Retained Life Estates

A retained life estate allows you to literally “live in your gift.”

How Does a Retained Life Estate gift work?

Step 1:  Transfer your residence or vacation home to Safe Horizon but retain a life estate.

Step 2: Continue to live there for life or for a specified term while continuing to be responsible for
all taxes and maintenance.

Step 3: The property then passes to Safe Horizon when your life estate ends.

Retained Life Estates - Benefits to You

• You receive credit for the donation and an income tax deduction for a portion of the appraised value of the property.
• You can terminate your life estate at any time and take an additional income tax deduction.
• You get the immediate gratification of making a significant gift that benefits you now and Safe Horizon later.

For more information, please contact Katherine Wickham, Senior Vice President, at 212.577.7710 or plannedgifts@safehorizon.org.

Back to Planned Gifts page.