SUCCESSION LAW PREWRITES
Table of Contents
TERMINOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR APPROACHING SUCCESSION LAW HYPO .................................................................... 9
INTESTACY............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
RADICAL NEW AMENDMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
DEFINITION OF A PARTNER ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
DEFINITION OF SPOUSE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12
REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNER ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
GENERALLY, 4 SCENARIOS OF DISTRIBUTION ON INTESTACY ............................................................................................................. 13
First Scenario: Deceased survived by a partner and no children or other issue .......................................................................... 13
Second Scenario: Intestate survived by partner and children or other issue ................................................................................ 13
Third Scenario: multiple partners ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Fourth scenario: No partner ......................................................................................................................................................... 15
CHILDREN IN INTESTACY ................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Legitimate and illegitimate child ................................................................................................................................................... 15
Step-Child...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Adopted Child................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
THE CONCEPT OF SURVIVORSHIP IN INTESTACY ............................................................................................................................... 16
Unborn Children ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Sperm Donator .............................................................................................................................................................................. 17
ENTITLEMENT TO TAKE IN MORE THAN ONE CAPACITY ...................................................................................................................... 17
AMENDMENTS IN THE LAW (NOT YET DONE) ............................................................................................................................... 17
WILL AND WILL MAKING ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
CHARACTERISTICS OF A WILL ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
Revocability ................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Takes effect only on death ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Ambulatory in nature .................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Not limited to Property .................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Prescribed form ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Unitary in nature ........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Unilateral document...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
BOUNDARIES OF THE LAW OF SUCCESSION (BOUNDARIES OF WILLS) .............................................................................................. 18
Inter Vivos Settlements .................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Trust ................................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Superannuation Nominations ........................................................................................................................................................ 19
Binding Nominations ......................................................................................................................................................................................19
Nominations In Life Insurance Policies ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Joint Tenancies of Real Properties................................................................................................................................................ 20
Methods of avoiding survivorship ...................................................................................................................................................................21
Joint Bank Accounts ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Exception ........................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Donatio Mortis Causa ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
The gift must be made in contemplation of the donor’s death ........................................................................................................................22
The gift must be conditional upon the death of the donor ...............................................................................................................................22
The donor must part with dominion over the subject matter of the gift ..........................................................................................................22
EXECUTION REQUIREMENTS (FORMALITIES) ................................................................................................................ 25
PRESUMPTION OF DUE EXECUTION ................................................................................................................................................... 25
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Date is not a requirement .............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Writing (Element 1) ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Signature (Second Requirement) ................................................................................................................................................... 26
Incomplete Signature ......................................................................................................................................................................................26
Testamentary Intention....................................................................................................................................................................................27
Signature by Another person ...........................................................................................................................................................................27
Position of Signature .......................................................................................................................................................................................27
1
, Timing of Signature ........................................................................................................................................................................................27
Electronic Signatures ......................................................................................................................................................................................28
Holding Hands not allowed .............................................................................................................................................................................28
Issue of Multiple pages ...................................................................................................................................................................................28
Witness (Third and Fourth Requirement)...................................................................................................................................... 28
Meaning of Presence (of Witness) ..................................................................................................................................................................29
Meaning of Presence (of Testator) ..................................................................................................................................................................29
Position of Signature .......................................................................................................................................................................................30
Witness Beneficiary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Solicitor’s Duties? ...........................................................................................................................................................................................30
MEANING OF ATTESTATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
Attestation Clause ......................................................................................................................................................................... 31
COVID CHANGES .................................................................................................................................................................... 31
SUMMARY OF THE IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY RESPONSE IN 2020 ....................................................................................................... 31
OTHER MATTERS AFFECTED BY THE TEMPORARY RESPONSE ............................................................................................................ 31
PERMANENT RESPONSE IN 2021 ........................................................................................................................................................ 32
New definitions in s.3(1)................................................................................................................................................................ 32
Amendments to .............................................................................................................................................................................. 32
New sections .................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Key Point of the Amendment ......................................................................................................................................................... 32
SUCCESS RATE OF NEW REGULATION? .............................................................................................................................................. 32
EXCEPTIONS TO FORMAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................... 33
INCORPORATION OF INFORMAL DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 33
The document must be in existence at the date of the will. ............................................................................................................ 33
The will must refer to the document as being in existence. ........................................................................................................... 33
