Increase in number of challenges to wills

In the past year, we have seen a consistent increase in the number of enquiries in relation to challenging Wills. Some of the cases require litigation, others are resolved by mediation or agreement between the parties. 

One of the possible reasons for this is the challenging economic circumstances which prevail as claimants pursue value.  However the difficult financial circumstances a claimant may be in is not of itself reason in law to justify such a claim.  The claims fall into two broad categories. 

The first category concerns challenging or contesting a Will on grounds of invalidity, lack of capacity, duress/undue influence, or conflict of interest of an executor.

The second concerns beneficiary claims by a spouse/civil partner, or children of the deceased.

Will challenges

Statutory validity

There are prescribed formalities for the manner in which a Will is to be signed under the 1965 Succession Act (the “1965 Act”).  This includes the requirement for the person making the Will (the testator / testatrix) signing in the presence of two witnesses with those two witnesses signing their name in the presence of the testator.  Some of the other conditions prescribed by section 77 and 78 of the 1965 Act include a requirement that the testator be over 18 years of age and be of sound disposing mind.  

Capacity

It follows therefore that, in order for a Will to be valid, a person must have the appropriate capacity to sign the Will at the relevant date.  The presumption of validity applies and it will be incumbent upon the person challenging the Will to assert the reasons for that individual not having capacity. 

Duress and undue influence

The statutory formalities provide that the testator must make a Will freely.  Therefore to the extent that there is a third party who has pressurised the testator into making a certain provision for that person or to adapt a certain structuring in their Will, such may be a valid reason to have the Will set aside. 

The concept of undue influence although related is distinct.  It requires that a person who has by virtue of his relationship with the deceased significant influence over him / her and unduly exercises such influence, resulting in the Will being drafted in a certain manner to that person’s knowledge. 

If a Will is declared to be invalid under any of these claims by the court, the Will shall be set aside with any previous Will being resurrected and deemed to be the last Will.

Beneficiary claims

It is also possible for beneficiaries to challenge the appointment of executors who are deemed to be in a conflict of interests position and they will either step down voluntarily or do so by court order.  

Succession Act rights

Children - Section 117 of the Succession Act 1965

Unlike the position of a spouse who has a fixed legal entitlement to a provision from their deceased’s spouses estate, children of a deceased do not have an automatic entitlement.  They do however, under the terms of the section 117 of the Succession Act 1965, have a right to apply for provision from the estate and the court may order that such provision shall be made if the court is satisfied that the deceased has failed in his/her moral duty to make proper provision for the child in accordance with his means, whether by his Will or otherwise.  One significant point to note is that generally the courts have taken the view that the costs of the plaintiff, in taking such an action, should be discharged from the estate, unless the claim is deemed to be frivolous or vexatious.

Significantly, there is a strict statutory time period in which these claims must be brought which is six months from the issuing of the grant of probate in the deceased’s estate.  If the claim is not taken within that timeframe it is statute barred and can no longer be brought before the courts. 

Spouses and civil partners

As mentioned above, a spouse and now a civil partner, has a fixed entitlement under section 111/A of the 1965 Act to benefit from a deceased spouse’s / civil partner’s estate.  This “legal right share” is a fixed entitlement to one third of the estate where there are children and to one half of the estate where there are no children.  Note that a spouse or civil partner has a right to elect between this legal right share and the provision that is made in the Will. 

By virtue of the introduction of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Co-habitants Act 2010, a qualifying cohabitee may also bring an application to court for provision from a deceased cohabitee’s estate.  This provision will not exceed the share which a spouse or civil partner is entitled to under the equivalent legislation. 

The effect of a section 117 action or a legal right share application confirms the validity of the Will and in this regard can be distinguished from the claims under the heading “Will validity”, noted above.

To conclude, the multiplicity of claims that may arise and the fact that a plaintiff’s costs are generally discharged from the estate, may result in further litigation in this area. 

In the alternative it may be possible, subject to agreement with the other side, to refer the estate dispute to mediation which is a more informal environment to address claimant concerns and generally will result in cost savings for the estate. 

For those clients wishing to seek advice either in making a claim or alternatively defending such a claim in their capacity as executors and trustees, please contact us to discuss further.