Recent Posts
Irwin Mitchell
Giving it all away: lifetime gifting to avoid IHT
When the term "tax planning" is banded about in the press and on social media, many people imagine complex and expensive schemes...
31/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
Asian Divorce: Digging for Gold
As a specialist in this area, I am often asked to advise on the issue of jewellery and dowry. Here is my summary and some top tips....
31/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
Ashes To Ashes - A judge has to rule
A case involving a dispute about ashes and who should be allowed to attend a cremation has been widely reported in the media. TV comedian...
24/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
Man who 'doesn't like cows' in farm inheritance battle
A humorous headline from the BBC as often is the case in our area of law. My colleague Nazia Nawaz, a senior associate in our Manchester...
22/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
In the Estate of Lord Templeman deceased: Summary judgment in a probate claim is possible, just not this one
In the mid 70s, Mr Justice Templeman as he then was, gave the leading judgment in Kenward v Adams 1975, setting out the now infamous...
19/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
Promise of Land - is it really enforceable?
One of my colleagues in our Manchester office, Nazia Nawaz, has brought the case of Moore v Moore to my attention and comments as...
12/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
The Protection Racket
Sadly, this is another example of how the very system that is supposed to protect vulnerable people can be used against them. In this...
08/10/18
Irwin Mitchell
‘Merry Christmas Gaffa’ - Christmas for a professional football player
As the retail shops begin to stack the shelves with Christmas products, spare a thought for the professional footballers and their...
27/09/18
Irwin Mitchell
Hindsight is a wonderful thing - why significant delay could cost you your home
A recent decision of the High Court has seen the claims advanced by a widow against her late husband's estate, dismissed some 28 years...
19/09/18
Joanne Moseley
Irwin Mitchell win injunction allowing senior Cardiologist to return to work
A senior consultant doctor has won the right to return to full duties at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, against the wishes of his...
14/09/18
Irwin Mitchell
Banfield v Campbell: disabled cohabitee awarded life interest
Another interesting decision in relation to a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975, this time by Master Teverson in the case of Banfield...
30/08/18
Irwin Mitchell
Modern families, medicine and the law: IVF and conception post-death
Advances in medical treatment and modern family life have both lead to the courts in England and Wales and overseas, grappling with new...
22/08/18
Irwin Mitchell
Familiarity is good for your mental health
Two interesting dementia-related stories being reported on the BBC this week. Firstly, the email read out by Jonathan Agnew about the...
21/08/18
Irwin Mitchell
Cohabitees at war: woman gets to keep what is already hers
Despite the headlines in the mainstream media that Ms Ladwa, 43 has 'won' half of the £1.7 million home she shared with her partner of 16...
15/08/18
Irwin Mitchell
Has an English court really recognised Sharia Law?
This week saw the 'landmark' divorce ruling by the English High Court that 'recognised Sharia law'. But what does the decision really...
06/08/18
Irwin Mitchell
Draft Register of Overseas Entities Bill: An Initial Analysis
Some interesting revelations under the Draft Register of Overseas Entities Bill laid in Parliament today. For the first time, overseas...
23/07/18
Irwin Mitchell
Enforcing a matrimonial order
No one wants to find themselves in this position. Either to have to enforce the order or being the person threatened with prison. They...
09/07/18
Irwin Mitchell
Civil partnerships for everyone?
Well, not yet. The UK Supreme Court recently handed down judgment in R (on the application of Steinfeld and another) v Secretary of...
04/07/18
Irwin Mitchell
How to pick a divorce solicitor
Separation and divorce is often a highly stressful time for any family and picking the right adviser is crucial. A good divorce solicitor...
03/07/18
Irwin Mitchell
A 'Payneful' experience
The issue of attestation of wills came to the fore in the recent case of Payne & Anor v Payne [2018] when, on appeal, the court decided...
25/05/18
Irwin Mitchell
Inheritance and parental wealth within divorce
Within divorce disputes an increasing number of cases focus upon parental financial support, family money and inheritance. In the case...
25/05/18
Irwin Mitchell
Cohabitation and the problem of proving constructive trusts or proprietary estoppel
The case of Dobson v Griffey is a timely reminder of the difficulties involved in proving constructive trusts or proprietary estoppel in...
17/05/18
Irwin Mitchell
A taxing time for the unwary
A timely reminder that an executor has obligations to discharge the deceased's debts and ensure that all tax due on an estate is...
03/05/18
Irwin Mitchell
Domicile - A question of choice?
We all have a domicile of origin but an issue sometimes arises in the context of will disputes as to whether or not the deceased acquired...
27/04/18
Irwin Mitchell
Family in court over split of Ming collection
Gifts of specific items made by will are sadly and frequently the cause of family disputes. There are issues over identifying the item,...
10/03/16
Irwin Mitchell
Siblings take estate dispute to court
In another seemingly bitter dispute between siblings, Alan and Carolyn Hamilton have recently taken their fight over the estate of their...
08/03/16
Irwin Mitchell
Ilott proceeds to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has granted the charities involved in the case of Ilott v Mitson permission to appeal the Order of the Court of Appeal....
02/03/16
Irwin Mitchell
Cohabitation considered again
The recent case of Joy Williams who lived with her married partner for 18 years has again raised concerns among some as to the need for a...
29/02/16
Irwin Mitchell
Lord Lucan's death now official
Despite many 'possible' sightings since his disappearance in 1974, Lord Lucan has now been declared officially dead with the issue of a...
04/02/16
Irwin Mitchell
Watts v Watts - Appeal dismissed
Watts v Watts [2015]EWCA Civ 1297 The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of The Appellant considered that the Judge should have...
06/01/16