The Law Commission is seeking views on the possible introduction of electronic wills, which it says are now becoming feasible due to technological advances. It also wants to explore ways to deal with predatory marriages that exploit vulnerable people. 

Technological Advances and Electronic Wills 

During the Covid pandemic, several countries, including the UK, allowed paper wills to be witnessed virtually. Since then, some countries have introduced permanent reforms to enable electronic wills. The Commission is testing public opinion on whether a new Wills Act should permit electronic wills, ensuring they are as secure as paper wills. 

Predatory Marriages 

The Commission is also investigating concerns about predatory marriages, where a person marries someone, often elderly or lacking mental capacity, as a form of financial abuse. This type of abuse is relevant to wills because marriage or civil partnership revokes a person’s will, potentially allowing the new spouse to inherit most or all of the estate. 

Modernizing Will-Making 

The Law Commission aims to modernize the law on wills, which is primarily governed by the Wills Act 1837. Professor Nicholas Hopkins, Commissioner for Property, Family, and Trust Law, stated, “Our review of wills aims to ensure that the law is modern and as straightforward as possible, protecting the most vulnerable and giving greater effect to everyone’s last wishes.”