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Testamentary freedom in a digital era

21 May 2025
Issue: 8117 / Categories: Legal News , Wills & Probate , Technology , Court of Protection
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The Law Commission has proposed increased protection against undue influence, an end to the ‘automatic revocation’ rule and the introduction of electronic wills

Its report, ‘Modernising wills law’, and draft Bill, published last week, would overhaul the legal framework established by the Wills Act 1837. It recommends electronic wills be valid, subject to ‘an additional formality requirement’. Other changes would reduce the minimum age from 18 to 16, and increasing protections for those who are coerced into making a will.

The commissioners expressed concern that the revocation of wills on marriage or civil partnership was motivating ‘predatory marriages’ where someone marries in order to inherit. They recommended abolishing the rule.

They also suggest giving judges the power to order a will be considered legally valid in ‘exceptional circumstances’ where the deceased’s intentions are clear but formal requirements have not been met. On the other hand, they warned the law does not provide enough protection against coercion. Where formalities have been complied with but there are reasonable grounds to suspect coercion, they recommend it be possible for courts to infer undue influence.

Hayley Robinson, private wealth disputes specialist, Stevens & Bolton, broadly welcomed the proposals but warned there could be a spike in disputes—both regarding the requirements of electronic wills and on the meaning of ‘exceptional circumstances’ where courts approve formally invalid wills.

Robinson said: ‘These proposals rip up nearly two centuries of learning on the creation of wills, mostly for good reason.

‘Particularly welcome is the recommendation to change the huge unfairness sometimes created by the automatic revocation of a will by marriage.’

Robinson urged ‘significant caution’ on electronic wills ‘as one of the few benefits of the current requirements for executing a will are the formalities creating a degree of protection from good old paper and ink’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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