薩斯喀徹溫省高等法院最近必須決定，一位瀕死婦女在 iPad 上輸入的信息是否可以被視為有效的遺囑文件，該信息由一位無法再與家人聯繫的垂死婦女所輸入。對該女子家的搜索並未發現任何其他遺囑文件或遺囑；然而，iPad 資訊並不符合薩斯喀徹溫省 1996 年遺囑法規定的正確執行遺囑的正式要求。法院指出，“最重要的是立遺囑人的真實意圖，而不是立遺囑人所使用的遺囑文件的形式。”所有相關方均同意該資訊代表了該女子的遺囑意圖，法官也表示同意。此外，法庭指出，該名女子並未表現出認知能力下降。因此，該資訊被裁定為她的最後遺囑（Haines v Kuffner Estate，2024 SKKB 51）。
CONTENTIOUS ESTATES: Canadian court declares iPad will valid
The King’s Bench for Saskatchewan recently had to decide if a message onan iPad, typed by a dying woman who was no longer able to communicateotherwise with her family, could be considered a valid testamentarydocument. A search of the woman’s home did not reveal any other testamentary document or will; however, the iPad message did not meet the formal requirements for a properly executed will under Saskatchewan’s Wills Act 1996. The court noted that “it is the testator’s true intentions behind the document that is paramount, not the form of the testamentary document used by the testator.” All the parties involved agreed that the message represented the woman’s testamentary intention and the judge concurred. Further, the court noted that the woman had exhibited no cognitive decline. Accordingly, the message was ruled to be her last will and testament (Haines v Kuffner Estate, 2024 SKKB 51).
Sources:
CanLII
All About Estates