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Gift – Donatio mortis causa. The claimant commenced proceedings seeking a declaration that his aunt had left him her house following a donatio mortis causa. Two of the charities which had been named beneficiaries in her will, unsuccessfully defended that claim and appealed. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, clarified the requirements of a donatio mortis causa and warned against any extension of the doctrine towards other situations. The charities' appeal was allowed as two of the three requirements for a donatio mortis causa had not been met. The judge's hypothetical award for reasonable financial provision for the claimant under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 was upheld as there had been no error of law and the figure arrived at had not been outside the permissible bracket.
Gift – Donatio mortis causa. The claimant commenced proceedings seeking a declaration that his aunt had left him her house following a donatio mortis causa. Two of the charities which had been named beneficiaries in her will, unsuccessfully defended that claim and appealed. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, clarified the requirements of a donatio mortis causa and warned against any extension of the doctrine towards other situations. The charities' appeal was allowed as two of the three requirements for a donatio mortis causa had not been met. The judge's hypothetical award for reasonable financial provision for the claimant under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 was upheld as there had been no error of law and the figure arrived at had not been outside the permissible bracket.
The age of criminal responsibility, extreme weather and conflict resolution – plus, new protocol for reporting bullying at the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP discusses her decade as a trade union and employment law barrister, the demands of life as a Law Officer and the number one priority shaping her work. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
At least not that way, says Richard Paige
