Valid Will and Intestacy

Many of us think that when someone had written his or her Will even not authenticated by a lawyer will be valid when he or she dies. Some would think that yes, it could be valid because in the first place, it’s his or her Will and that is his or her estate concerned. Wrong! Even the Will was written personally by the deceased owner of the wealth, for the fact that it wasn’t legally handled or lawfully laid out, the Will can be contested by probable heirs.

Let’s take this as an example: Mr. Sam died a year ago of lung cancer which made him suffered for about 5 years before he passed away. For 27 years, Mr. Sam was happily married to Mrs. Sam with whom he got 2 sons. Unfortunately due to his smoking habit, he developed lung cancer which burdened everyone in the family. The once happy family became chaotic and despite Mr. Sam’s illness, he got all the blaming from both his wife and children. Little did his wife nor his sons knew that he was able to saved fortune from his ex-dealings. The tragic condition made Mr. Sam to write his own will on a piece of paper, stating his intention not to leave any wealth for his wife nor his sons.

Time came when Mr. Sam finally died, ended his sufferings from the ridicules coming from his beloved wife and equally loved children who turned their backs from him when he needed them most. Of course families, relatives and friends came to grieve and not to mention his colleagues and business partners and of course the bank representative. The family of Mr. Sam didn’t know about his secret assets until it was blurted out by the bank. He left about a million worth of savings from the interest rates he invested. While the bank representative was yet explaining to the bereaved wife and children, Mr. Sam’s best friend came over to hand them the letter Mr. Sam wrote before he died. To the wife’s surprise, Mr. Sam clearly stated that nothing must be inherited to his wife nor his sons because of the following reasons:

- they hated me because I was sick.
- my wife doesn’t love me anymore nor does my two sons.
- my family made me miserable more than the cancer I suffered.
- they don’t deserve any of my hard-earned wealth.
- and many other reasons which are based on Mr. Sam’s emotion.

The bank representative took the letter and eventually have it checked by their legal advisers.

Last week, the bank came to visit Mrs. Sam and handed her the envelope, enclosed is the result of their contest to the inheritance. With eyes widen and smile reaching her ears, she’ll be sharing the wealth with her two children.

The above scenario only indicate the importance of proper legal consultation when making a Will. No matter how valid our reasons maybe for dishonoring our family to inherit estate from us, they have the right to contest. Although we may have made personally our last will, the best way is to authenticate and validate inheritance will before you grieve in your grave!