'Senior Moment' Delays Will Distribution

The division of the estate of a man who had a ‘senior moment’ when providing information for his will had to be sorted out in court recently.

When Leslie Fawdon drafted his will, he left half of his estate to his nephew, described as ‘Mark Parkinson’. He had no nephew of that name, but he did have a great-nephew named Justin Parkinson. Furthermore, no one named Mark Parkinson had ever lived at the address mentioned in the will.

The court decided that Mr Fawdon had intended to benefit his great-nephew and awarded him a half share in the estate.

The moral is that you should check your facts before you write your will – or any other legal document for that matter.