Roythornes Banner Image

Blogs

Services
People
News and Events
Other
Blogs

Blogs

Can you challenge a Will if the deceased had dementia?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Losing a loved one is always difficult. When you also have doubts about whether their Will truly reflects their wishes, the situation can feel even more distressing. If the person who died had dementia or was showing signs of cognitive decline in the months...

How do you prove a Will was changed under pressure or undue influence?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Discovering that a loved one’s Will may have been altered under pressure is a deeply distressing experience. When the Will left behind doesn’t reflect what you understood their wishes to be, it’s natural to wonder whether they were truly...

Can an adult child contest a parent's Will?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Losing a parent is one of life’s most painful experiences. When the contents of their Will come as a surprise, or feel deeply unfair, that grief can be compounded by confusion and financial worry. Perhaps you’ve been left out entirely, received...

What happens if someone dies without a Will and the family disagrees?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences a family can face. When there’s no Will in place, that pain can be compounded by uncertainty and, in many cases, disagreement among those left behind. Without a Will, strict legal rules determine...

Can contentious probate be settled without going to court?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things any family faces. When a dispute arises over their estate or Will, the added strain can feel immense. You might assume that resolving matters means a costly court battle, but that isn’t usually the...

How a Failure to Review a Will Can Lead to a Dispute: Lessons from McDaniel v Talbot (2026)

  • Posted
  • Author

The decision in McDaniel v Talbot (2026) offers a useful illustration of how adult child claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 ( “the 1975 Act” ) can succeed, even where the claimant has long been excluded...

Can a Landowner Split a Land Registry Title?

  • Posted
  • Author

One of the questions we are frequently asked by clients is “Can I split my Land Registry title?” The short answer is no, it is not that simple! HM Land Registry will not simply divide an existing title into two or more separate titles. A new...

How to Contest a Will in the UK: Grounds, Time Limits, and Costs

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Discovering that a loved one’s Will doesn’t reflect what you expected, or what you believe they truly wanted, can be deeply unsettling. Whether you suspect the Will was made under pressure, that the person lacked the mental capacity to make it,...

How do you remove an executor who is withholding information?

Jak Ward
  • Posted
  • Author

Dealing with a loved one’s estate is rarely straightforward, and it can be deeply distressing when the executor responsible for administering it fails to keep you informed. You might be receiving no updates at all, vague answers to straightforward...

When Are Two People Considered to Be Living Together as if They Were a Married Couple in Law?

Leah Merrifield
  • Posted
  • Author

The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (the “Act”) allows certain people to bring claims against estates if reasonable financial provision has not been made for them. a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb;}tr...

Think You're Too Young for a Will? Think Again

Olivia Perry
  • Posted
  • Author

The recent reporting surrounding Liam Payne’s estate has once again demonstrated why Wills are not just for the over 50s, homeowners, or the ultra-wealthy. Court documents have revealed that the former One Direction singer died at the age of just 31...

Why Some Defences Fail: Lessons from a 1975 Act Claim

  • Posted
  • Author

The High Court recently examined a long-running family dispute (Teixeira v Moaven)   over the true ownership of valuable London properties within a deceased’s estate and, crucially, whether last-minute “Declarations of Trust” could...

The Clock is Ticking on Upward-Only Rent Reviews

Nicola Grange
  • Posted
  • Author

For decades, upward-only rent reviews have been a cornerstone of commercial leases, offering landlords certainty and investors predictable income. That may now be about to change. A largely unexpected provision in the English Devolution and Community...

Future of Renewable Energy Projects to 2035 and Beyond

Anthony  Rydell
  • Posted
  • Author

On 10 th June 2026 the National Energy System Operator (“NESO”) published an update that 58% of connection offers for renewable energy projects in the pre-2030 pipeline (713 out of 1,223 projects) have now been issued. a { ...

From Farming to the Future and the Challenge of Passing It On

Robert Webb
  • Posted
  • Author

I’ve recently been thinking about how many people still focus on the day-to-day but perhaps overlook the longer-term plan. When the next generation step into the day-to-day running of the family’s mixed farm, they will often think that the hard...

Love at Lightning Speed: Can You Undo a Marriage That Happened Too Fast?

