A pensioner has left £500,000 in his will to a builder who cleared out his gutters and did other jobs free of charge for him.
Danny Sharp was left a substantial sum from lifelong bachelor Ronald Butcher after visiting the pensioner after he cleared his gutters free of charge. Following the “nothing job” in 2007, the builder and boxing coach continued to visit the pensioner.
According to the family and friends of Mr. Butcher, his estate was to go to his family and friends however Mr. Butcher had changed his will two months prior to his death. Despite the change and handwriting experts stating that it had been the signature of Mr Butcher, the case was taken to the High Court.
Change of Will Following “Not Fit State of Mind”
Mr. Sharp discussed his visits to Mr. Butcher in the High Court stating that they had a mutual interest and a keen interest in sport, and his son Archie Sharp, who boxes for England. The cousin and friends of Mr Butcher, who were set to receive the money in his will in 2011, claimed that Mr. Butcher did not like sport deemed the inheritance to Mr. Sharp as “ludicrous and absurd”. They insisted that the builder “knew more about the will than he is letting on”. Despite this the claim that Mr. Butcher was not in a fit state of mind when he changed his will was dismissed by the judge.
Judge Lesley Anderson QC described Mr. Sharp as “a truthful and straightforward witness”.
She added: “I find that Danny was kind to Mr. Butcher, calling on him and doing odd jobs for him without charging.
“Mr. Butcher was kind to Danny, indulged his passion for talking and their real shared interest was their mutual chat, banter and human interest stories, such as Archie’s success.”
The judge also stated that there was “nothing suspicious” about the will and accusations that the pensioner’s signature was a forgery had been disproved by expert handwriting evidence.
The judge said: “Danny described Mr. Butcher as being a bit lonely, and it seems to me that this description pretty much hits the mark.” She did, however, accept that the decision would be difficult for the family to deal with.
The Importance of Planning
The case highlights the importance of planning for death and ensuring that everything is in order to ensure that your final requests and loved ones are cared for. Having a legally valid will that has been reviewed by a solicitor gives you peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones are being left something when you are gone. It is good practice to ensure that someone who is in the will, perhaps a close sibling or partner, is also informed of your last requests and the division of your estate. While it may be tempting to not pay out on solicitors fees and create a DIY will (which is a cheaper alternative in the short term) if you have complex family circumstances and the will is completed incorrectly, or if your will is to be contested, then the costs of amending what should have been a simple process can be expensive once you are gone.
In planning for your future our solicitors can help you create a legally valid will that accounts for any complexed financial or family circumstances.
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