Widow receives husband's estate after he failed to make a will

The importance of making a will has been highlighted by a recent legal wrangle over the estate of a chess champion.

This month a court in Iceland decided that Miyoko Watai should be able to inherit the estate of her late husband, Bobby Fischer, a former world chess champion.

His estate, which is estimated at £1.2 million, was fought over after two of Mr Fischer's nephews, Alexander and Nicholas Targ, argued that the marriage between the couple was not legal.

However, Reykjavik District Council said that the 2004 union between the pair was legal, as proved by documents that Ms Watai presented.

In addition, £35,000 of her legal costs will also be met by Mr Fischer's two relatives.

When Mr Fischer died in 2008 he had not decided to make a will.

Moreover, Stephanie Rose, a solicitor who provides legal services for the elderly, said that people should hire a professional will writing service to help them make this document.

Published by Hannah Carr