Intestate Provision: Of lovers, lodgers and liars?

Rory Brown looks at the lessons to be learned from the 1975 Act application in Wright-Gordon v Legister [2014] ‘The case turned on the characterisation of Arlene’s relationship with Alonzo, namely whether she was a lover or a lodger.’ This article summarises the careful and learned judgment in the titular case before seeking to draw …
This post is only available to members.

Gordon v Legister [2014] EWHC 2041 (Ch)

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | December 2014 #145

The claimant (Arlene) applied for reasonable financial provision from the estate of Alonzo Legister (the deceased) as someone maintained by the deceased immediately before his death under s1(1)(e) of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) 1975 (the 1975 Act). The claim was contested by the defendant, who was the administrator of the estate and one of the residuary beneficiaries on Alonzo’s intestacy. It was Arlene’s case that she was cohabiting with the deceased prior to his death. However, it was accepted that even on her case she wa...

King v Dubrey & ors [2014] EWCH 2083 (Ch)

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | October 2014 #143

The deceased, June Fairbrother, (D), a retired policewoman, made a will in March 1998 leaving legacies to friends and family, the 3rd to 14th defendants ,the executors and legatees and the residue to the 15th to 21st defendants, animal charities (the charities). In June 2007 D’s nephew, Mr King, the claimant (C) had a conversation with her. She was increasingly elderly and frightened of going into a home, and he agreed to move in with her to look after her. He had spent some time in prison as a result of an offence under the Companies Act and was living in the property of a busi...