From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Aug 5 19:24:26 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 771B41065679 for ; Thu, 5 Aug 2010 19:24:26 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from frank@esperance-linux.co.uk) Received: from asmtp2.iomartmail.com (asmtp2.iomartmail.com [62.128.201.249]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 06DDE8FC16 for ; Thu, 5 Aug 2010 19:24:25 +0000 (UTC) Received: from asmtp2.iomartmail.com (localhost.localdomain [127.0.0.1]) by asmtp2.iomartmail.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id o75JONl5005166 for ; Thu, 5 Aug 2010 20:24:23 +0100 Received: from orange.esperance-linux.co.uk (80-45-152-196.static.dsl.as9105.com [80.45.152.196]) (authenticated bits=0) by asmtp2.iomartmail.com (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id o75JOMBc005159 for ; Thu, 5 Aug 2010 20:24:23 +0100 Received: by orange.esperance-linux.co.uk (Postfix, from userid 1001) id 9833033C3D; Thu, 5 Aug 2010 20:24:22 +0100 (BST) Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 20:24:22 +0100 From: Frank Shute To: FreeBSD Questions Message-ID: <20100805192422.GA23897@orange.esperance-linux.co.uk> Mail-Followup-To: FreeBSD Questions References: <20100803203358.15a79198@asus64> <20100804185116.GB15730@thought.org> <20100804210109.GE66325@comcast.net> <20100805012556.GA17100@thought.org> <21FD439F-628C-4546-AF54-192E5F80BC2A@gull.us> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <21FD439F-628C-4546-AF54-192E5F80BC2A@gull.us> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.3i X-Face: *}~{PHnDTzvXPe'wl_-f%!@+r5; VLhb':*DsX%wEOPg\fDrXWQJf|2\,92"DdS%63t*BHDyQ|OWo@Gfjcd72eaN!4%NE{0]p)ihQ1MyFNtWL X-Operating-System: FreeBSD 8.1-RELEASE amd64 X-Organisation: 'shute.org.uk' Subject: Re: OT: Open source will & testament software X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: Frank Shute List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:24:26 -0000 Sorry to stray off-topic so much but I want to give a warning to all those thinking about making a will. What happens if you lose your marbles? My uncle had vascular dementia yet he managed to persuade his solicitor (lawyer) that there was nothing wrong with him despite his doctor and psychiatrist knowing of his condition. Result: I lost several hundred thousand pounds. My father was a chronic alcoholic with Korsakoff's. He managed to persuade a solicitor (whom he'd never met before) that it was a good idea to write a will disinheriting his children and grandchildren. Result: I lost half a million pounds as did my sister. I now have to take legal action against my father's solicitors and the outcome is uncertain. Quite apart from the financial costs there are the emotional costs too. I've been unable to work for 5 years due to depression. How to avoid outcomes like this? I don't know. The law needs changing in this country so that the testator needs to be seen by a doctor before making a will if they're older than 65; it's only a recommendation in this country. After all, 1/3rd of us will get dementia before we die and vultures are a lot more common then you suppose. Regards, -- Frank Contact info: http://www.shute.org.uk/misc/contact.html