Meet The latest B&B

 pharmaceutical employee”

Ade wrote on his WhatsApp status after jumping with delight. He was more than proud of his new job and so were his family and friends. Days passed, several events and additions in his life, only for him to realize he has been working for so long with no actual plan in place for when he stops working; his retirement. This particular thought ushered so much unhappiness and worries to his mind.

The truth is the wheel of life spins so fast and sometimes uncontrollably. One minute you are in an interview room, the next you are sitting chiefly in front of your desk calling the shots and in a flash you have children who think the world of you. The same happens to income and expenses. While income trickles in monthly, expenses come in to drain it all. With this kind of arrangement or cycle, one begins to wonder how they can plan for the future? The ultimate questions are;

How can I maintain my present lifestyle

when I retire from work? How can I retire happily?

Retiring happily depends solely on how well you put a number of things in place. This will require that you drop all negative thoughts on retirement and think positively about it. Retirement is not what is meant to be pushed to the future or left alone to sort itself. Start by mapping out a plan as a lot of decisions, investments, resources go into retiring from work.

In the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Planning is everything and in planning retirement, you have to bring the future to the present to decide how you want it to be. So it is important to plan it first.”

One of the major things to do when planning retirement is to have certain investment plans in place. It might be Annuities, Real Estate Investment Trust, any mutual fund of your choice, or a real-time physical business with yielding interest. Consider a medium risk investment as retirement planning has no space for risks that could lead to any form of loss.

Investment plans may not be that possible or convenient if you don’t have your finances in order. Get you expenses in line with what you plan. Next and most important is writing your Will. This is because since you are putting in so much work to build investments you need to secure them in a Will and ensure their continued relevance by providing beneficiaries that can step in when you are not there. This ensures that no matter what, your hardwork is not in vain and goes in the care of people you choose, trust and love.

In a nutshell, retiring happily is a fine mix of getting your finances together, investing wisely and  writing a Will to protect your hard work. Do not neglect any.

You can visit the iWill platform to find out more about how to write a Will without hassles. Feel free to send an email to wills@leadway.com or reach out to us on our social media platforms if you will like answers tailored to the peculiarities of your situation.

The post How Happy Do You Want To Retire? appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

Gbemi got her first job immediately after NYSC and was super excited about it. She got a good offer and was excited to get on with life. In a few months she lost her elder brother who had finished school three years earlier and was working at a multinational. When the lawyer broke it to the family that her brother left her something in his will, she was taken aback. Being barely 29, she did not think that her brother would own a Will. A few weeks later, she visited the iWill platform and reached out to us.

A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes regarding the distribution of your property after you are no more. Having a will is arguably one of the most important things you can do for yourself no matter what age you are. Not only can a will legally protect your assets, but it gives you the room to protect your loved ones too.

The common misconception is that Wills are for the rich and wealthy. This, however, has been proven false. Regardless of how much or how little money you have, a Will ensures your wishes are heard. It states that whatever personal belongings and assets you have will go to family or the beneficiaries you name or designate. If you own a business, a Will can help ensure a smooth legal transition of those assets.

Now that we have ascertained that a Will is important for everyone, how do we know it is the right time to write one just like Gbemi’s brother did? Below are questions you need to answer.

Question 1: Are you above 18?

One of the prerequisites of writing a Will is that one must have attained the age of 18. It is assumed that at this age, you are old enough to understand what a Will is and have full mental capacity to accurately pen down your wishes. Gbemi’s brother was 29 so it means that he was legal enough to write a Will.

Question 2: Do you earn a living?

Most adults earn a living. It may be in full time, part time, remote or self-employed. Whichever it is, as long as a person over 18 is legally earning money, it is safe to deduce that they have something worth leaving behind for loved ones. This is also another question that Gbemi’s brother fulfilled. He worked in a multinational that ensured that he earned well.

Question 3: Do you save?

