Some couples have second thoughts in the midst of divorce proceedings and get back together. However, in a unique decision, the High Court has ruled that the resumption of a toxic relationship does not amount to marital reconciliation. The case concerned a wealthy couple who had been married for about two years when the wife […]
A lease may not be worth the paper it is written on if the landlord’s mortgage lender does not consent to the tenancy. A recent ruling by the Court of Appeal opened the way for the eviction of a mother and her two children after it found that they had no more rights than common […]
A couple who engaged a contractor to carry out work on their house have succeeded in their claim against the architect in respect of the cost of putting right defects in the contractor’s work. The couple bought a five-storey house in Putney in June 2005. Before moving in, they wished to make changes to the […]
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may appear a very big battalion indeed but, with the right legal advice, individuals can succeed in overturning their decisions. Exactly that happened in a case concerning a couple who lost over £6 million in a disastrous attempt to buy a luxury holiday home overseas. The couple entered into a […]
The law that allows someone who was dependent on a deceased person during their lifetime to make a claim against their estate if there is no, or inadequate, provision for them in the will is one of long standing (the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975). However, many people think it applies only […]
In order to make a valid will, you need to know your own mind – and it helps to have a solicitor on hand to advise you. That was certainly so in a case in which a businessman left the lion’s share of his £1 million fortune to a friend and colleague a few weeks […]
Adopting children from abroad can complete families and be of great benefit to all concerned. However, as a High Court case showed, it is fraught with legal pitfalls and should not be attempted without first taking specialist legal advice. The case concerned a British citizen who adopted a child in Iran under Iranian law. The […]
If the tranquillity of your home is blighted by noise or any other form of nuisance, you don’t have to just grin and bear it. In a case on point, the High Court came to the aid of residents who said that their lives were rendered a sleepless purgatory by the noisy operation of a […]
When it comes to tax matters, there is a tendency for fiscally inexperienced people to simply sign whatever documents their accountants put in front of them. That can be a risky approach but, as a First-tier Tribunal (FTT) ruling showed, there is often an entitlement to place reliance on ostensibly competent professional advice. The case […]
Delays in surrogacy treatment in England may be long but, as a High Court ruling showed, those who look abroad to fulfil their desire for parenthood may well be placing their own and their children’s legal status at risk. The case concerned a same-sex couple who lived in Thailand, one of whom was British. Desperate […]
