A grant of probate was challenged, the claimant stating that, at the time of the will, the deceased had lacked testamentary capacity.
Held: The deceased had a history of mental health difficulties. It was for the person proposing a will to demonstrate the capacity of the testator, and the defendant had not done so. The will failed.
Norris QC J
[2007] EWHC 2599 (Ch)
Bailii
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Charles Harwood v Maria Baker PC 1840
The Board emphasised the importance that the Court of Probate should be satisfied that a testatrix had the necessary capacity when she executed the will if the evidence showed that she had lost capacity shortly afterwards. The infirmity of the . .
Cited – Broughton v Knight 1873
Sir J Hannen said that a testator ‘may disinherit his children, leave his property to strangers to gratify his spite, or to charities to gratify his pride’. . .
Cited – Banks v Goodfellow QBD 6-Jul-1870
Test for Capacity to Execute Will
The testator suffered from delusions, but not so badly or in such a way as was found to affect his capacity or to influence his testamentary disposition. The judge had given the following direction: ‘The question is whether . . the testator was . .
Cited by:
Cited – Key and Another v Key and Others ChD 5-Mar-2010
The will was challenged for want of testamentary capacity. The testator was 89 years old, and the will was made within a week of the death of his wife of 65 years and without the solicitor having taken any proper steps to satisfy himself as to the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Wills and Probate
Updated: 18 December 2021; Ref: scu.259922
