Inheritance law remains complex says Taylor&Emmet
A landmark decision determining the legitimacy of a mother’s will does not go far enough to clarify rules about providing for families, claims Sheffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP.
The firm’s contentious probate expert, Alex Watkinson, welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Ilott v Mitson case, but felt more could be done to refine inheritance legislation.
He said: “The Supreme Court has provided useful guidance about the weight that should be attached to factors allowing people, such as spouses, cohabitants and children, to make a claim against an estate if they believe they do not receive ‘reasonable financial provision.’ However, there remains a wide degree of discretion, meaning a judge hearing a similar case could still come to a number of conclusions.”