As an adult that earns a living, the chances that you will keep some money aside for rainy days are high. This automatically means that you will always have something worth protecting and leaving behind for loved ones. From Gbem’s story, it is safe to assume that Gbemi’s brother saved and even invested judiciously.

Question 4: Do you have belongings?

Belongings are a part of our lives as soon as we take in our first breath. However, the worth of what we own changes as we grow. Adults tend to have belongings that are worth not leaving to chance. From cars, houses, clothes, gadgets, bank accounts to land, investments and businesses, the list is endless. As long as you have belongings that are worth money, it is safe to say that it should be protected in a Will.

Question 5: Do you have people you care about?

This is a very important question as the essence of a Will lies on it. A Will not only protects you but makes sure that you can leave what you have acquired in the possession of people that you love and trust. These people can be your spouse, siblings, parents, cousins and friends. Gbemi’s brother was smart enough to look out for his sister and his family members. His choice made sure that all that he acquired was not left to chance and the lengthy process of intestate administration.

Study these questions carefully and ponder on all of it. You can visit the iWill platform to find out more about how to write a Will without hassles. Feel free to send an email to wills@leadway.com or reach out to us on our social media platforms if you will like answers tailored to the peculiarities of your situation.

The post Five Questions That Help You Find Out If You Need A Will appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

Managing your finances is as important as your source of earning it. Some people are masters at floating in and out of money; one minute they are buoyant and the next they are hit in the head with financial vulnerability. That’s never a good way to go because that easily leads to falling face-first into debt.

If reality mirrored dreams, we would have a magic formula or robot that handles your finances, which tells you “Now is the time to spend”, “No, you don’t need a new car ” etc. But there is none, so you are saddled with the unending job of handling your finances.

Many people take no care of their money till
they come nearly to the end of it,
and others do just the same with their time.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

In this article, we have provided you with five(5) steps to help you successfully manage your personal finances.

First, Ascertain Your Current Financial Situation

To successfully manage your personal finances, you need to know where you stand currently. You can not help anything without knowing what the problem is. Review your current financial situation. Take record of your regular income and expenses.

Yes, it will be overwhelming. 

You will come face to face with ridiculous buys. From why you didn’t focus on the rice at home to that item that now sits at the bottom of your closet, you will feel like turning back the hands of time. Don’t dwell on them. Celebrate the good financial choices you have made in the past and focus on moving forward. Be sure to point out current expenses that are hurting your finances.

Next, You Have To Set up Finance goals

Having a plan for your money doesn’t just help you right now, it gives you vision and hope for the end goal. After laying out your current financial situation, it’s advisable to determine whether it aligns with your priorities. Personal finance management is made much easier when you define what you would like to achieve with your money through a viable budget.

You Must Create A Budget. Stick To It.

For a number of people, budgeting their income is never a problem until it is time to follow through. This is because not everyone has the self-discipline to limit their purchase, while to some it is too restricting to plan to spend in advance. Creating a budget in personal finance helps you allocate your money in accurately needed percentages to meet your goals. When creating a financial plan, remember that your budget is the foundation on which it all stands. 

Time To Get An Emergency Fund.

In your budget, it is important always to leave out some savings as an emergency fund especially if you are not on any insurance. 

This is not to say that if you have insurance, you don’t need an emergency fund. It just means that your insurance coverage is there to save you if the emergency fund is not “buff enough.”

For those without insurance, they are as good falling off a plane without a parachute. They need it. A lot of it.

The best way to create this fund is to include it in your budget. How much you save can depend on how much extra money you have available, but it is advisable to put aside at least 10% of your income into emergency savings.

If you never want to worry about not having enough in your emergency fund, back it up by getting insurance.

Most Importantly, Pay Off All Debts.

Imagine a world where debt magically disappears. Yes, imagine, because it is definitely not this one we live in.

Paying off debt is a major step towards successfully getting it right with your personal finances. It clears the slate and helps you start afresh. 

