Few disputes are as bitter as family disputes and the court is not normally the best place to settle them. A recent case shows how easy it can be for relations between family members to break down. A young couple's…
Golfers will be pleased to note a recent decision of the Outer House of the Scottish Court of Session in a case in which a 70-year-old ball spotter at a golf club tournament sued a golfer whose ball hit him…
In an important decision for corporate sponsors and those who benefit from their financial help, a fishing company which stumped up £1.2 million in support of its cash-strapped local rugby club has suffered defeat in its legal campaign to deduct…
Within a few days after a death, someone needs to: Make sure that the home and possessions of the person who has died are secure. Register the death. Start arranging the funeral. This article also answers questions that many people…
The door appears to have finally slammed shut on a family’s attempt to obtain Business Property Relief (BPR) from Inheritance Tax (IHT) in respect of a property which had been operated as a furnished holiday letting by their late mother.…
A widely reported recent case has potential implications for those entrusted with the care or safety of others who delegate that responsibility – for example by the use of subcontractors. The tragic case concerned a boy who suffered brain injuries…
If you are concerned about the future mental capacity of a relative or any other person with whom you have a joint bank account, it makes sense to consider setting up the appropriate power(s) of attorney. The British Bankers’ Association’s…
The widely reported case concerning an elderly couple who signed each other’s wills by mistake has reached the Supreme Court. The case sparked outrage because the incorrect signing of the wills was an obvious error but the ruling of the…
A Chinese restaurant which provided a residential property for use as accommodation for employees as part of their contracts of employment has persuaded the First-tier Tribunal that the house was a business asset for the purposes of ‘taper relief’ for…
When a woman’s niece and great niece were appointed her deputies (persons responsible for looking after her financial affairs) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, they made gifts of her assets to charities, themselves, family members and friends. They also…