In "Gift of my personal possessions (not money)" the decease

Hello,

Each Will is interpreted in accordance with what is written in it and the final decision lies with the courts. Lawyers like us can only give our opinion on what the interpretation should be but our opinions are not conclusive, as the final decision is of the court.

Here, it is clear that the deceased gives away all their jewellery to A. The deceased also gives A first choice of all furniture in the flat which in my opinion means that A is entitled to take whatever furniture is in the flat that A wishes to take.

However, the terms "furniture" and "jewellery" do not include personal chattels although personal chattels include furniture and jewellery.

So, all personal chattels, other than the furniture in the flat and the deceased's jewellery, are part of the deceased's residuary estate and do not automatically become A's.

Personal chattels are defined in the Administration of Estates Act 1925 as follows:

“Personal chattels” mean carriages, horses, stable furniture and effects (not used for business purposes), motor cars and accessories (not used for business purposes), garden effects, domestic animals, plate, plated articles, linen, china, glass, books, pictures, prints, furniture, jewellery, articles of household or personal use or ornament, musical and scientific instruments and apparatus, wines, liquors and consumable stores, but do not include any chattels used at the death of the intestate for business purposes nor money or securities for money."

Furniture usually means movable items such as tables, chairs, sofas, beds, cupboards etc. that make a dwelling habitable.

Jewellery includes personal ornaments such as necklaces, bracelets, heirlooms etc

May I help further?