The Chronicle-Telegram reported that an Ohio judge admitted to probate a will written and signed on a tablet computer (Samsung Galaxy tablet.) The testator was at the hospital and did not have paper or a pen. After he died, the family printed out the will and filed it for probate. The judge ruled that it was a valid will although he found “scant evidence of this having been done elsewhere in the country.”
I’m not sure that this will would be admitted to probate in Texas but it does point out that times are changing and the legislature needs to address these electronic devices that we use everyday but that were not around when the statute of wills was first enacted.
THE AUSTRALIAN reported on November 7, 2013 that a will written on the “Notes” app of an iPhone was upheld as a will also.
“A WILL typed into an iPhone ‘Notes’ app has been declared legally valid by the Supreme Court in Brisbane in a landmark legal ruling.
In what may be a legal first in Queensland, and possibly Australia, the Supreme Court ruled that the will typed into the smartphone but not written out or signed would stand.
But estate litigation lawyer Charlie Young, who sought the court’s ruling for the brother of the man who died, said the court’s declaration does not open the floodgates to people using mobile phones for do-it-yourself wills.
Mr Young, senior associate and estate litigation lawyer with Brisbane firm Bennett & Philp Lawyers, said the circumstances of the iPhone will were very sad and involved a young international resident who lived and worked in Australia.
In September 2011 the man faced an intense personal crisis. With no witnesses he used a “Notes” app on his iPhone to tap in a will shortly before ending his life.” Thanks to Bethanie Castell @bethcastellTGB on Twitter for pointing me to this article.
Copyright by Robert Ray a Texas inheritance attorney. The foregoing information is general in nature and does not apply to every fact situation. If you are concerned about inheritance laws, inheritance rights, have a family inheritance dispute, a property dispute or want information about contesting a will and need an inheritance lawyer, we can help. Please go to our main site www.texasinheritance.com and use the contact form to contact us today. We are Texas inheritance lawyers and would love to learn about your case and there is no fee for the initial consultation.
