1. Execution, Alteration, Amendment, Revocation and Interpretation of Wills Flashcards

1
Q

What two things must a person have and what one thing must they do to make a will?

A

Have:

  1. Capacity at the time the will was made, and
  2. Intention to make a will

and

Execute the will in accordance with the required formalities.

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2
Q

Other than privileged wills made by armed forces, what is the minimum age to make a will?

A

18

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3
Q

Who has the burden of proving a testator did not have mental capacity, and what is the statutory test for this?

A

The person alleging the testator lacked capacity must show at the material time, the person is unable to make a decision for themselves because of an impairment or disturbance in functioning of the mind

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4
Q

What is the statutory test for capacity a reiteration of and what three things did this require the testator to understand at the time of execution?

A

The common law test, which required the testator to understand:

  1. The nature of the act of making a will
  2. The extent of their property, and
  3. The claims which they ought to give effect to even if they subsequently do not
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5
Q

In most cases, when is the material time re: testator’s capacity?

A

When the testator signs the will

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6
Q

What is the exception to the rule that the material time re: capacity is when the testator signs the will (the rule in fluctuating capacity)?

A

If the testator did not have mental capacity at execution, but did when giving instructions to the drafter, the testator will be deemed to have acted with capacity if:

  1. The will was prepared in accordance with the instructions, and
  2. At execution, the testator at least understood they were signing a will for which instructions had previously been given
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7
Q

What two intentions are required to satisfy the intention to make a will?

A

Testator must have:

  1. General intent to make a will, and
  2. Specific intent to make that particular will, i.e. they knew and approved of the contents
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8
Q

Who has the burden of showing the testator did not have intention, and how might they show this?

A

The person challenging their intention, and they may do so by showing the testator acted due to fear, fraud, undue influence, or mistake

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9
Q

In what three circumstances does the presumption that if the testator acted with capacity, they had specific intent not apply?

A
  1. Testator is blind or illiterate
  2. Will is signed on testator’s behalf
  3. Suspicious circumstances where the will drafter substantially benefits from the will
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10
Q

What is required for a gift in the third situation, suspicious circumstances where will drafter benefits, for the gift to not fail?

A

Evidence of testator’s specific intent must be put forward by the person claiming the gift

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11
Q

What is required for a will that has been made under duress, i.e. as a result of force and fear, to be valid?

A

Court must pronounce that it is valid, and issue a grant in solemn form

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12
Q

What can occur where an omission from a will is made under duress?

A

The disappointed beneficiary can be entitled to the gift on the basis of the earlier will.

Duress is deemed to invalidate the revocation and the new will is read in line with that earlier valid provision.

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13
Q

What must anyone alleging undue influence show?

A

More than mere persuasion, which rose to the level of coercion or pressure that overpowered the freedom of action of the testator

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14
Q

What are the three formalities for a valid will?

A
  1. In writing
  2. Signed by the testator (or some person in T’s presence and at T’s direction such that it is clear T intended to give effect to the will)
  3. Signed by two witnesses each in the presence of the testator, but not necessarily in each other’s presence (or their previous signature is acknowledged in T’s presence)
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15
Q

What is an attestation clause and what is required if one is missing?

A

A signed clause confirming the formalities have been met. If one is not provided, the proponent of the will (i.e. the person offering it into probate) must provide proof these formalities were followed (usually though affidavit of due execution)

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16
Q

In what situation is a special attestation clause required, and what must it show?

A

A special attestation clause is required where the testator is illiterate/blind, and it must show that the will was read to T and he understood and approved the contents, i.e. he had the specific intent to make that particular will

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17
Q

What is required of a signature?

A

Any mark, as long as it shows the testator’s intention to give effect to the will

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18
Q

Where should a signature be placed to attest a will?

A

It can be anywhere, but should ideally be at the end of the will to avoid doubt

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19
Q

In a situation where someone signs the will on the testator’s behalf, is the will invalid if this person is also a witness?

A

No

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20
Q

What are the two requirements where someone signs the will on the testator’s behalf?

A
  1. Testator must be present when signature is made
  2. Testator must indicate to the witness that the signature has been put there at his request
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21
Q

Although there are no formal requirements of a witness, what must they be able to do?

A

Generally understand the significance of being a witness to a signature of a will

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22
Q

Do the witnesses need to see the contents of the will?

A

No

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23
Q

Does the witnesses need to know that the testator is signing a will?

A

No

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24
Q

Why can a blind person not be a witness to a will?

A

Because they are unable to witness the visible act

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25
Q

Whilst a mentally unsound person may not witness a signature when they are mentally unsound, what will not invalidate a will?

A

A person who witnesses a signature when they have capacity, who later loses capacity

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26
Q

For a document to be incorporated by reference into a will, what two requirements must be met?

A
  1. Document must exist at the date of the will
  2. Document must be referred to in the will
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27
Q

Therefore, references to what documents will not be incorporated into a will?