The will must refer to the document so that it can be identified. ................................................................................................... 33
Correction Device ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34
INFORMAL WILLS (COURT DISPENSING POWER) ............................................................................................................................... 34
Approach for Informal Wills ......................................................................................................................................................... 34
Requirements to Admit an informal Will ....................................................................................................................................... 35
A document (Element 1) .................................................................................................................................................................................35
Testamentary intentions of the deceased (Element 2) .....................................................................................................................................37
Intention for document to be will (Element 3) ................................................................................................................................................37
How to determine the requisite intention ........................................................................................................................................................38
Timing of intention .........................................................................................................................................................................................39
Revoking an Informal Will ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Factors Affecting Informal Will .................................................................................................................................................... 39
Examples ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Testamentary Intentions ................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Practical issues ............................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Burden and Standard of Proof ...................................................................................................................................................... 45
MENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WILL MAKING ............................................................................................................... 46
AGE .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY ................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Burden of proof ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
The Legal Test ............................................................................................................................................................................... 47
First Element: Understand the nature and effect of a will ...............................................................................................................................48
Second Element: the nature and extent of their property; ...............................................................................................................................48
Third Element: Comprehend and appreciate the claims to which he or she ought to give effect; and ............................................................48
Fourth Element: Be not suffering from any disorder of the mind or insane delusion that would result in a disposition that a sound mind
would not have made ......................................................................................................................................................................................49
Psychiatric evidence by experts who have never seen the deceased during his or her life ..............................................................................53
Duty of a Solicitor ......................................................................................................................................................................... 53
Suggestions?....................................................................................................................................................................................................54
Severance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Time of Capacity ........................................................................................................................................................................... 54
TESTAMENTARY INTENTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 55
Onus of Proof (summary for Testamentary Intention in general) ................................................................................................. 55
No intention at the execution of the will ........................................................................................................................................ 55
Conditional intention..................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Clear and Unambiguous ..................................................................................................................................................................................56
2
, Unclear and Ambiguous ..................................................................................................................................................................................56
Condition Precedent? ......................................................................................................................................................................................56
KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL ............................................................................................................................................................. 57
Reading will to the testator ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
Suspicious circumstance ............................................................................................................................................................... 58
Where there is no Suspicious Circumstances ................................................................................................................................ 59
Severance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
UNDUE INFLUENCE AND FRAUD ........................................................................................................................................................ 60
Undue Influence ............................................................................................................................................................................ 60
The test for Undue Influence ...........................................................................................................................................................................61
Element of Subjectivity ...................................................................................................................................................................................61
No presumption of Undue Influence ...............................................................................................................................................................61
Onus of proof ..................................................................................................................................................................................................62
Standard of proof.............................................................................................................................................................................................62
Example of Undue Influence...........................................................................................................................................................................62
Severance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................62
Fraud............................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Burden of Proof ...............................................................................................................................................................................................62
Assertion as to Relationships ..........................................................................................................................................................................62
Allegations of forgery .....................................................................................................................................................................................63
Severance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................63
STATUTORY WILLS ................................................................................................................................................................ 63
QUICK SUMMARY OF STATUTORY WILL PRINCIPLES ......................................................................................................................... 64
VLRC REPORT ON SUCCESSION LAWS 2013 ...................................................................................................................................... 65
REFLECTING THE INTENTION (SECOND REQUIREMENT UNDER S21B)............................................................................................... 65
Example of cases that failed the “reasonably likely” test ............................................................................................................. 66
Example of cases that passed the “reasonably likely” test ........................................................................................................... 67
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATUTORY WILL AND INFORMAL WILL ...................................................................................................... 68
CHANGING WILLS .................................................................................................................................................................. 69
CODICILS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 69
ALTERING A WILL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 69
Unattested Alteration .................................................................................................................................................................... 70
Rebutting Presumption using Extrinsic Evidence ...........................................................................................................................................70
