The Will of a Royal Marine killed in action inAfghanistan has been challenged by aformer girlfriend who claimed she wasentitled to a share of the estate.Sergeant John Manuel was tragically killedby a suicide bomber in 2008. His Will lefthis £290,000 estate to his mother who hadraised him and his siblings single handedly.The claimant, Rachel Douglas,said that she had been in a sixyear relationship with thedeceased and sought to receive£60,000 from the estate. SgtManuel’s brother, the executorof the estate, wanted her toreceive only £10,000 statingthat the relationship had been‘rocky’ and producing a witnesswho claimed she had an affairwith the marine.The family claimed that Ms Douglas onlyhad a casual relationship with the deceasedhowever she proved that she had lived withhim continuously for more than two yearsprior to his death as his partner.The judge agreed with Ms Douglas statingthat the evidence of a ‘single domesticeconomy’ showed that they lived as acouple and that there was ‘an emotional tie’between the two of them.He awarded the claimant a total of £17,440but ordered that she shared the costs of thelegal action.It is assumed that the challenge is largelysuccessful due to the Will that disinheritedthe claimant being written back in 2002,before the couple were together. Just weeksbefore Sgt Manuel left for Afghanistan hetold his brother that he wanted her toreceive just £10,000 if anything shouldhappen to him while he was on tour.
The above article was published by The Society of Willwriters in England
Inheritance Protect is compliant with the Institute of Professional Willwriters Code of Practice
Where there's an Inheritance-Protect it.
Hello and welcome to my Website.
Please take a look at Sue Medder in this video from the recent BBC series "You can't take it with you". She has a lot of useful, even critical information, and it is by far the easiest way to get an initial understanding of what my business is all about, and why it is so important to protect your inheritance.
Inheritance Protect is run by me, Brian Williamson with the intention of enabling my clients to have easy and friendly access to the information and solutions that really count. Delivering Peace of Mind in a friendly and helpful manner in the comfort of your own home or workplace is our goal.
We offer a one-stop shop with an efficient and cost effective service including the following and more:
I'd like to say right away that if you are fed up with trawling the pages of the web looking for information, or if you'd just rather talk to another human being, then please do no more than pick up your phone, preferably when you have time to relax for ten minutes, and call me free on 0800 90 20 429 for a personal chat. I might not be available immediately but if you leave a short message with your name and phone number I will call you back.
Our work is covered by £2 million per case Professional Indemnity Insurance.
By the way in case you are wondering, although many people do not make a Will until they are quite old, the well informed know there is often good reason to consider making a Will as soon as you have started work, own any property, or have responsibility for the welfare of another person, and certainly if you are married, in a civil partnership, or other long term relationship.
I have many years experience as both a financial advisor and a property lawyer. I have been running my own Will Writing Consultancy since January 2000.
As a former Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (a Degree Level qualification gained way back in 1978) I take pride in dealing personally with the entire process from initial meeting, through drafting and delivering documents, and making sure they are properly signed and witnessed before being safely stored away till needed.
That might not be till you die, or it might be because circumstances or wishes have changed. In any event it is important to visit the contents of a Will every few years to be sure that it is still doing what it needs to.
The intention is alway to see that you the client fully understand your predicament and the solution we have provided. To make sure things go as you would like when you die you need (and I repeat need) to have a currently valid Will. It is the only way. In addition you may need to change the way you own property or adjust your finances in other ways.
If you ever become incapable of managing your own affairs you could well also need to have a Lasting Power of Attorney. Especially if you are in business.
Based in Sawtry Inheritance Protect provides home visits to clients in Huntingdon, Peterborough and throughout Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas. Whether you want simple family Wills or a comprehensive solution for saving inheritance Tax and protecting family legacies we can provide the advice that you need. Be confident that you and your loved ones will obtain the maximum benefit possible from your hard-earned wealth and assets in the future.
The combination of technical knowledge and personal service makes Inheritance Protect special. Please contact us to discuss your situation in person, without obligation.
If a family member or friend has died recently we can take the burden of Probate from you - irrespective of who wrote theLast Will and Testament or indeed even if there is no Will and the deceased was Intestate.
You can contact us on 0800 90 20 429 or by using our contact form here
Inheritance protect is a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers and complies with its Code of Conduct as approved by the OFT.
