Legal ruling has implications for farming inheritance rows
October 26th 2022A LANDMARK legal ruling could have far reaching implications in disputes over the future of family farms. Rebecca Armstrong, a Contentious Trust and Probate Specialist with Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said the judgment by the Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 19) would impact farming families who find themselves in legal battles over who will inherit the farm. Rebecca said: “The ruling was unusual in that it offered the parties a choice…
Siblings fail to overturn will involving the care of a parrot
October 6th 2022Three siblings have failed to overturn their stepmother’s will after she left everything to her biological son. Rebecca Armstrong Associate Solicitor in our Will Claims team reports on this recent case. The son claimed that his mother had changed the will after the siblings’ father died so that he could look after her parrot. The case involved 61-year-old Ian McLean and his siblings Sean and Lorraine, and their half-brother, a self-titled “Lord” Brett…
Court rejects ‘put up or shut up’ application in dispute over will
August 18th 2022The trustees of a man’s will have been told they cannot put a time limit on his daughter’s right to bring a claim against them unless they provided all the facts that determined how the estate should be divided. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. The case involved two siblings in dispute over the will of their late father. The deceased owned an estate worth around £3.5…
No fault evictions to be banned in ‘New Deal’ for renters
July 15th 2022No-fault evictions are to be banned as part of government plans to “end the injustice of unfit homes and help protect renters from the rising cost of living”.
Renters Reform Bill ‘will make some evictions easier for landlords’
June 27th 2022The Renters Reform Bill is designed to drive up standards in the private and socially rented sector, but it will also make evictions easier for landlords in certain circumstances. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor in our dispute team provides an update. The Bill is designed to help the 4.4 million households privately renting across England by extending the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time. It’s hoped these reforms will…
Seller of land should have pointed out defect in title
June 13th 2022A woman who bought land at auction has successfully appealed a High Court ruling that she must make up a seller’s shortfall after she refused to complete the purchase. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The issue arose after the buyer, Ms Mahil, had purchased the land from SPS Groundworks & Building Ltd. The catalogue had described the land as having “excellent scope for development”.…
Dementia sufferer was aware of his actions so his will was valid
May 26th 2022An elderly farmer who suffered from dementia understood what he was doing when he changed his will shortly before his death and so the alterations should be accepted as representing his true wishes. David Tew, Associate Solicitor in our Will Claims team reports on this recent case. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a dispute between members of the same family. In 2005 the…
‘Unwanted’ son claims share of late father’s estate from niece
April 21st 2022The son of a car and property magnate has successfully sued his niece to gain a share of his late father’s estate and avoid becoming homeless. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Colin Johnston was the son of Sidney Johnston, who died in 2017 leaving a £2.4 million estate to Colin’s niece, Lady Natalie Wackett. The father and son had fallen out in 1992 after a breakdown…
Homeowner overturns restrictive covenant so he can build extension
April 7th 2022A homeowner has been granted permission to add a two-storey extension to his property despite objections from his neighbour. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor in our dispute team reports on this recent case. The case involved neighbours on an estate of houses around a private road constructed in the 1980s. The properties were subject to a building scheme imposing restrictive covenants. One homeowner gained planning permission to construct a two-storey extension. His neighbour objected on…
Voice UK star wins inheritance dispute with her viscount brother
March 7th 2022The aristocratic singer and TV star Bo Bruce has won a court battle against her brother Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, Viscount Savernake, over their inheritance after their mother died. Rebecca Armstrong Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Bruce, whose full title is Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce, was a runner up on the TV series, The Voice and has had chart success with the top 10 album, Before I Sleep. She and her…
