The Intestacy Rules apply to both spouses and civil partners in the same way and they are top priority. However, where a marriage or civil partnership has been dissolved by a legally recognised decree or there is ongoing judicial separation, the surviving spouse/civil partner is no longer entitled to inherit under the Intestacy Rules.

When a loved one dies, it can be distressing to learn that their Will did not sufficiently provide for you. These situations can often be complicated due to the size of the estate, the nature of the gift, or whether the person died intestate (without a Will).

Section 20 of this act stipulates how a Will can be revoked and prescribes an exhaustive list of the methods for revoking a will. The Wills Act emphasises the preference for revocation to be made in writing yet it is recognised that parties may not always do this and prescribes revocation by some other means, including through the destruction of the will document.

Trade mark practitioners have been closely watching the dispute between Skykick and Sky for its significant implications on trade mark law. On Wednesday 13 November the Supreme Court handed down its decision which brings some much-needed clarity to the complex legal landscape. We take a look at this judgement and what it means for trade mark law.

In a recent case involving the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, the ICO issued a penalty notice due to non-compliance with UK GDPR obligations. The incident stemmed from a data breach that occurred during a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response. While FOIA requests are typically limited to public authorities, the lessons from this case are relevant to all businesses handling personal data. Read our latest insight for a breakdown of the key points.

When a person executes a will they must have the mental capacity to do so. Where a will appears rational and has been duly executed, it is presumed that the testator had capacity unless somebody provides evidence to rebut this.

Sometimes you will receive a letter asking you to desist from using an image/form of wording because you have infringed someone’s copyright and it may be paired with legal undertakings. Or you may be told to pay a sum of money. Any such correspondence should be taken seriously and seeking legal advice as soon as possible will allow you to find the best way forward and protect your business from risk. 

A declaration of trust is a document that records how a property is owned and the terms on which a beneficial interest is held.

As promised in the King’s speech in July, this week has seen the publication of this Government’s proposals for reform of the residential rented sector. Much of the content of the new Renters’ Rights Bill is as expected; the introduction of a private rented sector ombudsman system, ‘Awaab’s Law’ to speed up repairs and a Decent Homes Standard for private sector properties etc. Undoubtedly, these fundamental changes to the sector will be the focus for many, and they are undoubtedly issues that landlords need to be aware of.

A discretionary trust is a trust set up by a person (the Settlor) with the intention of giving the appointed trustees the discretion to decide how to distribute their money or assets to named beneficiaries or an identifiable class of beneficiaries.

The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 provides a means by which a person can challenge the reasonableness of the terms of the will of the deceased or the effect of the intestacy rules.

If you are considering pursuing a claim against another party, or you are on the receiving end of a claim, you may not know where to turn or what to do next.