Revocation Flashcards
Revocation can happen..
2 ways:
(1) Through operation of law
(2) Through the actions of the testator themselves
Operation of Law revocation
- Happens whether they want revoked or not
- Mainly marriage and some jurisdictions, dissolution of marriage
What happens if revoked at marriage and they don’t make a new one?
Intestacy
In which provinces does marriage not revoke a will?
Quebec, BC, Alberta
Davies v Collins
-Multiple jurisdictions
Facts: deceased domicile in NS, lived with common law wife in Trinidad for many years and died there. Deathbed marriage. Had will but hadn’t changed since first marriage.
Ratio: Court ruled after looking at the laws of conflicts that it was the domicile at the time of marriage that determined revocation—not where you get married, die, or had will drafted
Jurisdiction for rule of whether or not marriage revokes
Testators domicile (permanent residence) at the time of marriage is what determines it
What if you are beneficiary of will revoked by marriage in NB?
Can come forward even if it is intestacy and so long as doesn’t cause someone getting it under intestacy undue detriment you may still get it.
Can will stand in NB after marriage?
If not still married/ no issue of the marriage then old will can still stand
What does revocation upon marriage depend on?
Whether or not the marriage was valid
2 kinds of marriage that may be deemed invalid
(1) Void
(2) Voidable
Void marriage
Illegal from the get go, never valid.
Examples of void marriages
Senial, drunk, on drugs, can’t remember what happened, people who marry family, people already married, up until 2005 same sex
Voidable marriage
Marriages that have some kind of flaw to them and could be avoided and deemed invalid. If not avoided they remain valid.
Examples of voidable marriages
Underage marriages, unconsummated marriages
How do you void a voidable marriage?
Has to be done by one of the parties to the marriage and can only be done while they are both still alive
Who can challenge legitimacy of a marriage?
Void=Anyone with a remote financial interest of an estate
Voidable= valid unless avoided, only way to do that is one of the two parties while both still alive
What if there is no challenge to marriage?
Valid marriage and triggers these clauses
Capacity for marriage
Test for testamentary capacity much higher than that for marriage.
Banton v Banton
Facts: old man (89) married second wife (31) under suspicious circumstances (waitress from his retirement home, he was very sick, married in her apt, will left everything to her)
Ratio: striking down new will does not revive old will, while he did not have capacity for will and there was undue influence. Did have capacity to marry, revoked old one.
Infirm Persons Act in NB
Court has unique power to make, amend, and revoke wills for mentally incompetent persons
Spence v Spence
Facts: Had pre-nup saying husband couldn’t make any claims against her estate including intestacy. She did not make new will after marrying.
Ratio: Pre-nup doesn’t preclude the operation of the marriage revocation provision- intestacy still operates
What stops the operation of revocation by marriage?
S.16, wills made in contemplation of marriage do not automatically revoke