From the courts

Knowledge and approval of contents of wills

The case of Gill v Woodall attracted considerable attention when decided a first instance. This was the case which a farmer and his wife had made wills under which each left their property to the survivor and subject thereto everything was left to the RSPCA. This had the effect of disinheriting their daughter. The main asset in their estates was the family farm worth £1m. Not surprisingly, following the death of the wife, the daughter contested her will, and succeeded at first instance. Now the Court of Appeal has considered the case Gill v Woodall [2010] EWCA Civ 1430.