Re Toner (deceased) [2021] WTLR 1535

Winter 2021 #185

By her last will and testament, dated 22 February 2013, the deceased bequeathed a number of pecuniary legacies of between £5,000 and £30,000, totalling £260,000. The residue of the deceased’s estate was shared by three beneficiaries, although the main residuary beneficiary had predeceased the deceased, creating a partial intestacy. The issue before the court was whether, as a matter of statutory interpretation, s30(3) of the Administration of Estates Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 meant that the property of the deceased undisposed of by her will should be applied in the fi...

Beckett & anr v McMillan & anr [2015] NICh 8

September 2015 #152

Beatrice Maeve Beckett was born on 15 March 1939. She married the late Raymond Walter Beckett (the deceased) on 6 August 1958. They had two sons. They eventually separated, after a series of what Mrs Beckett described as the ‘lengthy adulterous relationships’ on the part of the deceased.

The deceased eventually began cohabiting with Evangeline Jemima Herd, and they were living together as man and wife at the time of his death on 27 May 1997. He left a will of 8 February 1996 under which the entirety of his estate passed to Ms Herd.

Mrs Beckett issued proceedings...

Muckian & anr v Hoey & ors [2014] NICh 11

September 2014 #142

The deceased had died suddenly without making a will, with his wife, the first defendant, being appointed as the administratrix of his estate. Disagreement arose in relation to the administration of the estate, and the plaintiffs, two of the deceased’s daughters, issued proceedings pursuant to Art 35 of the Wills and Administration Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1994, seeking removal of the existing administratrix and the appointment of a neutral professional person as administrator.

Held

Removing the first defendant as administratrix and app...