Shake-up of charitable legacy alert system
For decades, Smee & Ford has notified charities when they
have been left gifts in wills. The service has become critically
important to the operation of many charities. Estates invariably
take time to be administered and so the notification system is
crucial for budget forecasting. The reduction in fraud and/or
misdirection of legacies should not be underestimated and early
notice means charities are able to assist lay executors, in
particular, to avoid mistakes.
But, at the end of January, the Ministry of Justice announced
that it will be ending this arrangement from 31 July 2019, in
favour of a 'new system' which, it appears, has yet to be
designed.