Ellen Nicholas
  • Posted
  • Author

Recent headlines surrounding Katie Price and her reportedly missing husband have once again drawn attention to the realities behind whirlwind romances, especially those that lead to a walk down the aisle within a matter of days of meeting, as was the case...

Employment Law Update - May 2026

Phil Cookson
  • Posted
  • Author

Hot Off the Press 💥 Adding to the avalanche of changes in Employment law, new proposals have been made by the Employment Lawyers’ Association to modernise and streamline employment tribunal processes, with a focus on improving efficiency,...

What Happens If You're Promised a Property but Left Out of the Will?

Leah Merrifield
  • Posted
  • Author

For many people, their home is their largest asset. It is not unusual for people to have discussions with their children or other family members or friends about who they want to inherit their property when they die. However, difficulties can arise when...

IHT437 Guide: Everything You Need to Know About the New HMRC Form

Nadine Wealands
  • Posted
  • Author

April 2026 brought with it further changes to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) regime, and with those changes came another layer of compliance. HMRC has now introduced Form IHT437, a new schedule to sit alongside the IHT400, and one that will be particularly...

Is There a Time Limit for Challenging a Will?

Leah Merrifield
  • Posted
  • Author

Unlike some other types of claim, there is no set time limit for bringing a claim to challenge a will. However, this does not necessarily mean that claimants can take as long as they want to bring their challenge. Even if there is strong evidence to support...

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Long‑Term Supply Agreements

Julia Seary
  • Posted
  • Author

Across the UK grocery sector, more supermarkets are considering or moving towards long‑term supply agreements with producers. These arrangements reflect a shift away from short‑term sourcing and annual contracts, towards greater security of...

No Mow May

Leah Merrifield
  • Posted
  • Author

Spring has sprung and so have wildflowers, bees and butterflies! This May we are encouraging everyone to get involved in No Mow May by letting lawns and grassy areas grow wild for nature. What is No Mow May? No Mow May is an annual event run by...

Time to Look Again at Section 30(1)(f) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Nigel Maguire
  • Posted
  • Author

This case arises out of a tenant’s application for a new tenancy under section of The Railway Bell Public House, Southwood, London, comprising a pub on the ground floor, function/storage space and staff rooms above, and residential accommodation for...

Incorporating Your Charity as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Greta Mockute
  • Posted
  • Author

A charitable incorporated organisation (or CIO) is a corporate structure designed specifically for charities in England and Wales. As it was only introduced in January 2013, it is still a relatively new concept and you may be considering if incorporating as...

Earth Day 2026

Ann Barrasso
  • Posted
  • Author

Today is Earth Day, a chance to pause and reflect on the role each of us plays in shaping a more sustainable future. This year's Earth Day theme is 'Our Power, Our Planet' and reminds us that meaningful environmental progress isn't just...

Employment Law Update - April 2026

Phil Cookson
  • Posted
  • Author

This month’s Employment Law Bulletin will be focusing on a topic that is relevant to all. We will be discussing the great return to office recall and whether this is a constructive dismissal time bomb. For a brief time, the commute was quiet. The...

Back to Basics: Unmarried Couples

Ellen Nicholas
  • Posted
  • Author

With my Back to Basics series, I aim to demystify areas of family law that are often confusing and misunderstood. Having already explored divorce and finance, and child law, I now turn my attention to an area that raises just as many questions: unmarried...

Can a Business Increase Prices Without Agreement to Cover Rising Fuel Costs?

Julia Seary
  • Posted
  • Author

With fuel prices remaining volatile, many organisations are facing sharply increased operational costs. For businesses operating under long‑term or volume‑based commercial contracts, one question comes up repeatedly: “Can we increase...

How the Renters' Rights Act 2026 Impacts Landlords

Kelly Willows
  • Posted
  • Author

Many landlords may be aware of the Renters Rights’ Act 2026 that achieved Royal Assent on 27th October 2025, and which becomes law on 1st May 2026. With the implementation date coming round the corner fast, this note sets out the two key mandatory...

Is a Sikh Marriage Entered Into in England & Wales a Valid Marriage?

Layla Babadi
  • Posted
  • Author

The short answer is no, not automatically. A Sikh marriage, known as an “ Anand Karaj ” , translates to “ act towards happiness ” and is often interpreted by scholars as a “ blissful union .” It is a spiritual...

  • Page 1 of 19