Wills and probate news: Partner's will forged by woman

People interested in wills and probate matters have been told that a woman has forged her deceased partner's will in an effort to trick his family out of their inheritance.

Karen Philips, a mother of three, created the document on her laptop following the death of her partner Stephen Chambers, the Hunts Post reported.

She then took the will to a solicitors claiming it was legitimate and has now admitted in Huntingdon Magistrates Court that she is guilty of a charge of fraud by false representation, as outlined in the 2006 Fraud Act.

In the forged document, Mr Chambers' whole estate was left to Ms Philips, with Lucy Smith, one of the defendant's friends and Ann Howarth, her mother, named as witnesses on the document.

Mr Chamber's sister, Tricia, told the newspaper: "This whole situation has caused so much anguish and stress because it’s taken so long getting to the stage when we can think about closure."

This case shows the importance of following the advice given by many experts, that people should make a will as soon as possible with a professional service and update it regularly on account for changing circumstances.

Published by Hannah Carr