Macclesfield willwriter shares facts you may not know about wills
By Nub News guest writer
22nd Jan 2024 | Advertisement Features
You may have noticed that every Monday this year, we have been posting articles with Macclesfield willwriting firm Moneybox Wills and Trusts.
This is part of a new regular feature called Moneybox Mondays!
Previous editions includes the thousands of pounds they have just raised for charity, and a deep dive with some of their Tytherington Business Park colleagues.
And for this Moneybox Monday, Head of Moneybox Wills and Trusts Joseph Etherington sat down with Macclesfield Nub News to reveal three facts about wills that may surprise you.
Joe works from the Tytherington Business Park, at Sycamore House.
He deals with wills, trusts, and lasting powers of attorney.
"We make planning for the future simple and stress free, so that you can continue living. Safe in the knowledge that you are in control, no matter what the future brings," he said.
"We're delighted to start Moneybox Mondays with Macclesfield Nub News."
Now without further do, here's three fun facts and stories you might not know about wills, brought to you by to Tytherington's Moneybox Wills and Trusts.
These are all told by Joe in his voice:
Curtain Call!
Making bequests in your Will can sometime be the part that requires the most thought. Deciding who receives the family heirlooms and who gets the cat.
People make some strange requests at the end of their life. Not many as out-there as this one though!
19th century stagehand John "Pop" Reed (not pictured) successfully bequeathed his skull to the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia for them to use in their rendition of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
His Skull!!
To be sure there was no doubt of his intentions, his Will read....
"My head to be separated from my body immediately after my death; the latter to be buried in a grave; the former, duly macerated and prepared, to be brought to the theatre, where I have served all my life, and to be employed to represent the skull of Yorick—and to this end I bequeath my head to the properties".
I wonder if they used it?
Grand Slam for Oxfam!
Charitable giving in Wills is a staple for many charities, many of which simply could not survive without the generosity of supporters remembering the charities in their Will.
As a supporter of Remember A Charity In Your Will, Moneybox Wills and Trusts in Tytherington often speak with clients about the benefits of charitable giving.
However, we are yet to see a legacy that has had the impact of the one left by Mr Nick Newlife in 2003.
In July 2012, the BBC shared an unbelievable story about a bet placed in 2003 that won over £100,000 for the anti-poverty charity.
In 2003 Nick Newlife, from Oxfordshire, bet £1,500 at William Hill, that Roger Federer would win seven Wimbledon titles by 2019.
Who would have thought that 11 years in to the future he would have made such a massive impact?
When Mr Newlife passed away in 2009 he left the betting slip to Oxfam in his Will.
Roger beat Andy Murray in 2012 not only winning his seventh Wimbledon title but also £101k for the charity.
That is a lot of money! This has to be one of the best will bequests I have seen.
Actor's Blunder?
Could you imagine being worth millions of pounds and then writing your Will with a pencil?
Well, that's exactly what Sir Peter Ustinov did.
The Academy Award winning actor and film maker passed away in 2004 aged 82 years old.
When he passed away a legal battle over his fortune ensued.
Peter had made a Will.... The problem with it was that he wrote his Will in pencil, 36 years before he passed away!
This led the court to rule that the Will was invalid and Peter Ustinov to have died intestate - which is the term used for passing away without a valid Will.
Not because the will was written in pencil, which in its self is not an issue.
Peter's will was not fit for purpose because the DIY will signified a lack of appropriate consideration. Given his financial circumstances and the number of significant changes in the years since he had originally written his will, the courts held the will to be invalid.
Peter reportedly had been married three times and had four children. The bulk of Peters wealth went to his widow and one of Peter's sons Ivan claimed that the legal battles over his fathers estate had left him virtually bankrupt.
There are two morals to this story:
One. Always take professional advice before making a will. A simple mistake can cost you (or your family) dearly.
Two. Review your will! There is no reason to leave a will for 36 years! Companies like Moneybox Wills and Trusts would review an existing Will free of charge. Advising on any changes in the law and whether improvements could be made.
On many occasions there are no updates required and clients go away with peace of mind for a few more years.
Ignorance is no defence when it comes to changes in the law so always seek professional advice.
Even if you're not a famous actor, things may change so much in that time that the likelihood is your will is no longer fit for purpose.
And that was it! Were you surprised by these stories?
Moneybox Wills and Trusts are located at First Floor, Sycamore House, Tytherington Business Park, Suite 4, Macclesfield SK10 2XA.
You can also call 01625 573521 or email [email protected].
Macclesfield: Find more about Moneybox Wills and Trusts on their website.
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