Dryden v Young & ors [2024] WTLR 843

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Autumn 2024 #196

The deceased made a will dated 26 May 2016. The will gifted the residue of the deceased’s estate in equal shares to 15 charitable beneficiaries. The construction of seven of those gifts was in doubt.

The gifts in question had been carried over from the deceased’s previous wills, of which only one had been located. Will files did not survive and the drafting solicitor had little recollection of what the deceased had intended. There was little evidence of charitable gifting made by the deceased in life.

The probate value of the deceased’s estate was £1.48m and each one-fiftee...

Clarke & ors v Shrewsbury and Atcham Constituency Labour Party & ors [2024] WTLR 67

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Spring 2024 #194

James Morris (the settlor), a Labour Party councillor and businessman, settled two trusts (the trusts). This claim concerned the validity of the trusts, their rectification, a proprietary estoppel claim by a beneficiary, and the consequences of the trusts’ invalidity.

The first trust concerned Morris Hall, Bellstone Court, Bellstone, Shrewsbury (the hall), which Mr Morris transferred to himself and three others to hold pursuant to a declaration of trust dated 5 April 1934 (the hall trust).

Clause 1(g) of the hall trust provided:

‘After making provision fo...