Total testamentary freedom in English law came to an end with the passage of the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act 1938, since replaced by the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The Act introduced the family provision rule, which allows disinherited family members to apply to court for a financial award out of the estate. This paper critically re-examines the parliamentary proceedings, held between 1928 and 1938, which debated the merits of testamentary freedom and the need to limit the doctrine by introducing the family provision rule, then already in force in many of the Dominions. There were strong social arguments in favour of redressing unjust disinheritances, pitted against core values of personal freedom and private ownership. The paper will show that there were compelling merits in introducing the family provision rule and the Act has stood the test of time.

中文翻译：

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遗嘱自由的终结

英国法律中的完全遗嘱自由随着 1938 年《继承（家庭条款）法》的通过而终结，后来被 1975 年《继承（家庭和受抚养人的条款）法》取代。该法案引入了家庭条款规则，允许被剥夺继承权的家庭成员向法院申请从遗产中获得财务裁决。本文批判性地重新审视了 1928 年至 1938 年间举行的议会程序，该程序辩论了遗嘱自由的优点以及通过引入家庭规定规则来限制该教义的必要性，该规则当时已在许多自治领中生效。有强烈的社会论据支持纠正不公正的剥夺继承权，与个人自由和私有制的核心价值观相悖。