Reading the legal update report of Key v Key (see [2010] Gazette, 1 April, 14), I was struck by the judge’s emphasis on the so-called ‘golden rule’, namely that practitioners should arrange for an aged testator, or one who has been seriously ill, to be examined by and reported on by a doctor before making a will.

This is another unfortunate example of judges having little or no idea of everyday practice. By definition, many testators are aged, but most are of perfectly sound mind and would justifiably take grave offence at being told they must be examined to make sure they are compos mentis before being allowed to make a will.

Furthermore, most GPs would be very reluctant, or consider themselves incompetent, to undertake such a task, and a substantial invoice could no doubt be expected from those that would.

A more effective way of deterring a client from making a will, or at least ensuring that he goes to the next solicitor down the street, could hardly be devised.

Michael Loveridge, Solicitor, Clitheroe