VTL v VTM: Mutual Wills Dispute Over Mother's Estate

In VTL v VTM and VTN, the High Court (Family Division) of Singapore, on 20 August 2021, ruled in favor of VTL, declaring the mutual will executed by his parents in 2001 as the mother's last will and testament. The dispute arose after the mother executed another will in 2017, which significantly altered the distribution of her estate. VTL filed suit to revoke the grant of probate to VTM and VTN in respect of the 2017 will. The court found no evidence of undue influence or suspicious circumstances surrounding the mutual wills, and therefore granted the orders sought by the plaintiff.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court (Family Division)

1.2 Outcome

Judgment for Plaintiff

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Dispute over validity of mutual wills versus a later will. Court declared the mutual will as the mother's last testament, revoking probate of the later will.

1.7 Decision Date

19 August 2021

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party Name	Role	Type	Outcome	Outcome Type	Counsels
VTL	Plaintiff	Individual	Judgment for Plaintiff	Won	Chuah Hui Fen Christine, Zikri Muzammil
VTM	Defendant	Individual	Counterclaim Dismissed	Lost	Chiok Beng Piow Andy, Lee Hui Zhen Margaret
VTN	Defendant	Individual	Counterclaim Dismissed	Lost	Chiok Beng Piow Andy, Lee Hui Zhen Margaret

3. Judges

Judge Name	Title	Delivered Judgment
Choo Han Teck	Judge of the High Court	Yes

4. Counsels

Counsel Name	Organization
Chuah Hui Fen Christine	Hin Tat Augustine & Partners
Zikri Muzammil	Hin Tat Augustine & Partners
Chiok Beng Piow Andy	AM Legal LLC
Lee Hui Zhen Margaret	AM Legal LLC

4. Facts

The Father and Mother executed mutual wills in 2001.
The mutual wills stipulated that the terms could not be altered.
The Mother executed another will in 2017, altering the distribution of her estate.
The Father died in 2004.
The Mother died in 2019.
The plaintiff, VTL, was the son and an executor of the mutual wills.
The defendants, VTM and VTN, were daughters and executors of the 2017 will.

5. Formal Citations

VTL v VTM and another, Suit No 4 of 2021, [2021] SGHCF 30

6. Timeline

Date	Event
2001-03-08	Father and Mother executed mutual wills
2003-01-01	Mother diagnosed with breast cancer
2004-01-01	Father died of pneumonia
2017-04-05	Mother executed another will
2019-09-25	Mother died
2021-01-01	Suit filed by VTL
2021-07-06	Hearing date
2021-08-10	Hearing date
2021-08-20	Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

Validity of Mutual Wills
- Outcome: The court held that the mutual wills were valid and took precedence over the 2017 will.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
  - Undue influence
  - Mental capacity
  - Suspicious circumstances
- Related Cases:
  - [2010] 4 SLR 373

8. Remedies Sought

Declaration that the mutual will was the last will and testament of the mother
Revocation of the grant of probate to VTM and VTN in respect of the 2017 will
Ancillary and consequential orders

9. Cause of Actions

Declaration of Validity of Will
Revocation of Probate

10. Practice Areas

Estate Planning
Probate Litigation

11. Industries

No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case Name	Court	Affirmed	Citation	Jurisdiction	Significance
Chee Mu Lin Muriel v Chee Ka Lin Caroline (Chee Ping Chian Alexander and another, interveners)	N/A	Yes	[2010] 4 SLR 373	Singapore	Defendants argued this case was similar, but the court distinguished it, finding no evidence that the plaintiff procured the Mutual Wills or suggested the terms to the Mother.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute Name	Jurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

Mutual wills
2017 Will
Executors
Trustees
Undue influence
Probate
Testator
Testatrix

15.2 Keywords

Mutual wills
Probate
Family dispute
Succession
Singapore
High Court
Wills

16. Subjects

Wills
Succession
Probate
Family Dispute

17. Areas of Law

Succession Law
Wills and Probate
Family Law