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A lasting legacy for future generations is the final act of kindness of many individuals, and when charities receive such generous donations, they can enshrine personal wishes for many years to come.

Administering charitable legacies is not always straightforward. There is a delicate balance between using donations effectively, yet in the way that was intended by the donor. And increasingly, contested legacies involving charities are becoming more common.

In these circumstances you need a legal expert you can rely on to handle matters sensitively, steering you through contentious issues, ensuring donations are used to maximum effect for those they’re intended to support.

Our specialist team advises some of the UK’s leading charities on managing legacies, offering insights honed over years of practice. We also provide training to in-house legacy teams as well as offering advice on wills and estate matters. We’re here and happy to help.

Our services

Non-contentious matters
  • Ex gratia payments and requests
  • Legacy administration
  • Trust and estate administration
  • Trustees’ role and responsibilities
  • Taxation of trusts and estates
  • Creation of wills
  • Deeds of variation
  • Royal sign manual
  • Cy près
Contested matters
  • Contested legacies
  • Validity of wills
  • Executor / beneficiary disputes
  • Donatio mortia causa gifts
  • Estate claims

 

Contact a specialist

Gaynor Jackson

Consultant | Wills, trusts and legacies

+44 (0) 330 137 3344

Email Gaynor Jackson

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Martin Woodford

Partner | Commercial Litigation

+44 (0) 330 137 3319

+44 (0)791 232 8152

Email Martin Woodford

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What people say

  • I have worked with Gaynor Jackson for over 10 years and I trust her wholeheartedly. Gaynor is always quick to respond, and sensible in her advice, which is needed when feeding back to charities.

    Legal 500, client quote
  • Ward Hadaway ‘provides timely and appropriate legal advice, delivered in a professional yet warm and approachable manner, irrespective of the value of work involved’.

    Legal 500
  • It would be difficult to better the knowledge that the team has and the fees that it charges.

    Chambers & Partners
  • Gaynor Jackson is an excellent communicator; she is both intuitive and incredibly user-friendly. She thinks outside the box and gets results through a combination of thorough research and determination.

    Client quote, Chambers & Partners