DISPUTES over property ownership are becoming more common as people die without making a will, says Fiji Public Trustee Corporation Pte Ltd estate officer Razmoon Bi.
Ms Bi said having a will helped prevent serious misunderstandings and conflict among family members after a person dies.
“Nowadays, people are more educated, and they understand the value of assets and money,” she said. “That’s why it’s good to have a will, so you can clarify who will inherit your assets after your death.”
In an interview with this newspaper, Ms Bi said when someone died without a will, their family must apply for letters of administration, a legal process that often led to disagreements.
“If there are children, they might fight over who gets the property. Misunderstanding and even hatred can develop just because of property.”
Ms Bi said she encountered a case involving an elderly woman from Bulileka whose husband died without a will.
“The couple owned a 99-year crown lease property.
“After his death, his wife and their four sons moved out of the house. The woman had asked her children to help transfer the property to her name.
“However, without a will, the law requires the estate to be divided, with $20,000 and one-third of the remaining assets to the spouse, and the other two-thirds shared among the children.”
Ms Bi said the children refused to sign the necessary documents, and the case had remained unresolved to date.
“The eldest son wanted his share, but the mother had no income apart from her pension.
“She was living alone and couldn’t afford to pay for a lawyer.”
Ms Bi said trustees had handled many such cases, and she’s urged everyone to will their property to avoid misunderstanding and potential family conflicts.
