Re JS (Disposal of Body) [2016] EWHC 2859 (Fam)

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | March 2017 #167

JS, a 14-year-old, terminally ill girl wanted to pursue cryonic preservation: the speculative and controversial scientific theory of freezing a dead body in the hope that resuscitation and a cure may be possible in the distant future. JS’s parents disagreed about what should happen.

JS’s parents were divorced. For most of JS’s life she had lived with her mother (M) and had no face-to-face contact with her father (F), who was also suffering from cancer, since 2008. M and F had a very bad relationship. M supported JS’s wishes.

At the start of proceedin...

Estate Administration: Put to rest?

Martin Beard and Zoe Fleetwood discuss the issues that can arise on disposal of a body and cryo-preservation ‘In Re JS the judge made clear it was not the role of the court to give directions for the disposal of the body, but rather to resolve disagreement about who might make the arrangements.’ Many will …
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Trustees: Duty to act reasonably

Sofie Hoffman and Sharon Kenchington examine the lessons from Hughes v Bourne on applying for the court’s blessing Conflicting views and values among the beneficiaries can be particularly marked where the ownership of the family business is divided between different branches of the family or where one sibling has a much greater role to play …
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