Debt is a huge obstacle when it comes to reaching financial goals. Eliminating it should also be of major priority. Start with setting up a plan for payment. Small payments first. Look for areas in which you can cut your budget to increase the cash available for your debt payments. Once you are totally out of debt, you have to always make it a habit to always stay out of debt.

The post HERE’S HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

He would have, if he knew he’d be lying in pain at a COVID Isolation centre.

The COVID-19 pandemic shook everyone to the core. As the numbers increased, people braced for the worst. For many people like Etim, the worst couldn’t have come at a wrong time. He just got a huge contract and made some recent investments. As he writhed in pain, he wondered what would be of all that he had acquired.

 “A will or testament is a legal document that
expresses a person’s wishes as to how their property is to
be distributed after their death and as to which person
is to manage the property until its final distribution.” 

A lot of people scoff at the idea of making a Will. So many bad connotations are ascribed to it. From saying it is a way of telling the universe that you are ready to die, to saying it may cause you to mysteriously lose your assets, the list is endless. While many rely on these negative assumptions, no one looks at what a Will really is; a way to be in charge forever.

Many like Etim, who were on the verge of going to the great beyond due to the virus, realised that the fear that many feel is not the fear of dying. It is the fear of losing control. Etim wondered what would happen to his car and thriving business. With every call he made home, he enquired about their states. He quickly appointed his sister to help him with affairs in his office and his brother to help him keep his car functional. Thankfully, Etim is alive and well today and still socially distancing.

But if he hadn’t gotten out alive, will the verbal appointments he made in pain on the cold thin beds of an isolation centre hold sway in the eyes of the law?

It won’t. No amount of explanation and appeal to emotions will make it count. For Etim’s decision to hold any water if the worst had happened, he needed to have written it down.

A Will is the only thing that ensures your say when you are not here. It not only helps you decide whose hands you want on your property but also helps you state who you don’t want near anything you own. Got any relatives who seem to be lurking around for what you have? Feel free to put them down in a Will as people who you won’t want near anything you own.

The Will gives you control over all you own forever. You get to decide who will be responsible for administering your affairs and who will be responsible for making sure your wishes are carried out. So you never lose out. You remain the judge and jury over all that you have acquired no matter what.

And the best part about a Will? It never changes. It doesn’t forget. You do not have to worry about not remembering if that was really what you said because guess what? You wrote it down. 

What if you change your mind about how you have distributed your possessions? You can edit the Will. The goal is to make sure that all that is contained in it are your desires.

You may wonder what happens when you skip out on making a Will. Well, inheritance disputes are one. The Nollywood movies built around an oppressed protagonist who had his late father’s properties snatched by a maniacal uncle are not far fetched. They mirror our reality. And although these movies always end on a good conquering evil note, where the suffering protagonist finally wins and the evil uncle runs mad, the reality is different.

Millions of “evil uncles” live fat on possessions they shouldn’t own while the rightful owners have nothing but an unresolved grudge. Even when these rightful owners get the Intestate laws to act, the legal rules of distribution that apply may or may not coincide with deceased wishes or not. No one wants to experience what it feels like to watch everything they ever worked and sacrificed for shared among people against your own interest.

So think of a Will also as a way to keep making your loved ones smile. Providing them with financial security and pieces of your possessions that keep you in their thoughts always is a nice way to immortalise yourself. People talk about guardian angels, let your will be one to your loved ones.

The pandemic brought to the forefront issues that matter; hygiene, quality healthcare and Wills. You may not be able to avoid mortality grip, but you can outsmart it through your Will. Think of it as a way to secure all you have worked for. Forever. 

Etim reached out to us and had a will done and he plans to live till he is 100. If you want to get a Will done to secure all that you own, visit our website and click on the iWill platform.

The post COVID-19: THE PANIC, THE PAIN, THE LESSONS appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

In this pandemic, clearly there are a lot of bothering issues and estate planning is one of them, as an estate plan covers the major issues bothering individuals.

