‘Unwanted’ son claims share of late father’s estate from niece
April 21st 2022The son of a car and property magnate has successfully sued his niece to gain a share of his late father’s estate and avoid becoming homeless. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Colin Johnston was the son of Sidney Johnston, who died in 2017 leaving a £2.4 million estate to Colin’s niece, Lady Natalie Wackett. The father and son had fallen out in 1992 after a breakdown…
Voice UK star wins inheritance dispute with her viscount brother
March 7th 2022The aristocratic singer and TV star Bo Bruce has won a court battle against her brother Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, Viscount Savernake, over their inheritance after their mother died. Rebecca Armstrong Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Bruce, whose full title is Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce, was a runner up on the TV series, The Voice and has had chart success with the top 10 album, Before I Sleep. She and her…
Man’s second wife fails to stop his son inheriting family home
February 8th 2022A man’s second wife has failed to prevent his son inheriting the family home after he died. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. The husband had married his first wife in 1988 and their son was born shortly afterwards. He worked overseas during the early 2000s, where he formed a relationship with a second woman who lived in the Philippines. He separated from his wife and the…
A rise in will disputes predicted as demand surges for unregulated online wills
December 14th 2021An increase in family disputes and contested Will cases is extremely likely as more people turn to using online and homemade will writing services, a leading disputes solicitor has predicted. David Tew, a Will Disputes solicitor with Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, is raising awareness of the potential pitfalls of using unregulated and uninsured will writers advertising their product at a cheap rate on the internet after more families reported receiving inadequate…
Court interprets woman’s will to enable all her children to inherit
September 7th 2021The High Court has reconciled contradictory instructions relating to a deceased woman’s estate so that all three of her children can receive an equal inheritance. Rebecca Armstrong Associate Solicitor reports on this case. The court made the ruling after the trustees of a settlement applied for an interpretation of the woman’s will. Under the deed of settlement, the woman had a special power of appointment in respect of property in a…