A

Documents expressed to be created after the fact, e.g. lists of items, or subsequent references in diaries

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28
Q

On to Alteration, Amendment, and Revocation:

When will a general alteration be valid?

A

If it can be proved it was made before execution, provided that the will reads naturally

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29
Q

What is the situation where a will has words crossed out and it can’t be proved that the alteration occurred before execution or that it was made with the same formalities as the will, i.e. writing signed and witnessed?

A

The original gift applies

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30
Q

What is the presumption given to unattested alterations?

A

They are presumed to have been made after execution, unless merely filling in a blank space in a will form

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31
Q

What is the effect of an alteration making the original gift illegible?

A

This is an obliteration and the original gift fails completely, unless it can be shown that testator did not intend by the obliteration to revoke the clause, or where the testator (unsuccessfully) attempted to substitute other wording. In these cases extrinsic evidence may be used to find the original wording.

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32
Q

What is a codicil?

A

Brief document that adds to, amends, or partially revokes an existing will, which it works alongside

Can be used to remedy a gift which was void because the beneficiary witnessed the will

33
Q

What are the three requirements of a codicil?

A
  1. Must make reference to the will
  2. Must satisfy the formalities of a will, i.e. writing signed and witnessed
  3. Clause should be included confirming the unamended part of the will (though if this is absent the codicil is taken to only replace the will to the extent they differ)
34
Q

What are the two ways a revocation of a will can occur?

A
  1. By law
  2. Deliberate act of the testator
35
Q

What are the two situations in which a will is revoked by law?

A
  1. Marriage/civil partnership
  2. Divorce, nullity, or dissolution (counts the ex as dead from date o of divorce)
36
Q

What is the effect of a testator marrying after executing a will?

A

The will is revoked unless it appears, from the will, that the testator was expecting to marry a particular person at a particular ceremony and they intended that all or part of the will should not be revoked by that marriage (applies EVEN if ceremony doesn’t actually take place)

37
Q

What is the effect of divorce, nullity, or dissolution on a will?

A

Will is partly revoked as to the appointments/gifts to the former spouse/civil partner as they are treated as having died on the date of divorce/dissolution

The remainder of the will is valid

38
Q

What gift provisions in a will will be relevant upon divorce/dissolution, and why?

A

Substitutional gifts conditional upon the spouse/civil partner predeceasing the testator, because they are deemed to have done so

39
Q

What is required to exempt a will from these divorce/dissolution rules?

A

Contrary intention expressed in the will

40
Q

What are the two ways a testator can revoke a will through deliberate act?

A
  1. Executing a later will/codicil
  2. Destruction
41
Q

In addition to a later will/codicil, what also satisfies this revocation option?

A

Any writing declaring an intention to revoke the will, and executed with the same formalities (I won’t repeat them again)

42
Q

What is the extent to which a later will/codicil will revoke an earlier will?

A

Only to the extent that it is inconsistent with or merely repeats the terms of the earlier will

43
Q

How is a will revoked by destruction?

A

Burning, tearing, or otherwise physically destroying the will by the testator (or someone at T’s direction and in their presence) with the intention of revoking the will

44
Q

Put simply therefore, what is required for a will to be revoked by destruction?

A

Intention to revoke

45
Q

What is the situation if only part of a will is destroyed?

A

Whether or not the will is fully revoked, or only revoked to the extent of the part that was destroyed will depend on whether the will can still operate without the destroyed part(s)

46
Q

Regarding intention to revoke, what is the presumption if a will is found mutilated at the date of death?

A

It is rebuttably presumed to have been revoked with the testator’s intent

47
Q

What is the other situation where a will is rebuttably presumed to have been revoked?

A

Where a will was last known to be in the testator’s possession, but cannot be found at the date of death

48
Q

How does the court-applied doctrine of dependent relative revocation save a will?

A

If the testator’s intention to revoke the will was conditional on a future event, and the event did not take place, the original will, even if destroyed, may be valid if it can be reconstructed

49
Q

What are mutual wills?

A

Where two or more people make wills with the same clauses conferring reciprocal benefits, further to an agreement between them to make such wills and not revoke them without the consent of the other

50
Q

What is the effect of a mutual will conferring a constructive trust in favour of the other party?

A

If one testator dies, and the other changes their will, a beneficiary harmed by this can apply to court for an order that the recipient of the changed gift transfers it to the original beneficiary

51
Q

On to Interpretation of Wills:

Except for as to beneficiaries and subject to a contrary intention, [the subject matter of] a gift in a will will take effect as if the will was executed when?

A

At the date of death

52
Q

As of when are the beneficiaries in a will determined?

A

The date of execution, subject to class closing rules

53
Q

What is a legacy and what is a devise?

A

A legacy is a gift of personal property.

A devise is a gift of real property.

54
Q

What is a specific legacy?

A

A gift of a specified part of the estate, e.g my BMW car with registration ABC1234. It must be identified with certain and actually exist at death in order not to fail.

55
Q

What is a general legacy?

A

A gift of a generic item which does not identify a particular item, e.g. a BMW car. PRs must buy it if it does not exist at death

56
Q

What occurs if the item described in the general legacy is not in the estate?

