Library

Probate fees, which rose sharply only three years ago, are about to rise again. Under the present scheme an application for probate by an individual costs £215 and by...

The problem of making family financial settlements or court rulings in divorce ‘stick’ is well known. Following an extensive consultation process, the Law Commission has made proposals designed to improve...

A surprising Court of Appeal decision that a daughter was a ‘dependant’ of her estranged mother and thus entitled to benefit from her estate has now been overturned by the...

When an elderly man died owning both a house and a half share in an attached property with his sister, whose financial affairs were already being administered by a cousin...

The answer to the vital question of whether a taxpayer is ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK depends on many factors. In one such case, a billionaire businessman received an £84...

Social housing tenants are not normally permitted to sublet their properties. Where it is discovered that they have, an Unlawful Profits Order (UPO) can be made to recover any profit...

Bankruptcy gives debtors the chance to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start – but such opportunities are only open to those who cooperate with creditors: the law...

Disobeying court orders is ultimately punishable by imprisonment – but only as a last resort. In the context of a family case, the Court of Appeal has ruled that a...

Promises of generous returns on backing novel products can be awfully tempting for investors, but such investments should only be undertaken with the benefit of professional advice. In one case...

Trusts are relatively common and the death of a trustee is by no means rare. A trust deed normally contains a clause stipulating how new trustees are to be appointed...