Have you left a gift in your will to charity?

I give monthly to two fairly small charities that do selfless work on a tight budget. I have no children or siblings so between them they are going to get almost my entire estate when I go which will really benefit them and not just be swallowed up in costs. I have told both of them although thankfully I can’t predict when it will be. ?

Yes I will be leaving a donation to the small local charities that I support. They are vital to our community and many people benefit from their services.

GrandmaSeaDragon

My DH acted as executor for a relative who left her estate to 17 charities. It was a long drawn out nightmare, several house purchases fell through and every time the charities insisted on new valuations etc, etc. My elderly Uncle died suddenly at home one morning and left his estate to a single charity. We were not allowed to go into the house on the instruction of his solicitor and I was appalled to see, 9 months later, the house on Rightmove with photos just as it was the day he died. Both these events were pre covid.
These experiences will deter us from leaving charities anything in our wills, but do not stop us donating now.

That’s an awful experience. But if the charity was the sole beneficiary of the entire estate that’s how it would be and family would have no say at all and wouldn’t be allowed to enter the house.

My mum has left specific amounts....she has also stated which branch....eg the Leeds donkey sanctuary..... but its only me and my daughter who are executors so we already know her preference

My DH acted as executor for a relative who left her estate to 17 charities. It was a long drawn out nightmare, several house purchases fell through and every time the charities insisted on new valuations etc, etc. My elderly Uncle died suddenly at home one morning and left his estate to a single charity. We were not allowed to go into the house on the instruction of his solicitor and I was appalled to see, 9 months later, the house on Rightmove with photos just as it was the day he died. Both these events were pre covid.
These experiences will deter us from leaving charities anything in our wills, but do not stop us donating now.

Same as crazyH - I’ve a number of charities I give to every month. Over the years, it will make quite a good donation, so I won’t be leaving a gift in my will.

Do keep an eye on specific bequests as they can dominate an estate if your capital is eroded (by care costs for example) leaving other beneficiaries with little or nothing.

I give small amounts to charity every month and sponsor people regularly. Our charity will be DD who is single, helps everyone else in the family and works for a charity so is on a relatively low wage.

No I haven't

Oh dear. I help the donkeys too but maybe different charities. Not at the expense of family anyway.

Germanshepherdsmum

What a miserable b*stard, if you don’t mind my saying so. Reminds me of my ex.

Well there's a lot of happy donkeys munching away to the tune of £1/4 million!

What a miserable b*stard, if you don’t mind my saying so. Reminds me of my ex.

No. My father left his money to charity, and never contributed to my upbringing, so I have a jaundiced view. There is a plaque for him on the wall at a charity. Great!

I have standing orders to three charities monthly and have also made arrangements for specific bequests in my will. Some local, some national, they all have a significance for me.

I have standing orders to three or four charities so over many years they’ve had plenty from me. So, I haven’t left them anything else in my will.

Yes, my will includes bequests of specific sums to the charities that I already support with regular donations. A couple of them already know, the others will be informed when my executors send them the money. I agree that giving a specific sum rather than a percentage is best to avoid any unpleasant wrangling and demands to see (and maybe challenge) the estate accounts.

I was going long haul with all of my family, and I asked my solicitor what would happen if we all perished.

As I'm widowed seems my estranged but in contact occasionally Dad would have got it all. I've changed my will to have Cancer Research as my long stop, not next of kin.

I will second that charities can be ruthless in pursuit of their share. If have known them to cause difficulties in processing a will because of their demands but they do need the money! I find some, if you have given them something once or a regular payment they will constantly pursue you to make further contributions in a quite aggressive manner. Twice I have threatened to withdraw my support if they did not stop pestering. I have specified amounts in my will donated but they have not been informed for the above reason.

I haven't got a will, so no.
It's on my "to do" list.

I think it is a great idea for charities that offer a free will service for an amount, usually £100 to be left to the charity.

Yes I have and no I would never tell a charity I had donated, why would you?

Be aware that it may be safer to leave specific bequests, naming the sum, to charities. If it is a percentage, or if they are residual beneficiaries, they will be ruthless in pursuing it, double checking figures to ensure they receive as much as possible.
Of course, if you have no family to leave money to, it makes sense.
To answer the question, no, as I give regularly whilst I am alive.

Yes, I have been fortunate in life and want to help those who aren't in life and in death. My children know and are in full agreement.

Ps I havnt ist the charity know. It will be a surprise,

I have no relatives so provided my money is not all spent on care home fees about 10 charities will benefit and will I hope receive a pleasant surprise. Leaving to a charity is also tax efficient especially living in London where selling a garden shed would make money.

We support a number of different charities regularly and have included one (Alzheimer’s) in our wills too.