Ex husband changed his will when in a hospital during covid

My ex husband and l had a really good friendship after divorce , so much so he made a will leaving his bungalow etc to me , His friend ( a women ) he was leaving 15 thousand pounds .he had wrote this will freely , and gave it to my sister too look after for approx 20 yrs , however 18 months ago during Covid lock down , He was told his cancer was now terminal , and that he might have a week or so too live ? His women friend then asked my sister for his will ? She then got a local solicitor too see my ex husband and get him to draw up a new will leaving half of his money too her and her son daughter and grandchildren . I now find the new will gives me 20,ooo pounds , and my son who is 45 the rest of his monies after her family share is taken,  plus my sons inheritance will be tied up in a Trust fund ? I feel this women has been coercive by saying unless he changed his will she would not help him while he was now dying ? 

Do l have a valid claim too over throw this new will ! Made when he was emotionally blackmailed in hispital , where we could not visit him. Due to  Covid ? 

Parents
  • Hiya,

    I assume your ex husband has now passed away and that is why you know about the change to his will? 

    Being faced with the news that he was going to die, he may have prompted his partner to obtain his will so he could revise it? But to answer your question, you can contest a will if you believe co ercion was involved but I'm told that not many contestations succeed. This is so that people have the confidence that the law protects the deceased person's wishes made when they were alive. The solicitor who made the will, would have been satisfied your ex husband was of sound mind when he took his instructions. I know that legacies can cause I'll feeling, especially when blood relatives are left out in favour of friends/partners but it may be that he felt she had done a lot for him in their time together and he wanted to reward that. Obviously I don't know the full situation and you may strongly feel something is amiss. It will be costly to challenge but most solicitors will give you a free consultation, it might be worth just finding out. 

    Best wishes Jane 

Reply
  • Hiya,

    I assume your ex husband has now passed away and that is why you know about the change to his will? 

    Being faced with the news that he was going to die, he may have prompted his partner to obtain his will so he could revise it? But to answer your question, you can contest a will if you believe co ercion was involved but I'm told that not many contestations succeed. This is so that people have the confidence that the law protects the deceased person's wishes made when they were alive. The solicitor who made the will, would have been satisfied your ex husband was of sound mind when he took his instructions. I know that legacies can cause I'll feeling, especially when blood relatives are left out in favour of friends/partners but it may be that he felt she had done a lot for him in their time together and he wanted to reward that. Obviously I don't know the full situation and you may strongly feel something is amiss. It will be costly to challenge but most solicitors will give you a free consultation, it might be worth just finding out. 

    Best wishes Jane 

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