The need for an estate plan is important for everyone as it ensures you, your loved ones and your assets are protected. Creating an estate plan is usually the least priority on the list of most busy people, but with everything going on, the need for an estate plan should be prioritized. 

You may ask, “why do I need an estate plan now?” Well, here are five purposes of an estate plan this period.

1. Health Decisions: 

With an estate plan in place, you can decide whoever you want to make decisions for you when you are incapacitated or when you are unable to do so. This involves creating a living Will or advanced directives to state your wishes as regards your health,  and your healthcare proxy is given the responsibility of ensuring your wishes are carried out.

2. For Your Loved Ones:

Writing an estate plan is important especially for age dependents. Age dependents are children below the legal age. They are children that are not mature enough to make decisions for themselves. When creating an estate plan, you can choose a suitable guardian to take care of your children in case of an eventuality. An estate plan also allows you to assign assets for your loved ones like your aged parents, your siblings, your wife and other relatives.

3. Protects Assets: 

As we assess the outcome of this economic crisis, we shouldn’t overlook its impacts on our physical assets. It’s important to protect your assets by insuring your assets as well as creating an estate plan.

4. Chance to Live on your Own Terms despite the Pandemic:  

Writing a Will ensures you assign a suitable beneficiary to your assets,  it also ensures your healthcare is secured and the future of your loved ones is also secured. This gives you the fulfilment knowing that the pandemic can’t control your future and that your loved ones.

This period has given everyone the chance to stay home with their families and bond, as we do this; it is only human that we think about the future of our loved ones after this crisis. This is where creating an estate plan comes in, to give you the peace of mind that you, your loved ones and your assets will be secured in the future.

With the ongoing laws on social distancing, it is only wise that you stay safe at home and create your estate plan online. You can write your Will with our online Will writing service iWill and save yourself the stress of having to contact an attorney as well as protect your health.

To write your Will, kindly visit www.leadwaycapitalandtrusts.com or call us on 08129997204 for more details.

The post 4 PURPOSES OF AN ESTATE PLAN DURING A PANDEMIC appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

With all these going on, it is ideal to think about your finances, your health and the future of your loved ones. Have you stopped for a moment to ask yourself, who will make decisions for you if you get the virus? We strongly hope you don’t though. However, it is only wise for you to tap into the benefits of foresight by being prepared in case of any eventuality – pandemic or not. What better way to prepare yourself than creating an Estate Plan? 

Amidst the Coronavirus scare, the best way to create an Estate Plan this period includes the following actions;

1. Keep calm: Before you can decide to create an Estate Plan, you have to have a clear mind, get rid of the fear and panic you might have.
2. Map out your assets: Analyze and decide how you want your assets to be distributed, and update your bank accounts if necessary.
3. Make a plan: Decide the beneficiaries of your assets, collate all necessary documents and review them.
4. Get a trusted online Will service company: iWILL is a trusted online Will writing service that ensures you write your Will without stress, at your own pace and convenience.

Thanks to our iWILL platform, you can now write your Will online, so you do not need to risk it by physically meeting a lawyer to write a Will, you can play it safe by writing your Will online in the comfort of your home.

Writing your Will with iWILL ensures confidentiality and satisfaction at every step of the legal process, and most importantly ensures your safety in this peculiar times. 

To write your Will, click here to get started.

The post PLANNING YOUR ESTATE DURING A PANDEMIC appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

The truth is, we can’t always anticipate or prevent unfortunate circumstances from happening, but we have the power to control what happens in cases when they occur. You might be wondering how, well, it is very simple, all you need to do is “Write the Future”, yes, you read it right, “Write”, like put pen to paper. 

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be confused, because we have the answers for you, and we will put you through to get started. 

Here are 4 steps to writing the future: 

1. List out all your Assets:

This is the first and most important step, you can’t write the future if you don’t know what you own. Imagine being the manager of a football team and you don’t know all your players? You will end up fielding only players who are in-sight and they might not necessarily be the best players in the team, no surprise then when the team loses. 

