In the case of Thompson v Ragget & others [2018] an unmarried couple lived together for over 42 years prior to the testator’s death in 2017. This case is similar but less acrimonious than Martin v Williams [2017] , also regarding an unmarried couple, with the addition of an estranged spouse. Both cases involve claims for reasonable financial provision and present and
How an Out of Date Will Can Lead to Costly Litigation
Having an out of date Will can mean no reasonable financial provision and lead to unexpected and acrimonious litigation that can be very expensive. The recent case of Martin v Williams [2017] EWHC 491 (Ch) illustrates this as follows:-
Inheritance tax – Residence Nil Rate Band
The HMRC recently released data revealing that in 2018-19, it was a record year for inheritance 
tax receipts with a total of nearly £5.4 billion. This is an increase of £2 billion in 2017 -18. One of the factors driving this increase is the rise in the asset values, and in particular residential property. The inheritance tax nil rate band (NRB) has
UpSkirting Now a Criminal Offence
The Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 received Royal Assent amends the Sexual Offences Act 2003 Voyeurism and upskirting now a criminal office. Until now offenders could only be prosecuted for voyeurism or outraging public decency. But voyeurism only applies to filming in “private” while outraging public decency usually requires a witness – and upskirting often goes … Read more
Transparency makes things clearer, or does it?
Six months on from the introduction of the SRA Transparency Rules it is surprising to hear that some firms are yet to comply with the new obligations. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) recently published (June 2019) the results of its Transparency Rules Web Sweep showing nearly 58% of firms were partially complying and 17% were not complying at all.
