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 […]
Getting into the nettles of restricted gifts
This insight was written by Anna Morris, Solicitor at Lime Solicitors’ Inheritance Disputes Team In the recent decision of Rittson-Thomas v Oxfordshire County Council, 2019 EWCA Civ 200 the Supreme Court decided that Oxfordshire County Council were at liberty to retain the proceeds of sale from a plot of land used for Nettlebed School, conveyed to […]
The National Will Register’s Free Will Registration Month ends on Friday 4th June
The National Will Register’s Free Will Registration Month concludes on Friday 4th June. Law firms have until Friday 4th June to express their interest in registering their clients’ Wills and existing Will Bank on The National Will Register at no cost. The National Will Register provides Will Registration and a Will search service that protects […]
Why your firm should use Will Registration and Certainty Will Search
There are currently over 8.9 million Wills registered on The National Will Register, which continues to rise daily. The National Will Register provides Will Registration and a Will search service that protects law firms, testators, executors and beneficiaries each and every day. Ewings & Co have been members of The National Will Register since 2016. […]
Hospice money fraudulently spent by daughter
Willowbrook Hospice was defrauded of approximately £20,000 from Patricia Eden’s estate, after her daughter Deborah Nilsson spent the money on a new kitchen, bathroom and family holiday. The fraud came to light when Ms Nilsson’s daughter reported her. During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Ms Nilsson explained that her mother had changed her mind […]
Legacy Futures announce 2021 Award Winners
Legacy Futures is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Legacy Futures Awards 2021. The Legacy Future Leader Award WINNER: Emma Bowles, ellenor “Emma demonstrated passion for legacies and sharing it with colleagues, care staff and supporters of ellenor hospice. Since she joined the team there has been a 20% growth in In-memory income.” […]
Entries for the British Wills and Probate Awards extended
The chance to enter this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards has been extended by a week, with the new deadline being set as the 21st May. The fourth awards are brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions. The awards which are brought to you by Today’s Wills and […]