{"id":1410,"date":"2022-09-02T10:48:08","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T08:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matthewsenslin.com\/?p=1410"},"modified":"2022-10-05T10:54:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T08:54:28","slug":"your-will-cant-wait-the-tragic-case-of-a-mother-who-took-too-long","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matthewsenslin.com\/your-will-cant-wait-the-tragic-case-of-a-mother-who-took-too-long\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Will Can’t Wait: The Tragic Case of a Mother Who Took Too Long"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“We are such stuff \/ As dreams are made on, and our little life \/ Is rounded with a sleep.”<\/p>(Shakespeare)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We aren’t comfortable thinking about our mortality, but death comes to all of us, and it is our loved ones who will suffer if we don’t make plans to look after them whilst we still can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First prize here will always be a full estate planning exercise, but at the very least put a will in place. There is no other way of ensuring that your loved ones’ interests are protected, that they inherit what you want them to inherit, and that your estate is wound up by an executor you trust to act with integrity and professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formalities rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that your will is a proper and valid one, professionally drawn in accordance with all the required legal formalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we shall see below, our courts have only a limited ability to help out when requirements aren’t fully complied with, and that can be disastrous for your dependants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dying mother’s instruction to draw a will – too little, too late<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A tragic High Court case from 2021 illustrates the dangers of delay –<\/p>\n\n\n\n