Important documents often languish in drawers for years, gathering dust – but if they have been carefully drafted by a professional, they can make all the difference when the time comes. In a case on point, a deed stored in a solicitor’s office for almost
Family disputes frequently focus on inheritance and can inflict immense anxiety and pain on all concerned. A case concerning a young man who died tragically when he stepped in front of a train, however, showed that the best way to avoid such conflict is to
Home-made wills may save you a few pounds in the short term, but dispensing with legal advice greatly increases the risk of painful disputes arising after you are gone. That was certainly so in the case of a desperately ill man who left the whole
If you have been disinherited by a loved one whose mind has become poisoned against you, you should consult a solicitor straight away. In a case on point, the High Court came to the aid of a woman whose mother harboured false and delusional beliefs
If you are an entrepreneur and own your own company, that is all the more reason why you should take professional advice regarding the issues that might arise on your death. In an unusual High Court case on point, a farm contracting business was left
Parents who assure their children of a future inheritance may find themselves legally bound to keep their word – but such promises may only be conditional. A judge made that point in a case concerning a bitter breakdown in relations between an elderly farmer and
Failing to make a professionally drafted will is a positive invitation to family strife after you are gone. In one case, a spectacular falling out between two brothers could have been averted had their mother taken the time to consult a solicitor. The woman died
There are few thornier subjects than inheritance and failing to sign a professionally drafted will can leave those who live on after you with a burning sense of grievance. In an extreme example, a couple were jailed after resorting to fraud in a bid to
