Homemade Wills are a tempting proposition for those interested in reducing the costs associated with obtaining legal services. Whilst on the surface these Homemade Wills kits appear be straightforward and binding, this is not always the case. It is important to ensure that your Will is prepared in the proper legal manner so that your wishes are unambiguous, and your estate may be correctly dealt with at the time of your passing.
The common issues surrounding Homemade Wills have been exemplified in the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s recent case James Edward Donnelly as executor of the estate of Sarah Shulman v Donnelly 2020 WASC 254. In this decision, Master Sanderson at [13] heavily criticised the ambiguity of the Homemade Will in question, stating:
“Although it is a valid will because it complies with the provisions of the Wills Act apart from appointing the plaintiff as executor, it has no content. It makes no disposition. It is meaningless.”
In this case, despite there being every reason to believe that the deceased intended to leave her entire estate to the first defendant, even the most benign interpretation of the Homemade Will offered no benefit to the first defendant. Apart from being mentioned as executor of the Will, the first defendant was not mentioned at all – in fact, no-one was.
Master Sanderson suggests in this judgement that there is no question of the Will being ambiguous, as it simply remained silent on who was to receive the benefit (the beneficiaries of the Will). Through proper exercise of the construction of the Will, it was determined by Master Sanderson that, on the facts, he was satisfied that the deceased intended to leave her estate to the first defendant.
Although in this case the exercise of discretion fell in the favour of the defendant, this acts as a reminder as to the pitfalls of drafting Homemade Wills.
How do the Courts Construct an Ambiguous Wills?
You may be wondering what process is undertaken to properly “construct” or “read” an ambiguous will by the Courts? Construction of a Will is a two-step process:
Firstly, the Will is to be read on its own without regard to any evidence. If this does not lead to an interpretation of the Will then an attempt must be made to deduce the intentions of the testator.
If the intentions of the testator cannot be readily discerned for any reason, then the court should proceed to construe the Will with the assistance of cannons of construction. These cannons often allow a judicial officer to review extrinsic materials, as per section 28A of the Wills Act 1970 (WA), to better consider the intentions of the testator at the time of drafting the Will.
Common issues with Homemade Wills
Although use of these Homemade Wills kits may provide you a legally binding Will, it may not be drafted in such a way as to achieve what you truly intended. Common issues with Homemade Wills include the following:
Failure to properly date the Will;
Leaving the wrong assets or assets you are not entitled to distribute;
Misunderstanding legal definitions;
Losing the Will;
Incorrectly witnessing documents;
Unintended Tax Consequences;
Appointing the wrong Executor;
Ignoring potential and eligible beneficiaries; and
Failing to provide for the guardianship of children.
Recent Judicial Commentary regarding Homemade Wills
Despite gaining popularity in recent years, Homemade Wills have been an enduring cause of concern within the Judicial system. Recent Western Australian examples which demonstrate this concern include the following:
Kossert v Ruggi as Executor of Will of Korps (No 2) [2012] WASC 191
Kenneth Martin J at [8] stated:
‘Sadly, as so many home-made wills seem to do because of a failure to receive proper legal advice, it throws up the question of [the deceased’s] failure to deal fully by his will with the one substantial asset he left, namely the house and land’
O’Brien, as Executor of Will of Hogan v Warburton [2012] WASC 82
EM Heenan J at [3] stated:
“ [the deceased’s] last will was prepared by him or at his direction apparently without any legal advice or assistance. Major difficulties have arisen in determining the proper construction of the testament and, in particular, whether or not it fails fully to dispose of the testator’s estate, so leaving a partial intestacy”
EM Heenan J at [58]:
“Obvious difficulties arise when parts of a will are ambiguous or, worse still, inconsistent. Such problems are often experienced in home-made wills such as this..”
Thomas v Pearman [2017] WASC 209
Master Sanderson at [1] criticised Homemade Wills, stating:
“The will and the codicil were home-made. They comprise 14 pages in all. They are a particularly egregious example of the folly of home-made wills.”
How can Carter Dickens Lawyers help?
Our expert lawyers are able to properly draft a will in the accepted legal manner, ensuring all of your wishes are to be fulfilled upon your passing. This will circumvent the ambiguous situations that often arise from Homemade Wills kits, and ensures that you can confidently have your Will executed as per your intentions.
At Carter Dickens Lawyers, we have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate this potentially complicated area of law. We understand the difficulties faced by families upon the death of a loved one, and we hope to ease this process by ensuring your final wishes are understood and binding.
Our Wills and Estates matters are provided on a fixed fee basis. Wills and Estates matters we may assist you with include the following:
Single Wills
Couples Wills
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPG)
Advanced Medical Directive
Probate Application
Letters of Administration (Deceased had no Will)
If you would like to discuss your Wills and Estates related matter, please contact Carter Dickens Lawyers on (08) 9408 5212.
Please note that the above is general information and should not be relied upon as legal advice. All situations are different and legal advice must always be tailored to the specific situation.
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