So grab a piece of paper and a pen and list out all your assets, you might not remember all at once, but eventually, with patience, you will.

2. Create a list of Beneficiaries:

Now that we know all our assets, we need to identify who our beneficiaries will be. A lot of thought needs to be put into this stage, simply because you don’t want to leave anyone out, well maybe you actually do, but that is another kettle of fish.

So, how do we go about it? Great question! Just as we listed our assets, we will also create a list of beneficiaries. First, develop a list of all the people close or related to you and then cross out the names of people who you do not want to leave anything for. The reason for this exercise ensures you think carefully about everyone before you cross a name. This way, you will definitely give it a thought if you want to give a particular person a portion of your asset as opposed to just assigning assets to people who come to mind at the time.  You could also consider organisations or causes that are dear to you e.g. orphanages, research teams etc.

3. Assign your Assets:

Now it is time to match the assets with the beneficiaries, which means you need to answer the question “who gets what?” This stage might sound simple but it actually involves more thought than it sounds. 

Have you ever gotten a gift from someone and you just keep it in the corner of your room or your store? Well, that is because the gift wasn’t what you wanted and you might not have found any use for it. The same thing applies when creating your Will. Assigning assets to your beneficiaries need to be well thought out, give your beneficiaries only the gifts that will mean something to them to ensure they appreciate it and not waste it.

4. Create a Will:

This is the part you think might involve so much work right? Actually, No, this is the simplest of the process, with a solution like iWill, you can do this in 15 minutes or less. Now that you know your assets and have a list of your beneficiaries, all you just need to do is sign up, fill in the necessary fields and leave the rest to the professionals at Leadway Capital and Trusts to help you sort out the rest. Did I mention, you can do this from the comfort of your home with your smartphone or computer? Well yes, you can, so now what’s your excuse?

Now that you know the 4 easy steps to writing the future, I urge you to take immediate action simply because the future is never assured. This month, we started a conversation online to discuss the stories of people who have benefitted from a Will or struggled because someone didn’t, and thousands of individuals like you and I shared their stories. Follow and join the conversation on Twitter using #WriteTheFuture9ja and let your voice be heard, your story might inspire others and ensure we all live in a future where everyone feels protected. 

If you need help writing you Will, feel free to call or message us on WhatsApp on 08129997204 and we will be happy to help out.

The post 4 STEPS TO WRITING THE FUTURE appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

If you are still not convinced about using a Will as an empowerment tool, why not think about it this way, the impact of the gifts you distribute amongst your beneficiaries contribute a good portion of what they remember you by. This is why you are always advised to give each beneficiary what will make a meaningful impact on their lives as opposed to just giving them lots of money or random portions of your estate. 

This now begs the question, do you want to empower only the lives of your family members when you are no more? I am sure some people reading this don’t actually mind that, however, you need to realise that you can impact the lives of others and empower your family members all together with your Will. So now that you are curious about who else you can impact, here are 3 other groups of people you should consider including in your WIll: 

1. Friends:

As human beings, we always require companionship, that’s why we always have friends. Not everyone has a lot of friends, but we all can agree we have at least 1 friend. After so many years of memories together, we shouldn’t just pass on without leaving a gift for them. It doesn’t have to be money or something extraordinarily expensive, instead, it should be something that means a lot to you both. You can even go as far as leaving something for your friend’s child(ren) in the event your friend is no more and you want his/her children to be also well cared for, in your absence. Whatever the case may be, ensure you leave something for them so they know you had them in mind even in your last days.  

2. Employees:

We have seen big companies disappear shortly after the passing away of its owner. This is sometimes a result of the owner leaving his/her stakes in the companies to only his/her children or family members to enable them as successors. This is totally fine, but you should also consider your employees. If your business has employees that are loyal and committed, it will be great if you left some stake in the company, behind for them. This will ensure that those employees remain committed to the company, offer their selflessness and ensure your core values and business goals are still maintained even in your absence. By doing this, your business will most likely be around for much longer.

