Recent Posts
Irwin Mitchell
Kirk Douglas to disinherit sons and grandchildren
Kirk Douglas was a well-known actor with affluent children and a family worth a fortune. Kirk had set up a charity called the Douglas...
27/02/20
Irwin Mitchell
Equity release: an alternative to downsizing
Equity release is available to people aged 55 or over to access funds tied up in their property, either as a lump sum or as a regular...
28/01/20
Irwin Mitchell
What a relief (from sanctions)!
In the recent case of Djurberg v London Borough of Richmond & Ors [2019] EWHC 3342 (Ch) Chief Master Marsh held that the courts will not...
15/01/20
Irwin Mitchell
Property pet problems
The Government will change the model tenancy agreement to remove the blanket restriction on pets, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has...
08/01/20
Irwin Mitchell
IHT implications of leaving shared property by will
The recent decision in Margaret Vincent v HMRC raises important issues in relation to will drafting and estate planning. The FTT found...
06/01/20
Irwin Mitchell
Rock legend disinherits wife
The recent death of The Cars legend Ric Ocasek in September this year was a shock to all rock music fans but it seems that the greatest...
20/12/19
Irwin Mitchell
Changes in capital gains tax on private residences
Sweeping changes are coming to the reporting and payment of capital gains tax on the sale of private residences; accountants, tax...
12/12/19
Irwin Mitchell
Unwanted war baby challenges late father's will
An “unwanted war baby” has sought to challenge his late father’s will after it failed to make any provision for him. Colin Johnston was...
11/12/19
Irwin Mitchell
A broken promise or a broken relationship?
Lucy Blyth has failed in making a claim against the estate of tycoon Charles Caudle amounting to £8.6 million. They pair met in a...
11/12/19
Irwin Mitchell
'Divorce tourism': there is a limit
It is sometimes possible for the English Family Court to make a financial order where the divorce has taken place in another country, and...
05/12/19
Irwin Mitchell
Property Ombudsman to introduce fair-usage fees
The Property Ombudsman has announced they will increase member fees from January 2020. The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is a not-for-profit...
25/11/19
Irwin Mitchell
The importance of will storage
Nowadays, with advances in technology, many things have been digitised, resulting in much less important paperwork. This is not however...
25/11/19
Irwin Mitchell
International dispute over $40m diamond inheritance rages on
A well-off Italian family face a legal battle over the beneficial owner of a $40 million pink diamond. In the 1960s, Renato Angiolillo...
11/11/19
Irwin Mitchell
Calls to extend outdated time limit for freezing eggs
A key issue that has been in the spotlight recently is the need for legislative change regarding the time limit in relation to women...
11/11/19
Irwin Mitchell
Child Benefit: frustrations for taxpayers
When I was a child the payment of the old "Family Allowance" was a relatively straightforward process. Every week my mother, along with...
30/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Franco's legacy creates a dispute about his body
The Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco’s, remains have been removed 44 years after his funeral, as the Spanish government won their...
28/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Are funeral planners the new wedding planners?
Funerals are traditionally seen as a day of sorrow; guests wear black, mourners weep and it’s a time to say goodbye. More recently, this...
28/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Dismissal of Pakistan's claim to £35m
The High Court has ruled that £35 million held in a UK bank account should be inherited by the descendants of the Indian royal who...
23/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Post-death property transaction leads to Court of Appeal dispute over a banker's estate
The Court of Appeal has this week reserved their judgment after hearing both sides in a protracted dispute between the daughter of a...
23/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Regulation of property agents - what will it look like?
I was fortunate enough last week to attend the Law Society Property Section Conference and to catch the presentation by Lord Best. Lord...
23/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Three brothers written out of mother's will not entitled to anything, court rules
When the late Anna Rea died aged 86 in July 2016, her estate passed in accordance with the will prepared the year before, which left her...
15/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Earlier planning required to reduce IHT
A recent report by Equiniti Benefactor, the estate administration arm of Equiniti, has found that the average amount of cash left in an...
11/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
A quarter of retirees shun family in will
A recent survey by financial service provider, Responsible Life, found that more than 28% of retirees plan to leave their assets to...
04/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Email Signature Blocks – can they legally bind contracts?
Manchester County Court has ruled that an email signature block can be used to form a legally binding contract, despite Section 2 (1) of...
03/10/19
Irwin Mitchell
Supreme consequences for family law?
The Supreme Court decision yesterday has, understandably received extensive and prominent coverage and, it's fair to say, has been...
25/09/19
Irwin Mitchell
Mental Health Should Be At Forefront Of Family Law Children Cases, Lawyers Urge
Fundamental changes are needed in the family courts in order to prioritise mental health in children and parents, with lawyers urging...
18/09/19
Irwin Mitchell
Later Life Marriages Bucking Trend In Latest ONS Stats
Older generations are continuing to get married and defy a decline in marriage rates, according to new statistics. The research,...
12/09/19
Irwin Mitchell
Son Of Nurse Fails In Claim For Biggest Inheritance Share
The son of a former nurse lost a three-year battle with his siblings this week over his mother’s will after trying to secure the biggest...
12/09/19
Irwin Mitchell
FTT rejects HMRC’s view (and supports IM) on Entrepreneurs’ Relief for trustees
Our article published here in June discussed the key requirements for Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER) where trusts are concerned and HMRC’s...
11/09/19
Irwin Mitchell
Changes to Main Residence Relief and Lettings Relief
Anyone with more than one home who sells a property after 5 April 2020 is likely to have more tax to pay than if it were sold on or...
11/09/19