Will disputes: The recalcitrant executor

Barny Croft and Louise Corfield consider Pegler v McDonald, the case that has something for everyone The court deemed that its findings added up to a ‘comprehensive disqualification for [the defendant's] being concerned in the fiduciary administration of assets for the benefit of other people’. If you have not read the case of Pegler v…

Tax: Operative mistakes and unintended consequences

Lawrence Hiller-Wood and Richard Dew discuss the High Court’s current approach to setting aside mistakes Care should always be taken when dealing with or amending pre-2006 interests in possession to ensure that there are no unintended or costly consequences. The recent High Court decision in Hopes v Burton [2022] is a helpful reminder of the…

Rectification: Clarifying the nature of the test

The Jersey Royal Court has taken a divergent approach to rectification. Hugh Gunson and Thomas Watts analyse a recent decision The Jersey Royal Court’s conclusion that there is no merit in maintaining the fourth limb of the test for rectification is striking, particularly in view of the comments made by the Jersey Court of Appeal.…

Succession: Cultural approaches to protection in succession law

Dr Diane Le Grand de Belleroche compares the new French withholding rights with the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 While the new French withholding rights ('prélèvement compensatoire') can, in some situations, benefit ‘each child, or his heirs or successors in title’, the Inheritance Act 1975 provides for more categories of applicants and…

Trusts: Worldwide freezing orders

Simon Adamyk and Jessica Powers outline welcome clarification on the application process for obtaining freezing orders In order to establish a real risk of dissipation, the claimants had to do more than merely establish a good arguable case of dishonesty: rather, the court had to be satisfied that the particular dishonesty alleged pointed to the…

Begum v Ahmed [2022] WTLR 1189

Winter 2022 #189

The appellant was the widow of Mohammed Yousaf Khan (Mr Khan), who had died on 22 March 2015 without making any financial provision for her under the terms of his last will dated 11 February 2014 (the 2014 will). Instead, Mr Khan had left the entirety of his estate, after payment of debts and expenses, to his daughter and personal representative, the respondent. The appellant, who was elderly and disabled, had lived at 22 Lombard Avenue, Dudley (Lombard Avenue) since 1993.

Probate was granted on 11 April 2016 and solicitors instructed by the respondent wrote demanding possession o...

Boast v Ballardi & ors [2022] WTLR 1203

Winter 2022 #189

The claimant issued probate proceedings seeking orders pronouncing against the validity of a will dated 11 June 2013 and in favour of an earlier will dated 15 March 2006. The claimant was the sole executor under both wills, and the sole beneficiary of the earlier will. The later will gave rise to a partial intestacy of residue, under which the defendants were the beneficiaries.

The claimant issued probate proceedings challenging the 2013 will for lack of testamentary capacity. Four defendants had consented pre-action and one had acknowledged service, not contesting the claim. No o...

Clitheroe v Bond [2022] WTLR 1217

Winter 2022 #189

Jean Mary Clitheroe (the deceased) had three children, one of whom (her elder daughter) predeceased without issue. The appellant and respondent were her surviving children, the latter of whom was a victim of sexual abuse committed by her father. This had been detailed in letters written by her father and which were used in divorce proceedings by the deceased. The deceased had been profoundly affected by her elder daughter’s terminal diagnosis and death and became estranged from the respondent to the point that she started to maintain, and continued to maintain until her own death, that t...

Da Silva v Heselton & ors [2022] WTLR 1229

Winter 2022 #189

The will of the late Gladys Townsend contained at clause 11 a charging clause, the relevant part of which was couched in the following words:

‘MY TRUSTEES shall have the following powers in addition to their powers under the general law or under any other provisions of this Will or any Codicil hereto… (g) for any of my Trustees who shall be engaged in any profession or business [to] charge and be paid (in priority to all other dispositions herein) all usual professional and other fees and to retain any brokerage or commission for work or business introduced transacted or done or t...

Executor of HRH Prince Philip v HM Attorney General & anr [2022] WTLR 1251

Winter 2022 #189

This was an appeal against the decision of the president of the Family Division (PFD) to seal for 90 years the will of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to publish a list of 33 sealed wills of deceased members of the Royal Family, and to seal those 33 wills for 90 years (Re Will of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [2021]).

At the start of the original hearing, the PFD directed that the hearing should take place in private, having only heard submissions from Prince Philip’s executor and the Attorney General (AG), but that the judgment should be made public. No submi...