The Downside of Discretionary Trusts for Charitable Will Writing
Kate Johnson’s article of 26 August provided an interesting insight into the view of charity legacy teams held by some probate practitioners. Indeed, when I left private practice to join the third sector eighteen months ago, a few colleagues were horrified. Tensions clearly exist between some parties on either side of the estate administration process. […]
Discretionary trusts have potential to blur legacy administration
In a recent article by Kate Johnson at Wedlake Bell in Today’s Wills and Probate, Ms Johnson sets out her view that it is preferable for testators to benefit charities by including a discretionary trust in their wills. Michael Culver’s subsequent article responded to many of the points made by Ms Johnson, setting out an alternative view. […]
From tax planner to Legacy Professional
Having spent two decades specialising in capital taxes planning for a Big Four accounting firm working alongside Private Client lawyers, it was second nature to me to enhance my role within a hospice charity by forging collaborative relationships with local legal professionals, encouraging many to support our Wills Weeks campaigns and to provide free advice […]
£8 million lost in charity fraud over the last 12 months
The Charity Commission is today warning charity leaders to protect their organisations against fraud and cybercrime, after new figures show charities reported almost £8.6 million of lost funds in the last financial year. This latest data from Action Fraud also shows 1,059 separate incidents of fraud were reported by charities in just one year from […]
Increase in charitable gifts as donors exploit tax-free option
As death duties in recent years have increased, one million people have made gifts to charities in their wills over the past decade to reduce the amount they need to pay in inheritance tax, according to an article in the Daily Telegraph. The article says more people than ever have taken advantage of such donations […]
Charity fraud awareness week – 18 – 22 October 2021
Charity Fraud Awareness Week is coming up from 18th to 22nd October. Now in its sixth year, the week brings together everyone within the sector to talk about fraud, aiming to raise awareness of the an ever-evolving and increasing threat to everyone of online fraud and cyber crime. Brought together by the Fraud Advisory Panel […]
Working with Charitable Beneficiaries
I read with interest the article by Kate Johnson at Wedlake Bell in Today’s Wills and Probate in which she states her stance in relation to charitable giving within Wills. The suggestion was made within the article that gifts to charity should be made by way of a discretionary trust. The reasoning behind this suggestion […]
Gifts in Wills raise over £90m in Scotland says Remember a Charity
People in Scotland leave more than £90 million a year to charity through gifts in Wills[1], according to a joint report released today by Remember A Charity, Legacy Foresight, the Institute of Legacy Management and Smee & Ford. Each week, 47 people in Scotland leave a gift to charity in their Will. However, consumer polling […]
Remember a Charity Week: Cancer charities benefit from legacy gifting
Cancer charities remain the biggest recipients of gifts in wills, according to new data released by Co-op Legal Services, as part of Remember A Charity Week, compared to the same period in 2020. However, favourability towards animal charities have declined and gifts left to organisations that help UK children are also down against the previous […]
Public urged to donate “loose change” to charity
UK Finance and Charities Aid Foundation have urged the public to donate their “loose change” to charity as the sector deals with a shortfall in funding. Charities Aid Foundation found that over half the charities they spoke to last year had seen a drop in donations, with 39% reporting increased demand for help from those […]
Landmark legacy achievement as Remember A Charity Week starts
A landmark goal for charitable bequests has been reached with over one million gifts in Wills donated to charities over the past decade, according to figures released to coincide with the launch of Remember A Charity Week this week With over 100,000 charitable bequests left in Wills each year, more than one million gifts were […]
Estate fraud – Not a victimless crime
‘How will anyone ever find out?‘ ‘I will put the money back just as soon as … has happened.’ These are just a couple of the thoughts that we assume go through the minds of those who help themselves to money belonging to deceased people’s estates. Sadly this occurrence is not as rare as one […]
Remember A Charity calls on legal profession to talk gifts in wills
This September, the legal profession will be joining forces with 200 charities to celebrate Remember A Charity Week (06-12 September 2021). Together, they will be raising awareness of the option of giving to charity from your Will, after taking care of family and friends. Throughout the week, people will be encouraged to consider how they […]
High Court sides with charities over nil-rate IHT will clause
A recent High Court decision in Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind v Beasant and Davies concerning will construction disputes and a group of charities, could influence the interpretation of nil-rate band clauses going forward. The case was brought by the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, which represented 20 other charities in a dispute […]
The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on charitable giving in Wills.
Many clients chose to include one or more charities in their will. Often to receive small pecuniary legacies or in default if family and friends predecease, and other times as a main beneficiary. The advantages for the charities are clear. That said I have seen cases where a generous, well-meaning legacy can initially come as […]
Is the Will presented to you in fact the last Will of the deceased?
In this case study, Chris Taylor, Partner at KBL Solicitors explains a recent case where the deceased’s family was aware of a Will when she passed away but were unsure as to whether a later Will may have existed. Chris advised that a Certainty Will Search should be conducted to ensure that everything had been […]
Dragons Den inheritance
When you’re very rich, should you kids inherit everything, or should they work for their money like you did? That’s the question the Mirror asked this week to mark the return of Dragons Den to our screens. The popular BBC programme sees budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to some of the UK’s wealthiest individuals. Most […]
Sponsor Spotlight: Will Aid
In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our supporters of The British Wills and Probate Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions we look forward to recognising achievement, highlighting progression and championing innovation. This week we profile Will Writing Sole Practitioner of the Year sponsors, Will Aid. We’re delighted […]
Cryptoasset investors need to consider their Will and how to access wallets
With hundreds and thousands of people seeking strong returns from cryptoassets, a London and Birmingham-based law firm says it is essential that investors think about how they gift digital currencies in their Will. Cryptoassets, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, form part of a person’s estate like any other assets, such as money, shares or property and […]
Sponsor Spotlight: Inheritance Advance by Tower Street Finance
In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our supporters of The British Wills and Probate Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions we look forward to recognising achievement, highlighting progression and championing innovation. Today we profile Most Rewarding Charity Initiative sponsors Inheritance Advance by Tower Street Finance. We’re delighted to […]
