Bequest question

[Simpo Two]

Not sure if this is finance or law but anyway...

I was the executor for an estate last year, and the will detailed a number of £250 bequests to various charities. I contacted each charity asking how/where they would like the money to be paid. All except one (a very large well known charity) replied, and all except that one got their bequest. As for the one that couldn't be bothered to reply, I didn't see why I should chase them again; they had had their chance and they either didn't want the money or were too incompetent to respond. The ball had been sent into their court and they had failed to return it.

It now seems that the will is in the public domain, because I had a letter from the very large well known charity today asking for £250. The deceased's financial affairs have been closed since last year, and I do not feel inclined to pay it from my own funds.

I'm interested to know what lien/power the charity has - eg whether they know they missed the boat and are just hoping, or whether they can enforce it in any way. Has anyone else experienced such 'will chasing'?

[sumo69]

So what happened was the beneficiary (you??) had £250 more than they were legally entitled.

Whilst I do some degree understand you not following up with the charity, your position as an Executor gave a legal obligation for you to do everything reasonably possible to ensure the bequest was made - a simple phone call could have dealt with this.

You are potentially open to being subject to legal action - whether they do is probably extremely unlikely given the sum but that doesn't mean you shouldn't pay up - get your cheque book or credit card out and call them!

David

[mybrainhurts]

You wrote to them once?

Your faith in Royal Mail is touching...

[Sarnie]

What happened to the £250?

[KFC]

Every major charity has a website where you can donate as much money as you like. What was preventing you using your own bank card to donate the £250's at the time?

[PurpleMoonlight]

The charity can sue you personally for failing to distribute the estate in accordance with your duties as Executor.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks all for the information. I didn't send money via websites because I wanted to do it properly with a cheque and covering letter, as a solicitor would.