Charity legacy

buffalito

My late mother's will contained four legacies to various charities. We've emailed all of them and received replies from three who are obviously happy to accept the payments. We've made arrangements to send payments and get receipts etc. The fourth charity which is a well known national charity hasn't replied even after four emails to various email addresses including the one specified for legacies in wills on their website. Do we just wait until they get in touch as we don't have the time to keep chasing them?

Keep_pedalling

I would simply write to them including a cheque with a request to acknowledge receipt. Sometimes emails get lost. Have you checked your spam folder?

Marcon

buffalito wrote: »

My late mother's will contained four legacies to various charities. We've emailed all of them and received replies from three who are obviously happy to accept the payments. We've made arrangements to send payments and get receipts etc. The fourth charity which is a well known national charity hasn't replied even after four emails to various email addresses including the one specified for legacies in wills on their website. Do we just wait until they get in touch as we don't have the time to keep chasing them?

If your mother's will contained a legacy to them, why are you contacting them before payment anyway? Normally there is a facility to donate online (which may not be possible, depending on where the funds are held), or otherwise just send a cheque by signed for delivery. If you really feel you need a response before sending anything, have you tried phoning?

Uxb1

You should indeed be contacting them prior
You will need them to confirm in writing that they are indeed the charity so described in the will and they are indeed entitled to the money.
They will need to confirm the correct payee on the cheque and the correct address/send it to.
You will need to explain you will be attaching a sheet to confirm their receipt and you need to discuss at what level in the charity is the person going to be doing the signing of this receipt (finance director if a large one)
All this to ensure that if it goes wrong it is NOT YOUR FAULT.

Brynsam

Uxb1 wrote: »

You should indeed be contacting them prior
You will need them to confirm in writing that they are indeed the charity so described in the will and they are indeed entitled to the money.
They will need to confirm the correct payee on the cheque and the correct address/send it to.
You will need to explain you will be attaching a sheet to confirm their receipt and you need to discuss at what level in the charity is the person going to be doing the signing of this receipt (finance director if a large one)
All this to ensure that if it goes wrong it is NOT YOUR FAULT.

You don't need to do any of the above. If the will clearly names the charity (and from OP's post that appears to be the case), sending a cheque by a method which gives proof of delivery is fine. The charity's own website, or the Charity Commission's website, will give you confirmation if you are in doubt as to the payee - but it tends to be the name of the charity!