Southport residents invited to have their say on reform of the law of wills

Southport residents invited to have their say on reform of the law of wills

Southport residents are being invited to have their say on possible changes to the law relating to wills at an event in the town next month.

The Law Commission consultation session on the reform of wills will take place at Southport Community Centre on Norwood Road between 3.30pm and 5pm on Friday 13th October.

This event has been organised following the recent publication of a Law Commission consultation paper, Making a Will.

Guests speakers will include Professor Nicholas Hopkins, the Family, Property and Trust Law Commissioner, and Spencer Clarke, the lawyer leading the wills project.

Following their presentation there will be an opportunity for attendees to contribute their own experiences and views on the issues raised by the consultation paper.

According to Professor Hopkins, the law that governs wills is in large part a product of the 19th century, with the main statute being the Wills Act 1837.

He explained: “The law of wills needs to be modernised to take account of the changes in society, technology and medical understanding that have taken place since the Victorian era.”

Spencer Clarke added that key issues considered in the consultation paper include the capacity to make a will, the rules about witnessing and signing wills and protecting vulnerable people who make wills.

Anyone wishing to attend the consultation session should let the Law Commission know by Friday 6th October by ringing Damien Bruneau on 0203 334 3969 or by emailing him at damien.bruneau@lawcommission.gsi.gov.uk.

Anyone who is not able to attend, but would like to comment on the issues raised by the paper, can do so online by visiting www.lawcom.gov.uk/wills.

Southport Community Centre is located near to the junction of Norwood Road and Sussex Road/Peel Street.