The number of legacy bequests to charities has increased by 7% over the last year.

This growth saw 62,100 gifts to good causes left in people’s wills and legacy income increase by 1% in the 12 months to June this year.

Improvements to probate processes by the HM Courts and Tribunal Service to reduce backlogs is a factor in the increase, according to consultancy Legacy Futures, which has published the findings in its latest Legacy Monitor.

This compiles data from 81 large charities, which represent almost half of the total charity legacy market.

Despite the increase in volume the average gift value of residual gifts is down by 2.5% to £64,400 due to house price falls in recent months.

But Legacy Futures chief executive Ashley Rowthorn said a “more optimistic outlook on house prices” coupled with probate improvements “lead us to expect the legacy market to remain resilient, with modest growth through the rest of 2024”.

He added: “This is encouraging news for the charity sector, which has faced significant challenges in recent years due to the cost-of-living crisis and delays in probate.

“The stability we’re seeing in the legacy giving forecast enables charities to plan more confidently for the future, making decisions and laying out strategies with a degree of insight into how legacies are predicted to perform."

According to latest asking price figures from property website Home.co.uk the average value of a home in England and Wales in September 2024 was £358,563. This is down 0.2% on the previous month but up 1.5% over the last 12 months.

---