A family member is an executor of his parent's estate and they have left a percentage value to two charities (50% to family and 25% each to the charities). The charities' legal/probate teams have become involved and it's a nightmare. Apparently they can overrule offers on the family home, personal donations (jewellery) - that weren't specifically referenced in the will etc.
My thoughts are: if you want to donate to a charity, ring fence a specific amount.
At the moment, the executor is being pressured to sell to a developer rather than a family. He wants the latter and the charity is demanding the former.