Charities say IRA gifts by deceased donors get held up

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For donors who want to leave a legacy and save on taxes, naming a charity to receive their retirement account upon their death is one of the simplest ways to do so. But nonprofit leaders and lawyers warn of a growing wrinkle in carrying out these last wishes.  

Typically, donors can leave their IRA to a nonprofit without adjusting their will. The amount is subtracted from their taxable estate, and the assets go to the charity — free of the income taxes that would otherwise be paid by the individual who inherits the estate.  

But collecting these gifts can take months or even years of navigating red tape, according to experts. Some brokerages and banks require a nonprofit to open a new account with…