Rebutting Presumption using Intrinsic Evidence ............................................................................................................................................70
Extend of Alteration ........................................................................................................................................................................................70
Alternative to rebutting presumption ..............................................................................................................................................................71
Alterations Duly Executed ............................................................................................................................................................. 71
Alternative to rebutting presumption ..............................................................................................................................................................71
Words No Longer Apparent/ Obliterations ................................................................................................................................... 71
What is Apparent.............................................................................................................................................................................................71
What is Not Apparent......................................................................................................................................................................................72
Dependent relative revocation/Conditional Revocation on obliteration ..........................................................................................................72
REVOKING A WILL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Orders by Court ............................................................................................................................................................................ 72
A Later Will ................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Express revocation in later will or codicil .......................................................................................................................................................73
Implied revocation by another will or codicil .................................................................................................................................................74
Revocation by writing (not in another will or codicil) .................................................................................................................. 75
Revocation by destruction ............................................................................................................................................................. 75
Act of Destruction ...........................................................................................................................................................................................75
Intention to revoke ..........................................................................................................................................................................................76
Missing Wills (Presumption of Destruction) ................................................................................................................................. 77
Custody ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................77
Nature of the Provisions ..................................................................................................................................................................................78
Revocation by dealing ................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Conditional revocation/ dependent relative revocation ................................................................................................................ 79
Mistake of Revival ..........................................................................................................................................................................................79
In Expectation of Execution of new will or codicil .........................................................................................................................................79
New will already made but not properly executed ..........................................................................................................................................80
Revocation by marriage ................................................................................................................................................................ 80
Revocation by divorce ................................................................................................................................................................... 83
CONTRACTS REGARDING WILLS ......................................................................................................................................................... 83
Formalities and enforceability of testamentary contracts ............................................................................................................. 84
3
, Contracts to leave legacy .............................................................................................................................................................. 84
Contracts to leave specific property .............................................................................................................................................. 84
Contracts to leave ‘all property’/residue ...................................................................................................................................... 85
Contracts not to revoke or alter wills ............................................................................................................................................ 85
Revocation by operation of law ..................................................................................................................................................... 86
MUTUAL WILLS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 86
Marriage and mutual wills ............................................................................................................................................................ 88
JOINT WILLS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 88
CONTRACTS AND FAMILY PROVISION ................................................................................................................................................. 88
Contract Precede over Family (Old Law) ..................................................................................................................................... 88
Family Precede over Contract (Current Law) .............................................................................................................................. 89
REPUBLICATION ................................................................................................................................................................................. 89
Intention to republish .................................................................................................................................................................... 90
General effect of republication...................................................................................................................................................... 90
Change of persons ...........................................................................................................................................................................................90
Change in property ..........................................................................................................................................................................................90
Curing defects of a will ...................................................................................................................................................................................91
Limits on republication ................................................................................................................................................................. 91
Intermediate codicils .......................................................................................................................................................................................91
Ademption/lapse/satisfaction ..........................................................................................................................................................................92
REVIVAL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 92
Intention to revive ......................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Only Extrinsic evidence allowed (codicil) ......................................................................................................................................................93
Effect of revival ............................................................................................................................................................................. 93
On Intermediate Wills .....................................................................................................................................................................................94
Revival and judicial dispensing powers ........................................................................................................................................ 94
RECTIFICATION .................................................................................................................................................................................. 95
Common Law Power ..................................................................................................................................................................... 95
Omitting Words...............................................................................................................................................................................................95
Probate Courts’ No jurisdiction to insert words ..............................................................................................................................................96
Statutory Power ............................................................................................................................................................................. 96
INTERPRETING WILLS .......................................................................................................................................................... 99
