 | |
| Long title | An Act for the Amendment of the Laws with respect to Wills. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 26 |
| Introduced by | Attorney General Sir John Campbell |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales, Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 3 July 1837 |
| Commencement | 1 January 1838 |
| Repealed | 28 August 2007 (in New Zealand) |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Family Law Reform Act 1969 Administration of Justice Act 1982 Family Law Act 1986 Law Reform (Succession) Act 1995 |
| Repealed by | Wills Act 2007 (New Zealand) |
| Relates to | Wills (Soldiers and Sailors) Act 1918 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Wills Act 1837 (7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. 26) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that confirms the power of every adult to dispose of their real and personal property, whether they are the outright owner or a beneficiary under a trust, by will on their death (s.3). The act extends to all testamentary dispositions or gifts, where "a person makes a disposition of his property to take effect after his decease, and which is in its own nature ambulatory and revocable during his life."[2] As of 2012[update], much of it remains in force in England and Wales.
- ^ The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
- ^ Jarman (1951) vol.I, p.26