# Legacy Futures: annual bequests reach record high

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/06/26/legacy-futures-annual-bequests-reach-record-high/
- Published: 2024-06-26T08:50:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Legacy income received by Legacy Futures consortium members in the year to March
2024 reached £1.81bn, it has reported: 1% up on the previous financial year.**

The growth in income has been driven primarily by bequest numbers. These reached
almost 60,000 – the highest number of annual bequests ever recorded. 

The [Legacy Futures](https://www.legacyfutures.com/) data suggests that the growth
in bequests is, in the main part, a result of improvements in the probate process
at HM Courts and Tribunals** **Service** **(HMCTS). The backlog of probate cases
declined in the period analysed, implying that investments made in additional resources
are starting to pay off. 

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Looking forward, the increased numbers of bequests coming out of the probate process
and a less pessimistic outlook than expected for house prices means that that Legacy
Futures predicts that the legacy market will remain resilient and show flat or potentially
slow growth for the remainder of 2024. 

Ashley Rowthorn, CEO of Legacy Futures, said:

> “Charities and supporters alike have felt, and are still feeling, the impact of
> the ongoing political instability and cost-of-living crisis. Add to that the delays
> at probate, and legacy giving, although still a reliable income stream for charities
> collectively, wasn’t seeing the levels of growth that had previously been predicted.
>  
> “It’s great news for charities therefore that bequest numbers have reached a record
> high and that efficiencies at HMCTS have started to improve. Income resilience
> is what’s needed in the current climate and it’s very positive indeed that this
> research points to that being a reality for the future of the legacy market.”

 * **[Legacy bequest numbers grow 7%, according to latest consortium data](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/09/23/legacy-bequest-numbers-grow-7-according-to-latest-consortium-data/)**(
   23 September 2024)
 * **[New campaign from The Salvation Army aims to boost legacies to all charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/09/27/new-campaign-from-the-salvation-army-aims-to-boost-legacies-to-all-charities/)**(
   27 September 2024)
 * **[Potential solutions to legacy sector’s recruitment & retention issues examined in new report](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/10/07/potential-solutions-to-legacy-sectors-recruitment-retention-issues-examined-in-new-report/)**(
   7 October 2024)