A

The beneficiary can require the executors to purchase the item if there is sufficient funds

57
Q

What is a pecuniary legacy?

A

A gift of cash

58
Q

What is a demonstrative legacy?

A

A general or pecuniary legacy which identifies the source (fund) from which the gift is to be made. It will not fail if the named fund is empty

59
Q

What is a residuary legacy?

A

Everything left in the estate after costs of administration, liabilities, and gifts

60
Q

What are the two ways gifts can fail?

A
  1. Ademption
  2. Lapse
61
Q

Under the doctrine of ademption, in what three situations will a specific gift adeem?

A
  1. No longer part of the testator’s estate
  2. Subject to a binding contract for sale
  3. No longer meets the description in the will

Does not apply to general legacies

62
Q

Whilst a change in the substance of the subject matter will cause a gift to adeem, what will not?

A

A mere change in name or form

Example:

  • Shares in ABC plc which change in form due to a corporate restructuring but the shares are still in ABC plc: gift does not adeem
  • Shares in ABC plc which goes into liquidation and is taken over by XYZ plc, and shareholders receive new shares in XYZ plc: gift adeems as the substance is different
63
Q

Although the law generally speaks from the date of death when it comes to [the subject matter of] gifts, what is the one specific and testable exception to this, and what is the effect of this?

A

If the testator gives a gift of my car, the courts will presume this to mean the car the testator had on execution of the will and therefore treat it as a specific legacy. If this specific car is not in the estate on death, the gift adeems.

This is avoided by use of the words the car I own on my death

64
Q

When will a gift fail by lapse?

A

If the beneficiary predeceases the testator

65
Q

What will prevent a gift from failing by lapse?

A

A substitutional gift in the will accounting for the situation where the beneficiary predeceased the testator

66
Q

What happens to a lapsed gift where there is no substitutional gift?

A

The gift falls into the residue

67
Q

What happens if a residual gift lapses?

A

It passes under the rules of intestacy

68
Q

Regarding objects, i.e. people, at what date does the will speak?

A

Will is construed at date of execution, as to objects, e.g.:

A gift of “all my shares in ABC plc to the eldest son of John” is a gift of however many shares the testator had at the date of death to whoever the eldest son of John was at the date of execution

69
Q

Where a gift is to two or more people as joint tenants, i.e. jointly, what is required for the gift to lapse?

A

All joint tenants must predecease the testator. If not, the gift passes to the surviving tenants in proportionate shares.

This does not apply where a gift is simply split and given in equal shares. It has to be joint. Think right of survivorship

70
Q

In what situation would the law of commorientes be applied, and what does it provide?

A

In a situation where parties die at the same time and it is impossible to determine who died first, e.g. car crash, the law of commorientes provides that, for succession purposes, the younger person survives the elder

71
Q

What is the special rule where a gift is made to a testator’s child or other lineal descendant, e.g. grandchild, and the beneficiary child or descendant predeceases the testator?

A

The gift will pass to the issue of the beneficiary if they are living, and unless a contrary intention is shown, it will occur per stirpes.

Note this only applies where a testator gives a gift to their issue or lineal descendant who:

(1) Predeceases the testator and
(2) Leaves living issue of their own.

It does not apply to gifts to parties who aren’t issue or lineal descendants.

72
Q

A gift to a beneficiary will fail if the beneficiary or their spouse/civil partner witness the will. Does this invalidate the entire will?

A

No, just the gift to the beneficiary witness fails

73
Q

In what situation will a gift to a beneficiary not fail where that beneficiary witnesses the will, and why?

A

Where there are at least two other witnesses who are not beneficiaries or spouse/civil partner, because the formal requirement that a will have two witnesses will be satisfied irrespective of the beneficiary acting as a subsequent witness

74
Q

What three groups does a gift to children apply to, and what one does it not?

A

Applies to:

  1. Legitimate children
  2. Illegitimate children
  3. Adopted children

But not stepchildren, unless adopted.

75
Q

When will a class normally close?

A

When at least one beneficiary has a vested interest, to the exclusion of any potential beneficiary not then living

76
Q

If a class closes, do beneficiaries who have not satisfied their contingency still qualify?

A

Yes as long as they are living when the class closes

77
Q

Why does the inclusion of the word each of change the effect of the class closing rules?

A

The class closing rules operate to close a class off so that the pool of assets can be divided up among vested and contingent holders, and of course paid to vested beneficiaries immediately. E.g. “£5,000 to the children of John” requires those beneficiaries to be determined to know how many ways to divide the total pool of £5,000.

Whereas, “£5,000 to each of the children of John” does not require the class to close at all to determine how much each will receive. Each will receive the £5,000.

78
Q

However, in the absence of a provision to the contrary, where each of is used, when does the class close?

A

At the testator’s death, and if there are no class members eligible, the gift will fail and not continue until the at least one class member is eligible

79
Q

How can the class closing rules be excluded?

A

By an express provision in the will