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Rochford v Rochford [2021]: Is it risky to leave nothing in your will to your children, even if they are adults?

For those considering who to leave their estate to after they die, a tricky dilemma can often arise when considering the question of their own children. For various reasons, a testator may not consider it appropriate to leave anything to their child or...

Executor removed from £1 million estate in recent Will Dispute case

In the recent case of Ugolor & Ors v Ugolor [2021] EWHC 686 (Ch), the Defendant was removed from his position as executor of his mother’s estate following an application made by the Defendant’s three siblings (the Claimants).   In the...

Wills and predatory marriages: Reforms to the law called for at Prime Minister's Questions

Labour MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton, has called on the Prime Minister and his government to reform the law in relation to so-called ‘predatory marriages’.   Speaking in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s...

High Court finds in favour of children left out of father's estate in recent will dispute case

In the recent case of  Re R (Deceased) [2021] EWHC 936 (Ch),  the High Court granted the award of £186,000 to two children left out of their father’s will. The two children, who were both under the age of 18 at the time of the claim...

High Court refuses to grant award to adult children left out of father's Will in recent will dispute case

The case of  Miles & Anor v Shearer [2021] EWHC 1000 (Ch ) concerned a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 brought by the two adult daughters of top banker and former head of merchant bank Singer...

Coronavirus update: remote witnessing of Wills. Welcome reform or problems ahead?

As the country continues to ease out of the third lockdown, it seems a good opportunity to reflect on one of the most significant legal changes, in the Private Client world at least, that occurred during the pandemic –  the remote witnessing of...

Banks v Goodfellow test upheld by the High Court in recent will dispute case

In the recent case of  Clitheroe v Bond [2021] EWHC 1102 (Ch),  the landmark test established in  Banks v Goodfellow [1870]  for assessing testamentary capacity has been upheld by the High Court. The facts of the case concerned Jean...

Probate has been stopped by a caveat, can I remove it?

The issue of caveats arises frequently in will disputes and contentious probate cases. A caveat is a formal notice which is lodged at the probate registry which stops a grant of probate or a grant of letters of administration being extracted. The lodging...

The death of HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh

The nation is in a state of mourning after the death of the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, aged 99. When a person dies, one of the most important questions is who will inherit that person’s property. Whilst Prince Philip...

Contested will of £900,000 estate amended by the High Court in recent case

In the recent case of  Mundil-Williams v Williams and others [2021] EWHC 586 (Ch) ,   the High Court considered the last valid will of Mr John Williams, who died in 2017 at the age of 91. He had four sons, first Timothy, who was the claimant in...

My step-father has died and he has left me out of his will. Can I bring a claim?

If you have been left out of a will, the operation of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, “the Act”, allows certain categories of people to apply for financial provision from the estate following the testator’s...

Family feud ensues over disputed 'DIY' will of £300,000 estate

Mr William Tibbles, a former car dealer, passed away at the age of 75 in February 2018. Mr Tibbles had five children, comprising of his four daughters Terri and Kelly (who were twins), Susan and Cindy, and a son, Paul. The first will, drafted by solicitors...

My Mum has dementia. Can she still make a will?

With cases on the rise, today’s blog explores the issue of dementia in relation to making a will. One million people in the UK are expected to have dementia by 2025, increasing to two million by 2050, according to recent research produced by...

COVID-19 and insurance: can you recover your lockdown losses from your insurer?

COVID-19 and insurance: can you recover your lockdown losses from your insurer? On 15 January 2021, the Supreme Court handed down a high profile judgment which is likely to result in a significant number of insurance pay outs for small businesses. The...

Ambiguous will of former professional British racing driver considered by the High Court

The recent case of Knipe v British Racing Drivers’ Motor Sport Charity and others [2020] EWHC 3295 (Ch) concerned the will of former British racing driver, Barrie Russell Williams. Mr Williams, a respected figure on the British racing circuit and...

Can my stepmother leave her estate to her own children and exclude me from her will?

As a starting point, a testator has testamentary freedom to choose who they want their Estate to go to, under English law. It demonstrates the testator’s wishes. An exception to this is where a will is found to be invalid. This can happen for many...

What is a probate caveat and how do I remove it?

What is a probate caveat? A caveat is a formal notice that is filed with the Probate Registry. It is used to prevent a grant of probate being obtained and can often indicate the start of a will dispute claim. This means that the estate cannot be...

Is a "no-contest" clause in a Will legally binding?

Inheritance disputes often stem from Wills being challenged for multiple reasons. For example, a testator might have been unduly influenced into making a Will in the way they have, or the testator lacked the necessary mental capacity to make it. The case...

If my partner dies, do I have any rights of inheritance?

Under the rules of intestacy, which apply where someone dies without making a Will, a married partner will automatically receive the residuary estate of their spouse on death. Unmarried couples do not have this same level of legal protection, and parents,...

Testamentary Capacity and Covid-19

A person making a will must fulfil the test for testamentary capacity, in that they must: 1. Understand the nature of making a will and its effects; 2. Understand and appreciate the claims to which they ought to give effect; 3. Understand the extent of...
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