Recent Posts
Social distancing for separated parents: can I still see my child?
BY MARK HANDS Last night, after the Prime Minister’s address to the nation many separated parents will have been worried about how the...
24/03/20Families being shaken, not stirred?
Daniel Craig is arguably one of the most recognised names across the globe as a result of his portrayal of the iconic character of James...
23/03/20Lord Templeman Will upheld after seven day trial
Goss-Custard v Templeman [2020] EWHC 636 (Ch) Mr Justice Fancourt has just handed down judgment in the High Court after the seven day...
19/03/20Court of Appeal uphold Guest v Guest estoppel decision
The Court of Appeal ([2020] EWCA Civ 387) has this week handed down its decision in the long running dispute between a son and his...
19/03/20Family Court Reveals Dark Secrets of Dubai Royal Family
Family proceedings, particularly those relating to children, are rarely reported in detail in the media. Although accredited journalists...
16/03/20Ali v Taj: Inventory and account obligations
In the recent case of Ali v Taj, the court considered an application for permission to appeal the order that the executors provide an...
03/03/20Kirk Douglas to disinherit sons and grandchildren
Kirk Douglas was a well-known actor with affluent children and a family worth a fortune. Kirk had set up a charity called the Douglas...
27/02/20Equity release: an alternative to downsizing
Equity release is available to people aged 55 or over to access funds tied up in their property, either as a lump sum or as a regular...
28/01/20What a relief (from sanctions)!
In the recent case of Djurberg v London Borough of Richmond & Ors [2019] EWHC 3342 (Ch) Chief Master Marsh held that the courts will not...
15/01/20Property pet problems
The Government will change the model tenancy agreement to remove the blanket restriction on pets, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has...
08/01/20IHT implications of leaving shared property by will
The recent decision in Margaret Vincent v HMRC raises important issues in relation to will drafting and estate planning. The FTT found...
06/01/20Rock legend disinherits wife
The recent death of The Cars legend Ric Ocasek in September this year was a shock to all rock music fans but it seems that the greatest...
20/12/19Changes in capital gains tax on private residences
Sweeping changes are coming to the reporting and payment of capital gains tax on the sale of private residences; accountants, tax...
12/12/19Unwanted war baby challenges late father's will
An “unwanted war baby” has sought to challenge his late father’s will after it failed to make any provision for him. Colin Johnston was...
11/12/19A broken promise or a broken relationship?
Lucy Blyth has failed in making a claim against the estate of tycoon Charles Caudle amounting to £8.6 million. They pair met in a...
11/12/19'Divorce tourism': there is a limit
It is sometimes possible for the English Family Court to make a financial order where the divorce has taken place in another country, and...
05/12/19Property Ombudsman to introduce fair-usage fees
The Property Ombudsman has announced they will increase member fees from January 2020. The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is a not-for-profit...
25/11/19The importance of will storage
Nowadays, with advances in technology, many things have been digitised, resulting in much less important paperwork. This is not however...
25/11/19International dispute over $40m diamond inheritance rages on
A well-off Italian family face a legal battle over the beneficial owner of a $40 million pink diamond. In the 1960s, Renato Angiolillo...
11/11/19Calls to extend outdated time limit for freezing eggs
A key issue that has been in the spotlight recently is the need for legislative change regarding the time limit in relation to women...
11/11/19Child Benefit: frustrations for taxpayers
When I was a child the payment of the old "Family Allowance" was a relatively straightforward process. Every week my mother, along with...
30/10/19Franco's legacy creates a dispute about his body
The Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco’s, remains have been removed 44 years after his funeral, as the Spanish government won their...
28/10/19Are funeral planners the new wedding planners?
Funerals are traditionally seen as a day of sorrow; guests wear black, mourners weep and it’s a time to say goodbye. More recently, this...
28/10/19Dismissal of Pakistan's claim to £35m
The High Court has ruled that £35 million held in a UK bank account should be inherited by the descendants of the Indian royal who...
23/10/19Post-death property transaction leads to Court of Appeal dispute over a banker's estate
The Court of Appeal has this week reserved their judgment after hearing both sides in a protracted dispute between the daughter of a...
23/10/19Regulation of property agents - what will it look like?
I was fortunate enough last week to attend the Law Society Property Section Conference and to catch the presentation by Lord Best. Lord...
23/10/19Three brothers written out of mother's will not entitled to anything, court rules
When the late Anna Rea died aged 86 in July 2016, her estate passed in accordance with the will prepared the year before, which left her...
15/10/19Earlier planning required to reduce IHT
A recent report by Equiniti Benefactor, the estate administration arm of Equiniti, has found that the average amount of cash left in an...
11/10/19A quarter of retirees shun family in will
A recent survey by financial service provider, Responsible Life, found that more than 28% of retirees plan to leave their assets to...
04/10/19Email Signature Blocks – can they legally bind contracts?
Manchester County Court has ruled that an email signature block can be used to form a legally binding contract, despite Section 2 (1) of...
03/10/19