Biria v Biria & ors [2024] WTLR 785

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Autumn 2024 #196

The deceased passed away aged 97 on 21 January 2022. On 1 May 2020 he had purported to execute a will. At that time there were extant proceedings before the Court of Protection seeking an assessment of his capacity to manage his own affairs and expressing concern that he was being exploited by two of his children (the first and second defendants). On 24 April 2020 the Court of Protection made a declaration that there was reason to believe he lacked capacity to manage his own affairs and ordered an assessment.

The claimant was another of the deceased’s children and had been express...

Winter & anr v Winter & anr [2024] WTLR 327

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Spring 2024 #194

The court was concerned with the claim of Richard and Adrian Winter to challenge the dispositions made by their father, Albert Winter, in his will dated 30 April 2015 (the 2015 will) which left the residue of his estate to their brother, Philip. The principal asset in Albert’s estate was his share in a market garden business operated by the family for many years, and since 1998 as a partnership between Albert, his late wife Brenda, the claimants and the first defendant. In January 2004 the partnership business was transferred to a company.

The claim was put on two principal bases....