If you’re an executor or a solicitor administering a Will that includes a gift to the RNLI, or you are wanting to donate dormant funds, we’re here to help with any questions you have.
Contact our team
Guidance for executors and solicitors
Here is some of the information you might need if you are administering a Will that includes a gift to the RNLI.
We're here to support you
If you’re an executor or a solicitor administering a Will that includes a gift to the RNLI, we hope you find this page helpful. Our friendly Legacy Administration Support Team will do their best to answer any questions you have.
At the bottom of the page, you'll also find details of organisations offering specialist bereavement support.
How to pay in a legacy gift
All gifts in Wills are looked after by our Legacy Administration Team at the RNLI Support Centre in Poole, Dorset. They are the only people authorised to give a proper receipt and discharge to executors.
Donation for specific location or purpose
Legacy donations for the specific benefit of a particular location or purpose should still be sent to Poole. This will enable our dedicated volunteers to devote more of their time to their lifesaving work. The Legacy Team will, of course, make sure that the funds are used for the location or purpose specified in the Will.
Payment method
It would be helpful if you could pay in any legal monies electronically direct to our bank. A member of our Legacy Administration Team will aim to confirm safe receipt of your payment within 5 working days. Please ensure you provide your preferred contact details.
We understand that electronic payment may not always be possible and you can of course continue to pay by cheque. If you do pay by cheque, our receipt and letter of thanks may take longer to reach you. We are grateful for your understanding.
We would be really grateful if you could please contact our Legacy Administration Team with the following information to ensure we can match up the gift with your bank transfer:
- your full name and contact details
- the executor’s full name and contact details (if different from the above)
- the full name, title, and last address of the deceased
- description of the gift.
Pay in the money
Payment by BACS is preferable, but we understand there will be a charge if it is made by CHAPS.
- Sort code: 20-68-95
- Account number: 70 23 23 51
- Account name: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
- Reference: Please could you add the name of the deceased, so we can match the payment with the information you provided on the contact form.
We will update our records to ensure no future mailings are sent to the deceased.
If you are paying by cheque please make it payable to ‘Royal National Lifeboat Institution’ and send it to:
Legacy Administration
RNLI
West Quay Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1HZ
To ensure we can match the gift with your cheque, please include:
- the full name and title of the deceased
- their last address
- the executor's name and contact details
We will update our records to ensure no future mailings are sent to the deceased.
If you would prefer to make a payment by another method, please contact our Legacy Administration Team and they'll be able to guide you through the process.
If we have been left a specific gift
In most cases we would prefer to receive the sale proceeds of property or shares gifted to the RNLI in a Will.
However, each individual case is different, so before taking any action to either transfer or sell the property or shares, please contact us.
We don’t usually collect items, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Unlike other charities, we don’t have a chain of shops where we can sell items that have been left to the RNLI. We are able to sell some items through eBay, but items of value or special interest such as stamp collections and artwork are valued and sold with the help of professional auctioneers or retail specialists. In these cases we would make special arrangements for collection or delivery.
Tax
Charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax. This means that gifts to the RNLI are ordinarily paid free of tax and are deducted from the estate before the tax is calculated.
Charities are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. So if an asset is sold on our behalf (as 'bare trustee'), Capital Gains Tax will be saved. We can also reclaim Income Tax that has been deducted at source from income of the estate.
The rules are complex, so to avoid the estate paying more tax than necessary, please get in touch.
For information about tax on gifts in Wills, go to the HMRC website (UK) or the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Republic of Ireland).
Charity details for adding RNLI into a Will
If you're a solicitor and have been asked to include a gift to the RNLI in a Will, you may find the following wording helpful, as it would avoid any confusion:
‘The Royal National Lifeboat Institution of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (CHY 2678 and 20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney.’
For wording of Wills in the Republic of Ireland, or for any other type of gift, please contact us.
Funds from dormant accounts help to protect our volunteers at sea.
Find out more about dormant funds
Bereavement support
If you are struggling and need support, please contact your GP or reach out to a support organisation such as:
Samaritans Ireland or Samaritans UK - call 116 123, 24 hours a day
Cruse Bereavement Support - call 0808 808 1677
Mind - call 0300 123 3393 (10am-6pm, Monday-Friday)
In the UK, text SHOUT to 85258 (24 hours)
In Ireland, text HELLO to 50808 (24 hours)
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now. If you’re in the UK and you need help urgently with your mental health, but it’s not an emergency, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.