Wills, Trusts & Estates

1933 to 1975, a will could disinherit a spouse; however, since the Inheritance (Provision
for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 such an attempt can be defeated by a court order
if it leaves the surviving spouse (or other entitled dependent) without "reasonable
financial provision".
International Wills
In 1973 an international convention, the Convention providing a Uniform Law on the
Form of an International Will, was concluded in the context of UNIDROIT. The
Convention provided for a universally recognised code of rules under which a will made
anywhere, by any person of any nationality, would be valid and enforceable in every
country which became a party to the Convention. These are known as "international
wills". Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada (for 9 provinces, not Quebec), Cyprus,
Ecuador, France, Italy, Libya, Niger, Portugal Slovenia, The Holy See, Iran, Laos, the
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