Leaving money to charities in Wills

wwl

G6JNS wrote: »

There is no good reason for an executor to do that or even disclose that there is a legacy. Since it costs £10 to get a copy of the will how many charities are going to go searching the lists and getting copies on the off chance they will get a legacy? The whole idea sounds like an urban myth to me.

It wouldn't surprise me if they have an arrangement for someone to go to the office periodically and browse through recently published wills before they go into storage.

When I went to the London Probate office a few years ago, there were bookshelves full of documents and non-staff people sitting around reading stuff. I didn't look close enough to see what it was but it could have been this.

wwl

Just found this http://smeeandford.com/notificationservices

Our dedicated and highly skilled team of reporters read over 5,000 wills every week to ensure that our clients benefit from the most up-to-date information.

G6JNS

wwl wrote: »

Just found this http://smeeandford.com/notificationservices

For a hefty fee!

G6JNS

wwl wrote: »

It wouldn't surprise me if they have an arrangement for someone to go to the office periodically and browse through recently published wills before they go into storage.

When I went to the London Probate office a few years ago, there were bookshelves full of documents and non-staff people sitting around reading stuff. I didn't look close enough to see what it was but it could have been this.

So you are just guessing at what they were looking at?

wwl

G6JNS wrote: »

So you are just guessing at what they were looking at?

Yes. As it was the Probate dept I can't think what else it would have been that they were looking at.

However the link I subsequently posted shows that there are people whose job is to read through wills looking for charity bequests, and it seems reasonable that an efficient way to do it would be an arrangement whereby they can go to the office and read through wills as they come out of the Probate process.

I could be totally wrong about the mechanism but the point is that charities (at least the big ones) are likely to find out about bequests without being told, how they do it doesn't really matter for the purposes of this thread.
Maybe they pay the govt a subscription for bulk online access. Maybe they slip a wad of cash to bent Probate office staff to tip them off. Who knows?

Primrose

One of the reasons for my raising this thread is that I have become increasingly cynical about the roles played by some of the larger charities in this country. They seem to be adopting all the worst facets of big business without any any of its redeeming features you expect of charities. .
It sometimes makes you wonder if you shouldn't just spend all your spare cash on riotous living and go out on your last buck !!

dzug1

no1catman wrote: »

Interesting thread I'm in a similar position - no children, when both of us go - balance divided into four charities - presumably that may be scope for a partial early distribution (before the house is sold), to keep them quiet!?

Possibly scope for making one or more of the charities your executor - it's then in their own hands as to how much effort to put into it.

dzug1

g6jns wrote: »

Until the will is admitted to probate nobody can see what is in the will unless the executor decides to tell anyone which they really should not do. .

The problem with this is it leads to any 'normal' beneficiaries complaining they are being kept in the dark - loads of threads on here to that effect

jackieblack

Primrose wrote: »

It sometimes makes you wonder if you shouldn't just spend all your spare cash on riotous living and go out on your last buck !!

Sounds good to me, it's your money and life is for living!

G6JNS

wwl wrote: »

Yes. As it was the Probate dept I can't think what else it would have been that they were looking at.

However the link I subsequently posted shows that there are people whose job is to read through wills looking for charity bequests, and it seems reasonable that an efficient way to do it would be an arrangement whereby they can go to the office and read through wills as they come out of the Probate process.

I could be totally wrong about the mechanism but the point is that charities (at least the big ones) are likely to find out about bequests without being told, how they do it doesn't really matter for the purposes of this thread.
Maybe they pay the govt a subscription for bulk online access. Maybe they slip a wad of cash to bent Probate office staff to tip them off. Who knows?

It does matter because all you have presented so is pure speculation. That is not helpful particularly to people on this forum who are often grieving and are confused. Consider the reality that most people appoint someone who they consider trustworthy as an executor either a friend or a solicitor. Of course there will be a small percentage that don't act honestly but I have seen no evidence that there is a significant problem. Furthermore I have not seen any actual evidence that charities do actively seek to find out who has left them legacies and then act oppressively to ensure they get the money.