As professionals trained in the pointy end of bio-medicine, it is psychiatrists who are most likely to reject the premise that your decision to end your life was a rational one. Indeed, most psychiatrists object to the concept of rational suicide. As expert witnesses - even if they have never met you - psychiatrists have the power to make your suicide seem the action of a mentally ill person. Planning head can minimise the chance of this occurring in court.
• Ask your Doctor to go witness for your will. In addition, ask them to document in their medical notes your state of health and state of mind at the time you make your will.
• Ask your family members to write a brief statement of your mental wellness at the time you suicided. Courts will generally prefer evidence from those who knew you rather than consulting psychiatrists who never met you.
• Give your lawyer a one-page explanation of why you are dividing your assets up in this way - thereby providing extra evidence that you knew exactly what you are doing.
• If you are making a will that is substantially different from a previous version, write an explanation of why have changed your mind and give this to your lawyer.
If you have had a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s Disease - there will be no right or wrong answer.
On the one hand, you could submit to an examination for the express purpose of pinpointing the degree to which you are affected, and hope that your testamentary capacity is confirmed.
