My mother passed away twelve years ago and my father has been living with someone else for ten years. I know my father made a will right after my mother passed away. My father's second partner is younger than him and has children from a former relationship. My siblings and I are concerned that the will my father made will no longer be valid. Is this right?
The
Adult Interdependent Relationships Act amended the Wills
Act so that an adult interdependent partner agreement revokes
or cancels out a will in the same way that marriage does, unless
the will states that it is made in anticipation of making an adult
interdependent partner agreement. This means that unless the person
making the will acknowledges in the will that an adult interdependent
partner agreement is about to be entered into, the will is void.
The law only relates to situations where an adult interdependent
partner agreement has been made and does not apply to the situation
where an adult interdependent relationship is implied after the
couple has been together over three years, or has a child in a shorter
term, permanent relationship. It is possible that the fact the law
applies to one kind of adult interdependent relationship and not
to the other, will be challenged in future court proceedings.
WARNING:
The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information
only.
If
you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.
July 2003
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