Ensuring That You Receive Your Gift: Lessons From The Hirst Estate Decision

What does this case mean for institutions receiving a gift under a will?

The case highlights some of the problems that can arise when an institution that is the subject of a gift is misdescribed in a will. To avoid these pitfalls, your institution should take steps to ensure that any gift made to you is valid.

As a first step, you should consider providing information to the general public via brochures, your website, or other advertising means which describes how a gift left to your institution should be described in a will.

This information should:

• Describe the correct name to use to describe your institution in a will. This is particularly important where your institution has recently been amalgamated with another institution or has had a change of name.