partner.

To be certain that your intentions are carried out, wills, trusts, and codicils should be prepared by or with the advice of your attorney. You can share with your attorney the following sample language that can be included in your will or living trust and tailored to address your specific wishes.

“I give to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, currently headquartered at 55 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94111 (tax identification number 94-2176139), [all (or _____ %) of my residuary estate] or [the sum of $ _______ ] to be used for its general purposes."

Life insurance policies and qualified retirement plans (i.e., IRAs, 401(k)s) are generally considered non-probate assets. As long as you have a valid beneficiary designation, they will automatically bypass probate court. Their disposition is not controlled by your will (unless you choose to designate your estate as the beneficiary). Instead, the remaining balances or insurance proceeds are distributed to the parties whom you’ve named as beneficiaries when you set up the account or policy.

You can easily update the beneficiary designation at any time by requesting a beneficiary designation form from your financial institution, insurer, or employer. Beneficiary designations can be changed at any time before you pass.

Like a bequest, your gift remains revocable and is made only when you know you no longer need the assets. You also have the flexibility to designate a percentage, rather than the whole amount.

If you need to provide for a surviving partner or other family member, consider naming them as primary beneficiary and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus as secondary beneficiary. We will receive a gift only if your primary designee does not survive you. If they do the same, then Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus will receive a gift upon the death of the surviving partner.

To designate a gift to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, simply provide our legal name, address, and taxpayer identification number on your provider’s beneficiary designation form as follows:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus
55 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94111
Tax ID #: 94-2176139

Enter our tax ID number if asked for the beneficiary’s Social Security number, employer identification number (EIN), or taxpayer identification number (TIN).

Tax ID #: 94-2176139

Various options can provide you income for life while also ultimately supporting the Asian Law Caucus. A life income gift provides payments to you and/or another beneficiary for life or a term of years in addition to potential increases in income, reductions or avoidances of capital gains tax on appreciated property, and reductions of your potentially taxable estate. This type of gift will give you a federal income tax charitable deduction for the year of your gift and the satisfaction of helping to secure equality and justice for future generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

This is the most popular life income gift. Through this arrangement, you make a donation and receive reliable, fixed payments for your and/or another beneficiary’s life. There is a $10,000 minimum contribution, and you must be at least age 60 when you begin receiving payments. You may make a donation before age 60, choose to begin payments at a later date, and receive a higher payment rate.

Another popular life income gift is a charitable remainder trust. This is an irrevocable trust set up to pay a specified amount or percentage of the trust value to a donor (or other income beneficiary) for a fixed period of years or the donor's lifetime. Upon the death of the income beneficiary or the end of the fixed period of years, the assets in the trust are transferred to one or more charitable organizations.

These types of gifts come to Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus in many forms, including stocks and bonds. Such gifts may be tax deductible for their fair market value up to 30% of your adjusted gross income.