Author’s battle of wills book proves a hit

A BOOK that recounts the intimate details of high profile probate cases involving the bitterly contested legacies of various families has proved a hit.

‘Battle of Wills – Irish Families at War over Wills’, written by Blackrock resident and author Liam Collins, who is also a journalist at the Sunday Independent, provides a fascinating insight into the divisive legal cases that have highlighted some bitter feuds.

A last will and testament is regarded as the final settlement of a person’s affairs, and for those who are lucky enough to get a legacy, it is a welcome bonus.

But money can also bring discord and division and the more money the more trouble it can cause. And when people’s expectations are unfulfilled, the law courts can’t be far behind.

Of course, there is always the exception to the rule. The last work of author and journalist, Nuala O’Faolain, was her will. Witty and full of names, it reads like someone holding court at a dinner party.

Liam has previously written about scandals in Irish society and in banking. He has written a number of books including

‘Irish Family Feuds’ and

‘The Great Irish Bank Robbery’.

As a journalist he has a deep interest in legal cases involving wills and probate.

“We cover the wills in the Sunday Independent,

? he explained.

“I used to go down to the courts and I found it was a very interesting subject.

“When something goes to probate it is a very realistic assessment of their wealth. Then, when you get into the detail of it, you see rows developing. What I found interesting is that in a lot of these cases most of the people who made wills went to seek sound legal advice, and yet they still ended up in serious difficulty.

?

Mr Collins said probate cases contested by families often bring out pre-existing divisions and that the wills themselves were often not necessarily the root cause.

“I am interested in families and structures and it occurred to me that a lot of disputes are probably there already. It is exacerbated then when the will comes out.

“Where a lot of disputes arise is when someone who is wealthy dies. If they are single and have no children that can lead to a lot of jockeying for position among friends and relatives.

?

He added:

“Some people get selfish and if they have a lot of money they can use it as a kind of weapon.

?

Battle of Wills is published by Mentor Books and can be purchased in most good bookshops for

?¬14.95.