All this talk about wills reminds me of my late brother and prompts me to remind people of something very important.
My big brother (BB) and his wife of 30 years separated (aside: he should not have waited 30 days to get rid of her!). He eventually met a young lady - 25 years difference in age! - and then had to wait for nearly 5 years as his wife kept NOT signing the divorce papers, despite the courts putting everything through with a lot in her favour. However, as soon as BB really settled in with his (later) wife and she fell pregnant, he made a will that was watertight against wifey no. 1 claiming his Military Pension (which she had threatened). Child was born and, 6 years later, no. 2 joined them. They were deliriously happy. One week after No. 2's 6th birthday and the day before Father's Day, BB died suddenly, such a shock to all concerned as he had not been ill. And here comes the problem. BB did not know (still surprises me) and no-one told him that, on his marriage, his will was null and void and he should have made a new one - even if it was exactly the same. Fortunately, my SIL had a very good lawyer but it still took around 3 months for the courts to acknowledge that the intention was there that she should inherit. Fortunately, the current account was in joint names so that automatically transferred to her; however, as her first child was seriously challenged, she was unable to work and for that time she was only receiving government allowances for herself and the children. As usual, the insurance companies took their time - and one of the holiday insurance companies (they were due to go 6 weeks later) kept asking for more and more documentation until she got lawyers to demand it for her.
So here is the warning: if you have a will and you enter into a new marriage, that will is INVALID. Having seen the stress that SIL was under on top of grieving and ensuring the children were well (in fact, as with my other SIL, it is apparent that widowed parents of young children do not have an opportunity to grieve properly until their children have gone through the process and 'come out the other end'), I beg you to tell anyone who might be affected in this way to do the right thing. One never knows what will happen.
And to my two beautiful BBs, still miss you so - RIP.