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COURT OF PROBATE AND CONSTRUCTION ................................................................................................. 100
Court of Probate ......................................................................................................................................................................... 100
Court of Construction.................................................................................................................................................................. 100
MAIN/GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 100
Express Intention of Testator ...................................................................................................................................................... 101
Will as a whole to be construed .................................................................................................................................................. 101
Usual or Ordinary Meaning ........................................................................................................................................................ 101
Secondary meanings: dictionary principle ....................................................................................................................................................102
Secondary meanings: surrounding circumstances (Part of Armchair Principle) ...........................................................................................102
Armchair Principle...................................................................................................................................................................... 102
Persons ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................102
Property .........................................................................................................................................................................................................103
Limitation of Armchair Principle ..................................................................................................................................................................103
Hard to prove Armchair Principle .................................................................................................................................................................104
Words with more than one usual meaning .................................................................................................................................. 104
Technical words and phrases ...................................................................................................................................................... 105
Custom ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 105
Doing Stuff to Words ................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Omissions ......................................................................................................................................................................................................105
Ignoring Words .............................................................................................................................................................................................106
Changing and transposing words ..................................................................................................................................................................106
SUBSIDIARY RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 107
Presumption against intestacy..................................................................................................................................................... 107
Preservation over destruction (‘ut res magis valeat quam pereat’) ............................................................................................ 107
Inaccurate descriptions of dispositions (‘falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat’) ........................................... 107
Where Whole Description is Wrong .............................................................................................................................................................108
Another meaning of False description...........................................................................................................................................................108
Ejusdem generis rule ................................................................................................................................................................... 108
Inconsistency and Conflict of Clauses or Words ......................................................................................................................... 109
Ambiguous words do not control a clear gift ................................................................................................................................................109
Rule of despair ..............................................................................................................................................................................................109
4
Table of Contents
TERMINOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR APPROACHING SUCCESSION LAW HYPO .................................................................... 9
INTESTACY............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
RADICAL NEW AMENDMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 10
DEFINITION OF A PARTNER ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
DEFINITION OF SPOUSE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12
REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNER ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
GENERALLY, 4 SCENARIOS OF DISTRIBUTION ON INTESTACY ............................................................................................................. 13
First Scenario: Deceased survived by a partner and no children or other issue .......................................................................... 13
Second Scenario: Intestate survived by partner and children or other issue ................................................................................ 13
Third Scenario: multiple partners ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Fourth scenario: No partner ......................................................................................................................................................... 15
CHILDREN IN INTESTACY ................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Legitimate and illegitimate child ................................................................................................................................................... 15
Step-Child...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Adopted Child................................................................................................................................................................................ 16
THE CONCEPT OF SURVIVORSHIP IN INTESTACY ............................................................................................................................... 16
Unborn Children ........................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Sperm Donator .............................................................................................................................................................................. 17
ENTITLEMENT TO TAKE IN MORE THAN ONE CAPACITY ...................................................................................................................... 17
AMENDMENTS IN THE LAW (NOT YET DONE) ............................................................................................................................... 17
WILL AND WILL MAKING ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
CHARACTERISTICS OF A WILL ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
Revocability ................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Takes effect only on death ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Ambulatory in nature .................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Not limited to Property .................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Prescribed form ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Unitary in nature ........................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Unilateral document...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
BOUNDARIES OF THE LAW OF SUCCESSION (BOUNDARIES OF WILLS) .............................................................................................. 18
Inter Vivos Settlements .................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Trust ................................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Superannuation Nominations ........................................................................................................................................................ 19
Binding Nominations ......................................................................................................................................................................................19
Nominations In Life Insurance Policies ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Joint Tenancies of Real Properties................................................................................................................................................ 20
Methods of avoiding survivorship ...................................................................................................................................................................21
Joint Bank Accounts ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Exception ........................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Donatio Mortis Causa ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
The gift must be made in contemplation of the donor’s death ........................................................................................................................22
The gift must be conditional upon the death of the donor ...............................................................................................................................22
The donor must part with dominion over the subject matter of the gift ..........................................................................................................22
EXECUTION REQUIREMENTS (FORMALITIES) ................................................................................................................ 25
PRESUMPTION OF DUE EXECUTION ................................................................................................................................................... 25