3. Charities:

Everyone has one cause that they are passionate about, it could be helping children born with disabilities, fighting diseases, providing clean water distribution system, empowering young adults etc. Regardless of what you are passionate about, ensure you make provision in your Will to help organisations and individuals who are committed to helping such causes. The impact you will make with this single gesture is immeasurable because you are going to impact the lives of so many people with potentials to make the world a better place and also encourage them to cultivate the act of giving when they grow into the position to give also.

Regardless of the inheritance plan you have for your estate when you are no more, always remember that it can only happen with a proper estate plan in place; and when there is none those wishes will only end up as mere wishes and will most likely not materialise into what you had hoped for. A very popular and easy to make estate planning tool is a Will.

Don’t leave the earth without empowering anyone, If you are yet to write your Will, why not write one today? It only takes less than 15 minutes, visit http://wills.leadwaycapital.com/ to get started. If you need help or consultation, feel free to call us on 01-2801420, 08095683875. or

send us a message via WhatsApp on 08129997204 and you can send an email to wills@leadwaycapital.com or info@leadwaycapital.com

The post 3 GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BENEFIT FROM YOUR WILL OTHER THAN YOUR FAMILY appeared first on LEADWAY CAPITAL.

The truth is that, while you might feel like these movies are exaggerated, it’s actually some people’s reality. However, today we will not be exploring that “exaggerated plot”, instead, let’s create” a more realistic plot”. Imagine if you and your spouse passed away today (I am sure you just said Godforbid in your mind, that’s fine), and a friend or family member becomes the legal guardian to your children, but this arrangement doesn’t work out well. I am not talking about your children being mistreated, instead, something different like converting them to a different religion from the one you have raised them to follow or not being able to afford quality education for your children or having your children raised around people with poor ethical values.

I am guessing you have started thinking of other worse case scenarios in the event that the wrong person is appointed as the guardian of your kids. Truth is, there is no guarantee that even when you appoint a guardian yourself, that the person appointed may be perfect or even competent, however, your odds are much higher. The question now is, what should you look out for when choosing a guardian? Here are 4 things to consider:

1. Values:

You might have a good friend or family member whom you love dearly and who in turn loves your child just like his/her own, but what if the person is an atheist and you are a very religious person, do you then ignore your religion? You have to realize that a person might be great as a friend or family member but might not share the same values you believe is upright enough to raise your child. It is important to select someone who shares the same values as you and who would be a good influence on your child/ren. Kids get easily influenced and find it hard to get rid of habits they grew up with, and this is why you have to be intentional when choosing a guardian for them (PS: we aren’t asking you to be judgemental).

2. Age and Health:

While choosing a guardian, the health of the guardian should be an important factor because it is not advisable to appoint someone who has a terminal illness or a fragile health condition, or who even depends on other people to nurse him/her. You also have to consider age, if the person is too old, asking him/her to help raise your child might be strenuous and if the person is too young, the person might lack the necessary experience needed. Look out for someone mature enough and physically healthy to take on this responsibility.

3. Finance:

Yes, you do need to consider the financial prowess of the person you want to appoint as a guardian. Don’t get it wrong, we aren’t suggesting you choose the wealthiest friend or family member you have, instead, we suggest you select someone who wouldn’t feel the role would be too financially burdensome for him or her. Imagine appointing a guardian who currently struggles to pay his or her bills, adding a child to his or her responsibility will be an extra financial burden. Some of the things you can consider for finances are, does the person currently own his or her house? Does the person have a job with a steady income? Does the person have other family members dependent on him/her? Some of these questions would help inform you on whether the person in consideration might be able to afford this. Make sure you choose someone who would be able to afford the role without having to make any unnecessary financial sacrifices that may affect other people or areas in his/her life.

