Can an alcoholic make a valid will?
We are often asked , ‘Can an alcoholic make a valid will?’ A recent case in the High Court considered this very point, looking at the impact reliance on alcohol has on testamentary capacity. In that case, Philip Hopkins, executed his last will in the presence of a solicitor leaving an estate worth around £1m. The will appointed the claimant, Gary Edkins to be the executor and trustee. Mr Edkins was to receive all Mr Hopkins’ shares in his company. Mr Hopkins’ wife, Dorothy, the first defendant, received his flat and the residue of the estate was to be divided, with 75% going to Mr Edkins and the remaining 25% going to Dorothy and his three children, the other defendants.
Mr Edkins applied for a Grant of Probate. However the four defendants had entered a caveat on the grounds that Mr Hopkins did not have testamentary capacity when he made his will.
Mr Hopkins had previously employed Mr Edkins to assist him in his manufacturing business and the two men became friends. Mr Hopkins’ first marriage broke down shortly afterwards and only his youngest son remained living with him. Mr Hopkins began seeing Dorothy, who was to become his second wife. She and her young daughter moved in with Mr Hopkins and his youngest son shortly afterwards. Mr Hopkins bought a building plot on the island of St Kitts and was in the process of building a villa there.
Shortly after executing his will, Mr Hopkins and Dorothy began spending more time in St Kitts, leaving Mr Edkins to manage the company. While in St Kitts Mr Hopkins began to drink and gamble heavily. Following a short separation, he married Dorothy.
The relationship between Mr and Mrs Hopkins began to breakdown when it became clear that his drinking was impacting on his health. however, Mrs Hopkins continued to visit him regularly in order to cook and clean for him and do his shopping. Mr Edkins and his wife also visited Mr Hopkins and helped to clean and arrange for bills to be paid. Mr Hopkins continued drinking and his health deteriorated. He suffered falls and was eventually admitted to hospital where he was found to be extremely vague, confused and incontinent. He discharged himself against medical advice and allegedly rang Mr Edkins, asking him to arrange for a solicitor to prepare a Will.
A solicitor visited Mr Hopkins at home to make a new will. The solicitor’s found Mr Hopkins looking unwell but believed he had a clear understanding of what he was doing and there was no indication that he had been drinking that day. The solicitor returned with two colleagues so that Mr Hopkins could execute his will. The solicitor read the will to Mr Hopkins and then passed it to him to read. When he approved it she got her colleagues to come into the room to witness it. After the will was signed Mr Hopkins asked the solicitor to call for a doctor. She relayed this information to Mr Edkins before leaving.
When the doctor arrived he noticed a gin bottle and Mr Hopkins informed him that he had consumed three gins that day. The doctor said he was capable of answering questions and did not appear to be heavily intoxicated. Mr Hopkins was admitted to hospital that day. Over the following weeks there were frequent references to Mr Hopkins being confused recorded in his medical records. His health continued to deteriorate up until his death from pneumonia and alcoholic liver disease.
Following Mr Hopkins’ death, the defendants entered a caveat on the grounds that, due to his alcohol related medical conditions he lacked capacity to make the will, was unable to understand or approve its contents, or had been susceptible to undue influence exerted on him by Mr Edkins when he was vulnerable.
The Judge concluded that, despite his periods of confusion, the rational nature of Mr Hopkins’ instructions to the solicitor and her assessments of his level of understanding were enough for him to have had sufficient testamentary capacity when giving instructions for his will and later executing it. The solicitor’s evidence was accepted and the Judge also believed that Mr Hopkins understood both what he was doing and the effect of his will.
This case illustrates the difficulties with challenging the validity of a will on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity arising from alcoholism. Although it is not an easy challenge to make, each case will turn on its own particular facts. If you would like to know more about, ‘Can an alcoholic make a valid will?’, contact our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0407 or email us at [email protected] for a free assessment.