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Date is not a requirement .............................................................................................................................................................. 25
Writing (Element 1) ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Signature (Second Requirement) ................................................................................................................................................... 26
Incomplete Signature ......................................................................................................................................................................................26
Testamentary Intention....................................................................................................................................................................................27
Signature by Another person ...........................................................................................................................................................................27
Position of Signature .......................................................................................................................................................................................27
1
, Timing of Signature ........................................................................................................................................................................................27
Electronic Signatures ......................................................................................................................................................................................28
Holding Hands not allowed .............................................................................................................................................................................28
Issue of Multiple pages ...................................................................................................................................................................................28
Witness (Third and Fourth Requirement)...................................................................................................................................... 28
Meaning of Presence (of Witness) ..................................................................................................................................................................29
Meaning of Presence (of Testator) ..................................................................................................................................................................29
Position of Signature .......................................................................................................................................................................................30
Witness Beneficiary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Solicitor’s Duties? ...........................................................................................................................................................................................30
MEANING OF ATTESTATION ............................................................................................................................................................... 30
Attestation Clause ......................................................................................................................................................................... 31
COVID CHANGES .................................................................................................................................................................... 31
SUMMARY OF THE IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY RESPONSE IN 2020 ....................................................................................................... 31
OTHER MATTERS AFFECTED BY THE TEMPORARY RESPONSE ............................................................................................................ 31
PERMANENT RESPONSE IN 2021 ........................................................................................................................................................ 32
New definitions in s.3(1)................................................................................................................................................................ 32
Amendments to .............................................................................................................................................................................. 32
New sections .................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Key Point of the Amendment ......................................................................................................................................................... 32
SUCCESS RATE OF NEW REGULATION? .............................................................................................................................................. 32
EXCEPTIONS TO FORMAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................... 33
INCORPORATION OF INFORMAL DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 33
The document must be in existence at the date of the will. ............................................................................................................ 33
The will must refer to the document as being in existence. ........................................................................................................... 33
The will must refer to the document so that it can be identified. ................................................................................................... 33
Correction Device ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34
INFORMAL WILLS (COURT DISPENSING POWER) ............................................................................................................................... 34
Approach for Informal Wills ......................................................................................................................................................... 34
Requirements to Admit an informal Will ....................................................................................................................................... 35
A document (Element 1) .................................................................................................................................................................................35
Testamentary intentions of the deceased (Element 2) .....................................................................................................................................37
Intention for document to be will (Element 3) ................................................................................................................................................37
How to determine the requisite intention ........................................................................................................................................................38
Timing of intention .........................................................................................................................................................................................39
Revoking an Informal Will ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Factors Affecting Informal Will .................................................................................................................................................... 39
Examples ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Testamentary Intentions ................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Practical issues ............................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Burden and Standard of Proof ...................................................................................................................................................... 45
MENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WILL MAKING ............................................................................................................... 46
AGE .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY ................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Burden of proof ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
The Legal Test ............................................................................................................................................................................... 47
First Element: Understand the nature and effect of a will ...............................................................................................................................48
Second Element: the nature and extent of their property; ...............................................................................................................................48
Third Element: Comprehend and appreciate the claims to which he or she ought to give effect; and ............................................................48
Fourth Element: Be not suffering from any disorder of the mind or insane delusion that would result in a disposition that a sound mind
would not have made ......................................................................................................................................................................................49
Psychiatric evidence by experts who have never seen the deceased during his or her life ..............................................................................53
Duty of a Solicitor ......................................................................................................................................................................... 53
Suggestions?....................................................................................................................................................................................................54
Severance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Time of Capacity ........................................................................................................................................................................... 54
TESTAMENTARY INTENTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 55
Onus of Proof (summary for Testamentary Intention in general) ................................................................................................. 55
No intention at the execution of the will ........................................................................................................................................ 55
