Testamentary Formalities

Launching a major new research project examining the principles of succession law in comparative perspective, this volume analyses the formalities imposed by the law on making a will across a wide range of European and international jurisdictions.

With its unique contextual emphasis and authoritative commentary, Trusts Law: Text and Materials is a book that no serious undergraduate on trust law courses can afford to be without. The book is divided into four main parts: trusts and the preservation of family wealth; trusts and family breakdown; trusts and commerce; and trusts and non-profit activity. Within each of these parts, leading cases, statutes, and historical and research materials are placed alongside the narrative of the author's text to give emphasis both to general theories of trust concepts and to the practical operation of trusts. Attention is also given to important themes such as the developing relationship between trusts law and other areas of private law such as the Law of Restitution. This new edition takes account of all relevant judicial and legislative developments since the third edition, and expands discussion of key themes in current developments of the law.

This book discusses the law of inheritance and administration of deceased estates in Malawi. Its coverage includes basic concepts underlying inheritance; history of law of inheritance in Malawi; Will-making and testate inheritance; intestate inheritance; pension and inheritance of pension benefits and life insurance policies; other forms of inheritance like promissory estoppel, donationes mortis causa, rule in Strong v Bird and mutual Wills; estate duty; grants and personal representatives; and administration of deceased estates. Key statutes discussed include Constitution of Malawi, Deceased Estates (Wills, Inheritance and Protection) Act, Pensions Act, Estate Duty Act and Trustees Act. The book is designed as a reference for judicial officers, legal practitioners, public officers and administrators of deceased estates, law students, policy and legislative makers, pension fund managers, civil society activists (particularly on children and women’s rights) and interested academics.

In recent years in particular, as a result of the very rapid development of various technologies, the phenomenon of so-called informal wills has appeared on a large scale in the practice of succession law. These are wills made by testators who, when disposing of their assets in the event of their death, do not make use of the forms of will provided for by the law. This is most often the result of ignorance or confusion as to the admissibility of a particular method of disposing of assets in the event of their death. In the light of the relevant provisions such a will is frequently invalid. Despite clear and convincing evidence and testation intentions, the testator's last will does not produce any legal effects regarding his estate. The inappropriateness of this kind of solutions was shown, among others, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the need for making last wills has increased significantly, and has rarely been executed in a manner consistent with the formalities. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to design such a normative solution which could function in the provisions of succession law as one that constructs the legal figure of the form of a will.

"This Trusts and Estates casebook provides the fundamentals in an accessible and straightforward manner. Designed with particular attention toward new professors and those looking for a shorter book that covers all the crucial aspects of trusts and estates practice"--

This book describes the access to justice crisis facing low- and middle-income Americans and the current reforms to address it.