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April 21, 2011
Star Features


 

The Wills Act

The will of a 75-year-old businessman who died in 2009 is now causing a row between his widow and family members.

The widow's sister disclosed that she heard that "dead lef" things could lead to serious trouble and even murder, but she had never experienced such a situation until her brother-in-law died.

According to her, the businessman's six children are adamant that his widow should not benefit from his estate, and are threatening to do her serious bodily harm if she does not move out of the home she shared with her husband for 20 years.

bank accounts

"My sister had no children for her husband, but they loved each other dearly and cared for each other," the woman explained.

"When her husband was sick she took very good care of him and nobody complained then that she was not a good wife. Now that her husband has died, his six children are giving her a hard time.

"He left a will, leaving his money in all his bank accounts to his wife, and said also in his will that she is to live in the matrimonial home until she dies; and after that the house is to be sold and the money divided among his six children. He left two other houses for the children, and they are now in the process of selling those houses.

"The house is valued at about $30 million, but the children are impatient and want their stepmother, who is my sister, to get out of the house so they can sell it.

"They claim that she never worked to help their father, so she should not benefit from his estate. One of the children even threaten to harm my sister if she did not give up the property. I tried to encourage my sister to leave and come and live with me, but she says she is not afraid of them and is not leaving the house.

"The children have even threatened to take her to court to get her out of the house . Do you think they have a good case since my sister did not contribute to the purchase of the house?"

Once the will is a valid one, your sister has nothing to worry about. The property belonged to her late husband and in accordance with the Wills Act, his wishes must be carried out. It is lawful for every person over the age of 18 to make a will outlining how they want their estate to be distributed after death.

'The children have even threatened to take her to court to get her out of the house . Do you think they have a good case since my sister did not contribute to the purchase of the house?'

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