Conditional intention..................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Clear and Unambiguous ..................................................................................................................................................................................56
2
, Unclear and Ambiguous ..................................................................................................................................................................................56
Condition Precedent? ......................................................................................................................................................................................56
KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL ............................................................................................................................................................. 57
Reading will to the testator ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
Suspicious circumstance ............................................................................................................................................................... 58
Where there is no Suspicious Circumstances ................................................................................................................................ 59
Severance ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
UNDUE INFLUENCE AND FRAUD ........................................................................................................................................................ 60
Undue Influence ............................................................................................................................................................................ 60
The test for Undue Influence ...........................................................................................................................................................................61
Element of Subjectivity ...................................................................................................................................................................................61
No presumption of Undue Influence ...............................................................................................................................................................61
Onus of proof ..................................................................................................................................................................................................62
Standard of proof.............................................................................................................................................................................................62
Example of Undue Influence...........................................................................................................................................................................62
Severance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................62
Fraud............................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Burden of Proof ...............................................................................................................................................................................................62
Assertion as to Relationships ..........................................................................................................................................................................62
Allegations of forgery .....................................................................................................................................................................................63
Severance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................63
STATUTORY WILLS ................................................................................................................................................................ 63
QUICK SUMMARY OF STATUTORY WILL PRINCIPLES ......................................................................................................................... 64
VLRC REPORT ON SUCCESSION LAWS 2013 ...................................................................................................................................... 65
REFLECTING THE INTENTION (SECOND REQUIREMENT UNDER S21B)............................................................................................... 65
Example of cases that failed the “reasonably likely” test ............................................................................................................. 66
Example of cases that passed the “reasonably likely” test ........................................................................................................... 67
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATUTORY WILL AND INFORMAL WILL ...................................................................................................... 68
CHANGING WILLS .................................................................................................................................................................. 69
CODICILS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 69
ALTERING A WILL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 69
Unattested Alteration .................................................................................................................................................................... 70
Rebutting Presumption using Extrinsic Evidence ...........................................................................................................................................70
Rebutting Presumption using Intrinsic Evidence ............................................................................................................................................70
Extend of Alteration ........................................................................................................................................................................................70
Alternative to rebutting presumption ..............................................................................................................................................................71
Alterations Duly Executed ............................................................................................................................................................. 71
Alternative to rebutting presumption ..............................................................................................................................................................71
Words No Longer Apparent/ Obliterations ................................................................................................................................... 71
What is Apparent.............................................................................................................................................................................................71
What is Not Apparent......................................................................................................................................................................................72
Dependent relative revocation/Conditional Revocation on obliteration ..........................................................................................................72
REVOKING A WILL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Orders by Court ............................................................................................................................................................................ 72
A Later Will ................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Express revocation in later will or codicil .......................................................................................................................................................73
Implied revocation by another will or codicil .................................................................................................................................................74
Revocation by writing (not in another will or codicil) .................................................................................................................. 75
Revocation by destruction ............................................................................................................................................................. 75
Act of Destruction ...........................................................................................................................................................................................75
Intention to revoke ..........................................................................................................................................................................................76
Missing Wills (Presumption of Destruction) ................................................................................................................................. 77
Custody ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................77
Nature of the Provisions ..................................................................................................................................................................................78
Revocation by dealing ................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Conditional revocation/ dependent relative revocation ................................................................................................................ 79
Mistake of Revival ..........................................................................................................................................................................................79
In Expectation of Execution of new will or codicil .........................................................................................................................................79
New will already made but not properly executed ..........................................................................................................................................80
Revocation by marriage ................................................................................................................................................................ 80
Revocation by divorce ................................................................................................................................................................... 83
CONTRACTS REGARDING WILLS ......................................................................................................................................................... 83
Formalities and enforceability of testamentary contracts ............................................................................................................. 84
