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WILBERFORCE
V.
WILBERFORCE

(1999) JELR 65921 (HC)

High Court 15 Jul 1999 Ghana
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- The High Court upheld the validity of the will, finding no persuasive evidence of testamentary incapacity or fraud at the time of instruction or execution; mere suspicion or physical infirmity is insufficient to invalidate a will. - A tes

Case Details

Judges:HEWARD-MILLS J
Counsel:ODRO FOR THE PLAINTIFF; CAB-ADDAE FOR THE DEFENDANT.
Other Citations:[1999-2000] 2 GLR 311

JUDGEMENT

HEWARD-MILLS J.

The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the will of his late father, Thomas Graham Wilberforce, dated 11 March 1997 is null and void. He wants an order restraining the defendants, who are the executors, from giving effect to the will.

The father had during a visit to Cape Coast from Accra, been taken ill and admitted into hospital on 9 March 1997. The plaintiff contends that the will executed two days after the admission is null and void because his father had been diagnosed as “not in control of his mental faculties to appreciate and/ or give instructions.” The will therefore had been obtained by fraud.

The defence deny the allegations of lack of mental capacity and fraud. The will had been prepared in accordance with instructions handwritten by the father (exhibit Al) and a typed draft approved by the father. They rely on due execution of the final will.

The issues set down for trial are:

(1) Whether the deceased could be said to be in the right frame of mind…

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