Few people would deny the sense in making a Will and most of us have at one stage or another considered it, but many of us just don’t get around to the task. Everyday life seems to get in the way and for most of us, the subject of death is all too gloomy to focus on for any huge length of time.

If a person dies without a Will, or valid Will, they are referred to in law as having died “intestate”.  Under the rules of Intestacy, the law sets out firstly who has the power to take charge of the deceased’s assets, and secondly who is entitled to receive them by way of inheritance.

In the UK & Northern Ireland, people are largely free to leave their property, money and assets to whoever they like upon their death.  However, there may be many reasons why the terms of a person’s Will may be disputed after their death.  

If an adult has insufficient appreciation or understanding to make a Will possibly through learning disability, brain injury or Dementia, the Master of the Office of Care & Protection can consider an application for a Will to be made on that person’s behalf, this is a Statutory Will.

Legislation termed the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) (NI) Order 1979 gives specified categories of person the right to make an application seeking to share in the estate of a deceased person, if that deceased person failed to make “reasonable financial provision” for the applicant.

Our Wills & Future Planning Solicitor Chloe Emerson recently presented a talk at a National Free Wills Network charity event in Belfast. 

We are happy to share that we will be taking part in the NI Hospice’s ‘Make a Will’ campaign.

The High Court in England & Wales has recently awarded an 83-year-old widow a 50% share in her deceased husband’s estate after he died leaving a Will in which he had left her nothing.

 In an age where everything seems to come with a price tag, most of us in one way or another will try and find cost-effective ways in which to handle our affairs in an effort to save some money.  A popular money-saving exercise that seems to have caught the attention of the thrifty amongst us is the option of writing your own Will.

We all know the saying, Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. However, with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is sometimes difficult to make any plans at all

We are all familiar with heartrending stories of gravely ill people who want to be able to choose their time of going if their suffering becomes intolerable to them. 

  In June 2016, Belfast hosted the British Medical Association (BMA) Annual Conference.  One controversial topic debated was the BMA’s position on assisted suicide.  The issue centered on whether the BMA should adopt a stance of being “neutral” rather than “opposed” to assisting a person ending their own life.  

  The UK Supreme Court has granted permission for a challenge of the decision of the England & Wales Court of Appeal in the inheritance dispute case of Ilott v Mitson.