3
, Contracts to leave legacy .............................................................................................................................................................. 84
Contracts to leave specific property .............................................................................................................................................. 84
Contracts to leave ‘all property’/residue ...................................................................................................................................... 85
Contracts not to revoke or alter wills ............................................................................................................................................ 85
Revocation by operation of law ..................................................................................................................................................... 86
MUTUAL WILLS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 86
Marriage and mutual wills ............................................................................................................................................................ 88
JOINT WILLS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 88
CONTRACTS AND FAMILY PROVISION ................................................................................................................................................. 88
Contract Precede over Family (Old Law) ..................................................................................................................................... 88
Family Precede over Contract (Current Law) .............................................................................................................................. 89
REPUBLICATION ................................................................................................................................................................................. 89
Intention to republish .................................................................................................................................................................... 90
General effect of republication...................................................................................................................................................... 90
Change of persons ...........................................................................................................................................................................................90
Change in property ..........................................................................................................................................................................................90
Curing defects of a will ...................................................................................................................................................................................91
Limits on republication ................................................................................................................................................................. 91
Intermediate codicils .......................................................................................................................................................................................91
Ademption/lapse/satisfaction ..........................................................................................................................................................................92
REVIVAL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 92
Intention to revive ......................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Only Extrinsic evidence allowed (codicil) ......................................................................................................................................................93
Effect of revival ............................................................................................................................................................................. 93
On Intermediate Wills .....................................................................................................................................................................................94
Revival and judicial dispensing powers ........................................................................................................................................ 94
RECTIFICATION .................................................................................................................................................................................. 95
Common Law Power ..................................................................................................................................................................... 95
Omitting Words...............................................................................................................................................................................................95
Probate Courts’ No jurisdiction to insert words ..............................................................................................................................................96
Statutory Power ............................................................................................................................................................................. 96
INTERPRETING WILLS .......................................................................................................................................................... 99
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COURT OF PROBATE AND CONSTRUCTION ................................................................................................. 100
Court of Probate ......................................................................................................................................................................... 100
Court of Construction.................................................................................................................................................................. 100
MAIN/GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 100
Express Intention of Testator ...................................................................................................................................................... 101
Will as a whole to be construed .................................................................................................................................................. 101
Usual or Ordinary Meaning ........................................................................................................................................................ 101
Secondary meanings: dictionary principle ....................................................................................................................................................102
Secondary meanings: surrounding circumstances (Part of Armchair Principle) ...........................................................................................102
Armchair Principle...................................................................................................................................................................... 102
Persons ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................102
Property .........................................................................................................................................................................................................103
Limitation of Armchair Principle ..................................................................................................................................................................103
Hard to prove Armchair Principle .................................................................................................................................................................104
Words with more than one usual meaning .................................................................................................................................. 104
Technical words and phrases ...................................................................................................................................................... 105
Custom ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 105
Doing Stuff to Words ................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Omissions ......................................................................................................................................................................................................105
Ignoring Words .............................................................................................................................................................................................106
Changing and transposing words ..................................................................................................................................................................106
SUBSIDIARY RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 107
Presumption against intestacy..................................................................................................................................................... 107
Preservation over destruction (‘ut res magis valeat quam pereat’) ............................................................................................ 107
Inaccurate descriptions of dispositions (‘falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat’) ........................................... 107
Where Whole Description is Wrong .............................................................................................................................................................108
Another meaning of False description...........................................................................................................................................................108
Ejusdem generis rule ................................................................................................................................................................... 108
Inconsistency and Conflict of Clauses or Words ......................................................................................................................... 109
Ambiguous words do not control a clear gift ................................................................................................................................................109
Rule of despair ..............................................................................................................................................................................................109
4
