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Photo the American Flag: Explore Regent Law giving options.

Planned Giving

Planned giving is often the vehicle for transformative changes to the school. Use the links below to learn about ways you can include Regent Law in your estate plan.

Giving Through a Charitable Bequest

You can provide a transformative gift to the law school through your estate. Please consider making a charitable bequest to the law school in your will or a revocable trust.

What Is a Charitable Bequest?

A charitable bequest is a donation made through a will or a trust. This is a great option for donors who wish to retain control of their assets during their lifetime while confidently supporting the law school’s mission. A charitable bequest allows your legacy to extend beyond your lifetime. 

Charitable bequests are tax-deductible. Additionally, there is currently no upper limit on charitable bequests. These features make charitable bequests effective for reducing estate taxes.

Types of Charitable Bequests

The most common charitable bequest is a monetary gift that is paid out of the estate. You can also make a bequest of specific personal property in your estate—like books or pieces of art.

Charitable bequests can be made for general or specific purposes. An “unrestricted bequest” is a gift for general purposes. This is a flexible gift that allows the law school to address its greatest needs at the time the bequest is received. 

A “restricted bequest” is a gift for specific purposes. This allows you to designate your gift for a specific purpose like a scholarship, faculty, student research, or one of the law school’s many programs.

Please contact the Office of Law Advancement to ensure your gift can be applied to its intended purpose. 

How can I make a charitable bequest?

Any estate plan should be prepared by and with the advice of your attorney. Even if you have already written your will or trust, your attorney can help you prepare a document called a “codicil” that amends your estate plan by adding a bequest to the law school.  The Office of Law Advancement is available to provide further information on how to give to the law school through your estate.

Patrick Trompeter, J.D.
Director of Law School Advancement
Email: ptrompeter@regent.edu
Office: 757-352-4092

You can provide for Regent Law School through a life insurance policy. You can do this in two ways.

First, you can transfer an entire existing policy to the law school, making the law school the outright owner and beneficiary of the policy. You will continue to pay any premiums, and the law school will apply the policy proceeds to the purposes you choose.

Second, you can designate the law school as a beneficiary of your policy. You keep the policy, and the law school will apply its proceeds to the purposes you choose.

This process can provide significant flexibility and tax benefits for you and your estate. Contact the Office of Law Advancement for more information on this process and its benefits.  

Patrick Trompeter, J.D.
Director of Law School Advancement
Email: ptrompeter@regent.edu
Office: 757-352-4092

Benefits of a charitable gift annuity

  • Receive fixed payments to you or another annuitant you designate for life
  • Receive a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity
  • Benefit from payments that may be partially tax-free
  • Further the charitable work of Regent University with your gift

How a charitable gift annuity works

A charitable gift annuity is a way to make a gift to support Regent University.

  1. You transfer cash or property to Regent University.
  2. In exchange, we promise to pay fixed payments to you for life. The payment can be quite high depending on your age, and a portion of each payment may even be tax-free.
  3. You will receive a charitable income tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity.
  4. You also receive satisfaction, knowing that you will be helping further our mission.

If you decide to fund your gift annuity with cash, a significant portion of the annuity payment will be tax-free. You may also make a gift of appreciated securities to fund a gift annuity and avoid a portion of the capital gains tax. Please contact us to inquire about other assets that you might be able to use to fund a charitable gift annuity.

If you have any questions regarding charitable gift annuity, please contact:

Patrick Trompeter, J.D.
Director of Law School Advancement
Email: ptrompeter@regent.edu
Office: 757-352-4092