What action can Charlie's wife take after his death when his will indicates all property must go to charity?

In the scenario presented, if Charlie's will explicitly states that all property is to go to charity, his wife has limited options based on the legal framework surrounding wills and estates. A will reflects the deceased person's wishes regarding the distribution of their property.

When a will is clear about its intentions, such as directing all assets to a charitable organization, those wishes typically prevail unless there are legally recognized grounds to contest the will. The law generally upholds the rights of the individual who made the will (the testator) to dictate how their estate is managed after their death. Therefore, if Charlie's will directs that all property goes to charity, his wife cannot automatically claim a portion of the estate or negotiate terms because the will's directives must be honored.

While certain jurisdictions allow for spousal rights, particularly where marital property is concerned, it often requires specific legal procedures or claims such as a spousal elective share. Unless she takes formal steps to challenge the will on valid legal grounds, her default position would effectively be to take no action regarding the estate, as the charity is the designated beneficiary under the will. Thus, she would have no claim to anything unless she legally contests the terms of the will.