Blog
The End of Leasehold Flats? A Breakdown of the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill
Úna Campbell
17 January 2019
Is a solicitor under a duty to warn their client of risks falling outside their retainer?
The Court of Appeal decision in Cathal Anthony Lyons v Fox Williams LLP [2018] EWCA Civ 2347 has provided welcome guidance on a solicitor’s duty to advise their clients on potential risks and confirms that no such duty exists in respect of matters falling outside a solicitor’s retainer.
15 January 2019
Top 10 Contentious Trust and Probate Cases of 2018
2018 has seen many interesting decisions in the field of contentious trust and probate litigation. I summarise what I see as some of the key cases below (in order of the judgment date), which have covered topics varying from will validity challenges to construction of trust documents and much more in between.
12 December 2018
Going… going… gone. When is a contract formed at auction?
Banksy's newly-titled "Love is in the Bin" was unveiled on 12 October 2018 at Sotheby's in London. Originally titled "Girl with Balloon," the canvas passed through a hidden shredder seconds after the hammer fell on 5 October 2018 at Sotheby's London Contemporary Art Evening Sale, making it the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction.
30 November 2018
Abuse of Power of Attorney: Safeguarding against the increasing threat
Last month it was reported by the BBC that a consultant psychiatrist, Zholia Alemi, had been found guilty of four fraud and theft charges (and subsequently jailed for five years) having “redrafted [an elderly patient’s] will and fraudulently applied for power of attorney” in an effort to benefit from her estate. Alemi is said to have met the patient at a dementia clinic.
29 November 2018
Don’t take your parent’s word for it, it may not be worth its weight in gold (or property)
A survey from Will Aid shows that more than half of parents in the UK do not have a will. Even when wills are made they are sometimes subject to challenge where children do not believe the terms of the will reflect their parents’ true intentions or do not record promises made. If you have been promised part of an estate, a specific property or otherwise, it is wise to have such a promise evidenced in writing and/or witnessed by an independent third party. Reliance on a promise without such evidence may leave you with less than you had anticipated and lead to an unpleasant inheritance dispute.
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