We have noticed some of the staff at Shentons are avid Agatha Christie readers. We thought it would be fun to explore how she handles this aspect of the law in her novels, and how it compares to real-life practice.
Mrs Christie clearly had a good understanding of the law for executing Wills. Throughout her novels she ensures her Testators always have the required two witnesses, present at the same time, and that they are not beneficiaries under the Will (often the gardener and a maid or similar).
In After the Funeral (1953), Hercule Poirot investigates the death of Richard Abernethie and includes the reading of his Will, which brings together his family. The subsequent murder of one of the heirs is clearly tied to the inheritance, making the Will a key plot element. While dramatic Will readings are a staple of fiction, they’re not something that actually happens in modern law firms. In reality, beneficiaries are informed individually, and the Will is simply made available to those entitled to see it.
In The Case of the Missing Will (1923), a short story also featuring Hercule Poirot, the plot hinges on a hidden second Will that the deceased’s niece must locate to claim her full inheritance. This situation was created by the author and likely void for uncertainty in real life but makes for a very interesting plot. In reality, a missing Will is a nightmare for the family/friends left behind, preventing the administration of the estate from progressing. We always recommend our clients tell their Executors where to find their Will, or at least a copy. We often store Wills in our strong room for safekeeping, free of charge.
Sparkling Cyanide (1945) is a novel about wealthy woman’s death and her fortune passing to her younger sister under the terms of a Will written by their uncle. The plot thickens with a scheme to eliminate the sister so that the fortune will pass to the next heir. While there is a possible inaccuracy in the legal depiction of intestacy in the book, this highlights the importance of making a Will, rather than leaving the Rules of Intestacy to take effect.
We pride ourselves on helping our clients to take control of their future, ensuring a valid Will which gives effect to their future wishes, and avoids the kind of drama that belongs in a Christie novel – not in real life.
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