Continue reading "Constructive trusts: Keeping up with the Jones"
Hudson v Hathway [2022] WTLR 973
Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Autumn 2022 #188The parties had started a relationship in 1990. Mr Hudson had moved into Ms Hathway’s home and become joint owner. They did not marry and had two sons. The home was sold and another bought in joint names. In 2007 they purchased Picnic House with a mortgage. It was again purchased in joint names with no declaration of trusts. They separated in 2009, with Ms Hathway staying at Picnic House. The mortgage was converted to an interest-only mortgage. It continued to be paid from a joint account into which both of their salaries had been paid.
In July and August 2013 there was an exchang...
Constructive Trust Claims: Excuses, detriment and imputation
Continue reading "Constructive Trust Claims: Excuses, detriment and imputation"
Curran v Collins [2015] EWCA Civ 404
Wills & Trusts Law Reports | March 2016 #157This was an appeal against a decision that Ms Curran, the appellant, had not acquired a beneficial interest in property in the sole name of Mr Collins, the respondent. Mr Collins and Ms Curran were in a relationship from about 1978 until 2010. However, she did not move in to live with Mr Collins until 2002, having maintained a close relationship with her own family.
From about 1994 onwards, the couple bred Airedale terriers. Over the course of the relationship, Mr Collins owned three properties in his sole name, referred to as the Bendfont flat, the Feltham house and The Haven. He...
O’Kelly v Davies [2014] EWCA Civ 1606
Wills & Trusts Law Reports | March 2016 #157This appeal concerned a dispute over the beneficial ownership of the property whose legal title was at all times held by the appellant alone. At trial, the judge made the following findings:
- (i) A former property had been purchased in the joint names of the respondent and appellant in 1987.
- (ii) In 1991 the legal estate in that property was transferred into the sole name of the appellant to allow her to claim benefits as though she was a single woman living alone. The outstanding mortgage on that property at the time was converted to an endowment secured by a policy...
Co-Ownership: Share with care
Continue reading "Co-Ownership: Share with care"
Common Intention Constructive Trusts: The role of illegality
Continue reading "Common Intention Constructive Trusts: The role of illegality"
M v M & ors [2013] EWHC 2534 (Fam)
Wills & Trusts Law Reports | December 2013 #135The transcript of this judgment is reported in part from para 164 onwards and starts with a discussion of the law. No part of the report provides a factual narrative.
Held (allowing the wife’s claim for financial relief):
The court had power on divorce to order a party to the marriage to transfer to the other party such property as may be so specified to which that party was entitled, either in possession or reversion. In this case almost all the wealth created by the husband during the course of the marriage was held through offshore company structures and the ques...
Trusts And The Family Home: No clarity for cohabitants
Continue reading "Trusts And The Family Home: No clarity for cohabitants"
Trusts: Clear intentions
Continue reading "Trusts: Clear intentions"