WILL; What It Is And Why You Shouldn't Die Without Making One!

By; Ali Afegbua

We live in a world where the mere mention of the word 'Will' makes you cringe, the fear of dying pervades the minds of many people from all parts of the world, but as we grow older, the risk of dying without a will gets stronger, considering we don’t get a warning before death strikes, the smart thing to do is to take death a little more seriously; Do you want your businesses to outlive you?

Do you want to dictate the beneficiaries of your estate after your death? Then call a lawyer right now to make a will.

Death is inevitable for all of us and dying intestate (without a formal will) takes away control over how your estate is disposed of. simply put, dying without a will is something you don’t want to happen; very valuable information was given at the just concluded seminar, organised by Jurisinceptor Limited, a legal research and training company in conjunction with Adekunle Tuyo & Co. (legal Practitioners) titled "A one day seminar on The Law of Succession Estate Planning and Probate Practice" this might seem like a seminar for Legal Practitioners and other professionals only, but it was equally designed for private individuals who wish to enrich their knowledge of the law of succession and estate planning for personal knowledge pending when you decide to make your own will.

The seminar provided participants with an understanding of the laws that confer testamentary capacity i.e. laws that enable a person make a will; the effects of dying Intestate (i.e. without a will) was critically examined and the implications of the form of marriage contracted by the deceased for distribution of his estate. Another aspect discussed was the protection afforded to surviving spouses and children for whom "no reasonable financial provisions" have been made under Wills Law and upon intestacy.

The seminar also evaluated and examined the use of Trusts and other devices, and to give participants a general overview and working knowledge of estate planning i.e. that branch of the law which in arranging a person’s property and estate takes into account the laws of wills, taxes, insurance, property and trust so as to maximum benefits of all laws while carrying out the persons wishes for the disposition of his property upon his death.

While examining the probate jurisdiction of the various courts, the participants were also provided with a working knowledge of probate practice in Nigeria, while examining the scope and powers of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee in the administration of estates.