The Will Trap: Beware of the "Wolves" in the Circle of Friends
Friends and relatives are supposed to be the most trustworthy people in life, but sometimes there are dangerous "wolves" lurking around. It is extremely shocking and chilling that an old man's will has been tampered with by his own Asian lawyer, and the entire estate belongs to this "friend". This makes us wonder: when writing such a crucial document as a will, is it possible that we also fall into the trap of some people? Let's find out.
Analysis of cases of will tampering
1. Review of the case
The chilling incident took place in New Zealand. In January 2020, an elderly Asian woman asked fellow lawyer Joseph Boaz Park to draft a will for her, giving her entire estate to her two daughters. However, what is puzzling is that when the old man passed away in April 2020, the estate was all owned by the lawyer.
2. The cunning methods of lawyers
The investigation found that the lawyer took advantage of the weakness of the elderly, such as their low English proficiency and lack of children, to write themselves as the sole beneficiaries in their wills. In order to cover up his eyes, he ignored professional ethics, tricked the old man into signing and refused to give a copy of the Korean language. What's even more odious is that he told the old man not to reveal the contents of the will, cutting off the possibility of the truth being investigated.
3. Legal rulings
Despite this, the court did not find the lawyer guilty of deliberate deception and only fined him NZ$5,000 and paid NZ$17,000 in costs, and ordered him to return the entire estate. Some netizens questioned that the sentence was too lenient.
Analysis of the hazards of forgery of wills
1. Family strife lays the root of the bane
Forgery of wills is often a trigger for family disputes. In China, the daughter of an heir to a $10 billion estate filed a four-year lawsuit with her lawyer to win back her tampered equity. After the father's death, the lawyer changed his daughter's inheritance to his wife's name. Family members are caught in conflicts over inheritance issues, which not only breaks down the relationship with each other, but also causes greater legal disputes.
2. Hidden dangers highlight the lack of social integrity
Cases of wills being tampered with illustrate a common hidden danger in today's society – a lack of professional ethics and a crisis of integrity. As a profession that protects legal rights and interests, lawyers are supposed to abide by professional ethics, but the case shows that some people have given up their professional ethics and are willing to take risks for their own selfish interests.
3. Expose the vulnerable status of the elderly
The elderly are a vulnerable group in society, and are not only vulnerable to physical and cognitive decline, but also often lack awareness of rights protection and relevant legal knowledge. The old man in this case was taken advantage of because of his limited English skills. This highlights that much remains to be done to protect the rights and interests of older persons.
How to prevent forgery of wills
1. Hire a trusted professional
Writing a will is a crucial matter and it is essential to hire a law firm or notary public with a good reputation, professional ethics and extensive experience. It is best to first select the most reliable institutions and personnel through multi-party consultation and on-site visits. Even if it is introduced by a friend, ask more about its professionalism and reputation.
2. Let the family supervise the whole process
During the whole process of preparing a will, relatives and friends should be present to supervise it to prevent others from taking advantage of loopholes. Especially when the person concerned is old or has limited understanding, it is necessary for a reliable guardian to accompany him throughout the process and point out suspicious points in time.
3. Master the necessary relevant legal knowledge
Although the preparation of a will requires the professional involvement of a lawyer, the parties and their relatives should also have a basic understanding of the relevant laws and regulations. In this way, once it is found that there are violations of laws and regulations in the will, it can be challenged in time and the rights protection procedure can be initiated.
Extreme care must be taken when writing a will, an important legal document that determines the flow of family assets. It is necessary to hire a professional organization with a good reputation, and let relatives and friends supervise the whole process to avoid being exploited.
All parties should have a certain understanding of the legal knowledge related to wills in order to protect their own rights and interests. As the saying goes, "the monk is difficult to distinguish between the true and the false". Even friends who are close to each other may have a "wolf" side hidden. Let us be vigilant, work together to safeguard the integrity of society, and prevent unscrupulous people from taking advantage of the loopholes of personal gain.