Wales Air Ambulance wins bequest after legal query
Melanie May | 3 February 2016 | News
Wales Air Ambulance has received a five-figure bequest after imprecise wording in the will meant that it almost went to the wrong air ambulance group.
Wales Air Ambulance called upon the services of JCP Solicitors after a lifelong supporter of the charity from North Wales left the bequest in her will. However, because the woman’s wishes were worded imprecisely, the charity faced losing the money to another group with a similar name in England.
Following a five-month case, the other air ambulance charity agreed to sign a legal deed to ensure that the money went to Wales Air Ambulance.
The case illustrates the importance of encouraging people to use a charity number and to be precise about their intentions when leaving a bequest to a charity in their will.
Richard Howells, director at JCP and head of the lifetime planning disputes team (pictured right with Steve Jones from Wales Air Ambulance) said:
“It isn’t uncommon for situations like this to arise, usually because people don’t include the all-important charity number in their will. This case underlines the importance of being as specific and accurate as possible in the wording of your Will. This is a complex area of law and errors and oversights can take some time to unravel.”
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.