Charity and philanthropy

Navigating the intricacies of charitable giving requires a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and tax implications. Equip yourself with essential strategies for advising clients on establishing charities, managing philanthropic donations, and ensuring compliance with the Charities Act 2011. Our resources offer practical insights into securing Gift Aid, crafting charitable trusts, and optimising clients' financial commitments for maximum impact. Stay ahead in the dynamic space of charity and philanthropy by leveraging our expert guidance designed specifically for private client practitioners.

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Latest Private Client News

Company has a life for inheritance tax purposes, UK court says

Company has a life for inheritance tax purposes, UK court says

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Company has a life for inheritance tax purposes, UK court says

Private Client weekly highlights—28 August 2025

Private Client weekly highlights—28 August 2025

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Private Client weekly highlights—28 August 2025

Sealing of Will—section 124 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (Johnson v His Majesty’s Attorney General)

Sealing of Will—section 124 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (Johnson v His Majesty’s Attorney General)

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Sealing of Will—section 124 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (Johnson v His Majesty’s Attorney General)

Question of the week: Does a testamentary gift of 10% of the baseline amount to charity to obtain the reduced IHT rate satisfy the definition of a ‘pecuniary legacy’ under section 55(1)(ix) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925? What is the authority for paying interest on pecuniary legacies?

Question of the week: Does a testamentary gift of 10% of the baseline amount to charity to obtain the reduced IHT rate satisfy the definition of a ‘pecuniary legacy’ under section 55(1)(ix) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925? What is the authority for paying interest on pecuniary legacies?

Question of the week: Does a testamentary gift of 10% of the baseline amount to charity to obtain the reduced IHT rate satisfy the definition of a ‘pecuniary legacy’ under section 55(1)(ix) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925? What is the authority for paying interest on pecuniary legacies?

Featured Private Client content

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certaintiesCertaintyIn order for a settlor to create a private express trust the three certainties must...

Protectors

Protectors

ProtectorsWhat is a protector?A protector is a person who holds powers under a trust but who is not a trustee. A protector is a person who is...

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administrationFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The postal application forms PA1P and PA1A for...

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilitiesAn individual may assume obligations, for example in respect of...

Precedents

Loan agreement—individuals

Loan agreement—individualsDATE:Parties1[[name] of [address] [and [name] of [address]] OR [name] and [name] both of [address]] (Lender[s])2[[name] of...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

The Cy-près doctrine

The Cy-près doctrineFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a...
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30th May
Practice notes

Trustees—appointment of trustees

Trustees—appointment of trusteesOriginal trusteesTrustees will usually be appointed by the instrument that brings the trust into existence. The trust...
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2nd Jun
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Death in service benefits

Death in service benefitsOverview of the types of death in service benefits and their tax treatmentThere are three types of death in service...
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Produced in partnership with Eleanor Walsh, Lily Hurley and Emily Cook of Sinclair Gibson LLP
30th May
Practice notes

Assent of assets by personal representatives

Assent of assets by personal representativesPersonal representatives (PRs) can transfer assets to beneficiaries in any way that would also be...
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2nd Jun
Q&As

A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there is a declaration of trust in respect of the shares held for them. The other is a minor and there is a separate declaration of trust for him. What would or should happen to the company shares on the death of a beneficiary? Neither declaration of trust deals with this issue.

A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there...
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Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk
30th May
Practice notes

Intermeddling in an estate

Intermeddling in an estateWhat is intermeddling?An individual who performs certain duties which a personal representative (PR) would perform to...
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Produced in partnership with Jenny Bird and Charlotte Kynaston of Macfarlanes
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Termination of trusts—methods of termination

Termination of trusts—methods of terminationDuration of a trustThe duration of an express trust is subject to the restrictions imposed by the rules...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Trusts as a vehicle for holding company shares

Trusts as a vehicle for holding company sharesIntroductionMany trusts own shares as part of a portfolio of investments. This Practice Note looks at...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Benevolent funds

Benevolent fundsFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a staggered...
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30th May
Practice notes

Creation of trusts—life insurance trusts

Creation of trusts—life insurance trustsDefining life insurance trustsA life insurance trust usually involves either:•an assignment of an insurance...
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30th May
Practice notes

Lifetime gifts

Lifetime giftsA lifetime gift is a gratuitous transfer of ownership of any property between living persons and not made in expectation of death. In...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Source of income (and private client)

Source of income (and private client)When advising an individual on cross-border or offshore tax planning, it is important to establish the 'source'...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Liferent trusts—Scotland

Liferent trusts—ScotlandLiferent trustsA liferent trust (or trust liferent) is a trust which, when settled, confers a use and income benefit, or both,...
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Produced in partnership with Pete Murrin of Turcan Connell
30th May
tag iconScottish Law
Q&As

When can a mistake in an executed deed be rectified by a manuscript amendment rather than by a deed of rectification?

When can a mistake in an executed deed be rectified by a manuscript amendment rather than by a deed of rectification?This Q&A explains when it is...
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Produced in partnership with Emma Holland of Stewarts Law
30th May
Practice notes

Advantages and disadvantages of an offshore trust

Advantages and disadvantages of an offshore trustAn offshore trust is a trust where the trustees are resident in a low or zero tax jurisdiction....
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Produced in partnership with Mourant Ozannes
30th May

Popular documents

The Cy-près doctrine

The Cy-près doctrineCy-prės definitionThe cy-près doctrine may apply where there has been a failure of a charitable gift. In such circumstances, the Charity Commission can direct that the funds are applied to other, closely related, charitable purposes.A useful definition of the cy-près doctrine was

Charities and the relief of poverty

Charities and the relief of povertyFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and the plan, as set out in Charities Act 2022: implementation plan is for its provisions to come into force in three defined groups over three stages, on 31 October

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid