Cripps Trust Corp v Sands [2012] EWHC 2229 (Ch)

May 2013 #129

Lieutenant Colonel Sands died in 2000 leaving a will and codicil. He left a large and valuable collection of paintings and other chattels which, under clause 2 of his codicil, he gave to be held on trust by his trustee, Cripps Trust Corporation (CTC), for his wife Mrs Sands (who had passed away some time before the court case) for life and then to be divided between a class of beneficiaries that included galleries and museums. If CTC did not exercise this power the residuary beneficiaries of the will (in this case Lieutenant Colonel Sands’ grandchildren) would take the paintings an...

Schrader v Schrader [2013] EWHC 466 (Ch)

May 2013 #129

Jessica Schrader (the testatrix) died a widow aged 98. The testatrix’s two sons, the claimant (Nick) and the defendant (Bill), survived her.

By a will dated 1 October 1990 (the 1990 will), drafted by a firm of solicitors, the testatrix had made specific gifts of shares and savings bonds to her grandchildren and thereafter left her residue (on her husband having predeceased) to Nick and Bill in equal shares absolutely.

However, in or about May 2005, the testatrix suffered a fall and Nick moved into the testatrix’s property to act as her carer. On 12 April 2006, a further wil...