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Section 14 of the Wills Act 2007 provides for wills that do not comply with the formal requirements of the Wills Act to be validated. Validation is at the discretion of the Court. Section 11 of the Wills act sets out the requirements of a valid will as follows: In Public Trust v Forster the … Continue reading
Gorringe v Pointon is a successful appeal of a High Court decision; the Court of Appeal finding that the deceased’s final and penultimate wills were more probably than not procured by undue influence. The circumstances relating the two wills found to be procured by undue influence are summarised follows: With respect to undue influence as … Continue reading
Connolly v Eckhout traverses the application of the little known Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act 1908 to a person acting in a fiduciary capacity. By way of background: … Ms Eckhout did not pay the judgment sum. The High Court has limited powers to issue an arrest order where requirements that are largely drawn from … Continue reading
Estate of RB Walton helpfully sets out the procedure where an executor fails to obtain probate, but will not renounce or provide the original will. The relevant considerations are set out at [8] to [11] as follows: The end result in Estate of RB Walton was the appointment of an independent administrator, this being required … Continue reading
Probating a will is generally accepted as an essential step to allow executors to administer an estate. However, where there are challenges or other complications, it is important to appreciate that there may be steps that can be taken without probate. As executors derive title from the will, rather than probate (which merely proves the … Continue reading
Disclosure requests in the context of trusts, wills and estate can raise complex issues that can require the assistance of the court to resolve, particularly following the introduction of the Trusts Act 2019 and before the expected case law that will be realised in due course. However, in some cases it is simply a matter … Continue reading
The subject of who determines capacity is a live topic. Is it medical? Is it legal? More importantly, does it make sense? The test regarding testamentary capacity is generally well understood. The trick is to understand it. The High Court decision in Public Trust v Lawrence clearly articulates the divide between understood and understand. As … Continue reading
Trustees looking for certainty regarding costs will commonly turn their minds to a Beddoe application. However, where costs are a live issue and the grounds for a Beddoe order may not be made out, an alternative course of action is to seek a prospective costs order. While this may appear largely the sole dominion of … Continue reading
Re Estate of Olive Ruby Piper relates to an application for an order declaring that a draft will prepared by Public Trust prior to Olive Piper’s death is her last will and testament pursuant to s 14 of the Wills Act 2007. The legislative basis is set out at [2] and [18] as follows: [2] … Continue reading
In the Matter of the Estate of Mabel Florence Murray the Court had to determine whether Mrs Murray had testamentary capacity when she executed a codicil and the earlier will. Evidence was given by Mrs Murray’s doctor, son and lawyer; all of whom were found to be credible. However, the view of the Court by … Continue reading
Matters of Trust 