# Smee & Ford to continue bequest notification service for at least 12 months - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/04/smee-ford-to-continue-bequest-notification-service-for-at-least-12-months/ - Published: 2019-07-04T13:47:08+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **Smee & Ford will continue to provide legacy notifications to charities for at least the next 12 months, it has been agreed with the HM Courts & Tribunal Services, until new, long-term arrangements can be put in place.** The government announced in January that it was terminating its existing arrangement with [Smee & Ford](https://smeeandford.com/). Since then, it has been working with the [Institute of Legacy Management](https://legacymanagement.org.uk/) and other organisations on ensuring a smooth transition and workable interim arrangement. While Smee & Ford will continue to provide the service for now, changes introduced by HMCTS will mean a fee increase. HMCTS has today (4 July) published an [open letter](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/814484/Acland-Hood_Legacy_Notification_Service_Open_Letter.pdf) from CEO Susan Acland-Hood, explaining that the Lord Chancellor has decided to amend a number of fees, including probate copy fees. These changes are due to come into force on 22 July 2019, and will mean that while the cost to anyone applying for a copy of an individual Will or grant will reduce as a result, Smee & Ford’s operating costs will increase from August as they will be obliged to pay the statutory fee for all Wills and grants. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) According to the letter charities will be asked to pay more for each notification received but the service will then also include of a copy of the relevant Will itself. In a statement, Smee & Ford said: > “Whilst the charges for English and Welsh named notifications will increase as > a result of higher operating costs, we have endeavoured to keep these as low as > possible whilst at the same time improving the service by providing copies of > English and Welsh Wills alongside the charitable notifications, thus enhancing > the information available to charities at the earliest opportunity. These changes > will take effect in August. > “Over the past six months of uncertainty we have been encouraged by the strength > of feeling about the service from the sector and the fantastic support from charities > who value our work. We remain dedicated to continuing to provide a forum setting > for charities to come together with us to discuss future improvements and how > we can enable best practice with regards to legacy notifications and we are delighted > to be able to continue to play our part in assisting charities to secure charitable > gifts to fund their future work.” HMCTS is to continue to work with the charity sector and others to design longer- term arrangements to support legacy notification. This will include a workshop with charity representatives from the steering group on this issue later this month. Responding to the announcement, Rob Cope, Director of [Remember A Charity](https://www.rememberacharity.org.uk/), said: > “Ensuring the continuity of a reliable Wills notification service is an absolute > priority for the charity sector, so we would like to thank HMCTS for their collaborative > approach to resolving this matter. > “The Will-writing environment is rapidly changing, which presents huge challenges > and opportunities for good causes who rely on the public’s generosity of gifts > in Wills. We look forward to continuing to work together with HMCTS and across > government to ensure that any longer-term arrangements will build on these foundations > and better support the needs of smaller charities and a wider range of causes.” * **[fastmap research examines how benefitting from a charity affects legacy giving](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/30/fastmap-research-examines-how-benefitting-from-a-charity-affects-legacy-giving/)**( 30 July 2019) * **[Changes at Probate Registries leading to bequest notification delays](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/08/14/changes-at-probate-registries-leading-to-bequest-notification-delays/)**( 14 August 2019) * **[Misconceptions over Wills & inheritance remain barrier to legacy giving](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/09/12/misconceptions-wills-inheritance-remain-barrier-to-legacy-giving/)**( 12 September 2019) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)