Mary Wong's Story(This is a true story about a person who spouse's had pass away without a Will. All names are not the real names to protect the personal identities).John and I met in East Malaysia. I was 26 and he was 32 when we got married in November 1992. As he was working in Kuala Lumpur (K.L.) then, I resigned from my job in East Malaysia and worked in a non-profit social organisation in K.L.
Perhaps like most married couples, the first few months were adjustment period for us. By the seventh month of our marriage, we thought that it would be good for us to change beneficiaries of our respective life insurances and to draw up a will.
I remembered that day so well - it was a Friday night after a meeting with some friends, he agreed that he needed to get his Will done the soonest possible and not allow busyness stand in the way. Unfortunately, he did not get to do it. The following day, while we were on the way to a friend's house, a vehicle rammed our car from behind and John died on the way to the hospital.
It was a very painful and trying time for me. I had to cope not only with his death but also with the John's estate. Without a will, one has to apply for the Letter of Administration. John's properties would be divided equally between his parents and I, including our joint account. It was certainly not easy to discuss with my in-laws over such matters. With a marriage of only seven months, our relationship did not have sufficient time to be nurtured. I dreaded each moment of having to discuss about the estate with my in-laws. I was still so grieved but at the same time, I had to think clearly over some decisions which had to be made. The discussions were 'business' like and I felt as if I was talking to strangers who were more interested in getting back John's estate rather than for my welfare.
I also worried about having enough money to survive. My income was not sufficient to pay for the car loan. John's bank accounts as well as our joint account were frozen. I was even worried if I will have a roof over my head because my in-laws wanted to have our matrimonial home even though it was John's. I struggled between wanting to maintain a good relationship with them by granting them their wishes and being bold enough to ask for what should be allotted to me in accordance with the law.
In the following months and years, there were numerous attendances at the lawyer's office and court - long wait for the grant of letters of administration and subsequent transmission of property. At the end, John's true intention as to the division of the estate was also not fulfilled.
I have often wanted to 'move on' from this episode in my life but the unsettled issue relating to the division of John's estate delayed me from closing this chapter of my life. It finally took a very long 4 years for it to be resolved.
Many people in their twenties or thirties often feel that they still have lots of time to make a will. Yet, it is so important to understand that the unexpected can happen at any time. We can take all the precautions in the world but in my case, it was due to no fault of ours that John died so suddenly.
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