4. Willingness to accept the role:

This is actually the most important point of all. A person might check all the necessary boxes but if the person is not willing to accept the role, you would have to look for someone else. This simply means that you need to consult with whoever you want to appoint as a guardian first and find out if the person would like to accept such responsibility. One thing you need to also realise is, if someone rejects the role to be a guardian for your children, the person isn’t a bad person or your enemy. The truth is the person might have other things or priorities that he/she is possibly dealing with, which may prevent him/her from looking after your children as well as they would love to. Make sure you ask them for permission in a way that feels like it’s a request rather than leaving them feeling they are being cajoled to accept the offer.

Appointing a guardian is something that requires careful consideration, appointing the wrong guardian might have a negative effect on your children in the event that you are no more. Even after appointing a guardian, make sure you subtly study whoever it is just incase (s)he begins to exhibit certain traits you aren’t comfortable with, around your children. If you have more questions around this issue, we are more than happy to provide you with free consultation, kindly reach us by sending us a mail to info@leadwaycapital.com or you can call  or WhatsApp us on 01 – 2801420 or 08129997204.

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There are times when the content of a Will did not go the way you expected, for example, your Dad gives 80% of his estate to charity and 20% to you and your siblings to share; that’s absurd, right? No, that was his wish for how he wanted his estate to be distributed. You need to realise you can’t just contest a Will simply because you don’t like how the benefactor shared his estate, as long as the Will was well documented and there was no wrongdoing, the content of the Will stands.

You may be wondering, “Under what circumstances do I then contest a Will?” before we get into that, it is important for you to know that contesting a Will is very difficult and you will need to have sufficient evidence to prove your case on why you want a Will to be disregarded by a court. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let’s go straight into answering your question. The following 3 reasons are grounds for you to contest a Will:

1. The testator lacked testamentary capacity:

In this case, you can contest a Will if the testator lacked the legal and mental ability to make or alter a valid Will. For an individual to contest on this ground, you have to prove at least one of the following:

a. The testator did not understand the nature of the Will.
b. The testator was not well knowledgeable of the nature of his/her assets.
c. The testator was not mentally aware of his actions in regards to the distribution of his wealth to the stated beneficiaries.
d. The testator did not fulfil the legal requirements by law to have a Will written or a contract signed.

In order for you to use any of these grounds stated above as your claim, you will need to have evidence to prove it e.g. medical records, video recordings etc. As a Testator, always make sure you are always within the confines of the law and you are well aware of every decision you make in regards to the development of your Will, this ensures that it can be executed and wouldn’t be contested on this ground.

2. The Testator Was Unduly Influenced:

In a situation where the testator was pressured to take certain actions that influenced the development or modification of his/her Will as a result of circumstances like blackmail, death threats, physical endangerment, coercion etc. The Will can be contested and asked to be disregarded by a court of law because all Wills must be written freely without any undue influence from a third party. This is a major reason why it is important to write your Will without informing anyone, most especially the beneficiaries about its content to ensure no one with evil intentions plots against changing your desired wishes for your estate.

3. The Will Was Forged:

Yes, just like any document, a Will can be forged. When a Will differs from that which the Testator developed, then it can be regarded as forged Will. Forging a Will is not as easy as it sounds, however it does happen. Wills are often forged by family members, attorneys and caregivers. One of the most common ways of identifying a forged Will is when there are discrepancies in the signature on the Will from the actual signature of the testator. This is why it is essential for the testator to sign his/her Will in the presence of at least 2 Witnesses and use a reputable trust company like Leadway Capital and Trust to ensure his/her Will is safe and executed as instructed.

Just as earlier stated, using any of the reasons mentioned above to contest a Will can be extremely difficult to prove in a court of law, you must have the necessary evidence to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. However, as a testator, the best way to ensure your family members and loved ones do not have any reason to dispute the validity of your Will is by ensuring that your Will is properly written with all the necessary procedures being followed, the details of the Will is kept confidential and you employ the services of a reputable attorney or trust company in drafting the Will.

For more information on how to get started with your Will, kindly reach us by sending us a mail to info@leadwaycapital.com or you can call or WhatsApp us on 01 – 2801420 or 08129997204,

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