Increased financial pressures in old age has prompted one law firm to begin recommended that clients writing wills should revise down how much they give to charity in legacies.

Solicitors at Moore Blatch have announced that they will no longer suggest that clients interested in leaving a bequest to a charity nominate a fixed sum, but rather allocate a certain percentage of their estate to be donated in order to make sure they have enough money to provide for themselves and their heirs.

The firm has warned that charities should get used to relying less on legacies, as people are likely to be dying with smaller estates as a result of longer lives, low interest rates and the high cost of care for those that live in assisted housing.

Carla Brown, solicitor at Moore Blatch, said: “As legacies are paid first, after the debts and costs of administering the estate, charities could ends up receiving more than family members if the fixed amount is too high or the estate has reduced considerably since the will was made.”

She said that encouraging clients to leave a percentage amount would ensure that the legator’s family was always provided for first.