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Adoption Blended Families and Inheritance

Hello, I was adopted. I’ve just heard of the death of my biological mother. Can I make a claim on her estate? My ex-husband suggests I might under something he calls the 1975 Act. I’ve seen your other writing on blended families. How do adoption blended families and...

Stepchildren and the 1975 Act

I’ve a question regarding stepchildren and the 1975 Act? My stepmother (my dad remarried) has just died. She left her estate to her daughter, my stepsister. I’ve always been on friendly terms with my stepsister [we played prominent roles at each other’s weddings not...

Legal Order of Next of Kin

Hello,I’ve been having this debate with my stepbrothers – what is the legal order of next of kin? This question is relevant to the matter of precedence of inheritance from my father (my stepmother died last summer), he says there’s no such thing. My wife says the fact...

Testamentary Freedom in Blended Families

Hello, I’ve a question on testamentary freedom in blended families. Like me, you must have seen cases in the newspapers where wills have been overturned. I’ve read a couple of your articles in which you’ve referred to testamentary freedom.What testamentary freedom and...

Executor Withholding Money from Beneficiary

Hello Ade,I’ve a question on an executor withholding money from beneficiary in a blended family. My brother Brendan is one of the beneficiaries on my stepmother’s will. There are 14 beneficiaries in total, all inheriting equal amounts.The two executors of the will...

Write a Will with Stepchildren

Writing a will is the foundation of preserving your inheritance.To write a will with stepchildren is the foundation of preserving your life’s work to ensure the fruit of your life’s work be it grand or modest stays in your family forever. You recognise there is a cost...

Cohabiting Couples’ Inheritance Rights

Dear Ade, What are the cohabiting couples’ inheritance rights? My partner and I have been together before my son who celebrated his twentieth birthday last weekend was born. He has a daughter from a previous relationship. I’ve always believed we were in a common law...
Accidental Intestacy

Accidental Intestacy

Your question addresses accidental intestacy or partial intestacy. This special class of misfortune could befall people who own land and buildings both in this country and overseas…

Joint Wills and Mutual Wills

Joint Wills and Mutual Wills

Q: I seem to recall your advice against joint wills and mutual wills. Yesterday, I overheard someone the other day talk of joint will. I’m confused. Was this just a slip of the tongue or do these people know what they’re talking about? A: On my 25th...
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