Justices hear landmark wills case

Three charities put their case before the Supreme Court this week in the long-running wills case of Ilott v Mitson.

Melita Jackson died in 2004, leaving most of her estate to animal charities and nothing for her estranged daughter, who left home at 17 to live with her boyfriend. Jackson had no connection with the charities during her lifetime. The daughter, Mrs Ilott, who depends on state benefits, made a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. 

Last summer the Court of Appeal held that the daughter should receive one third of the estate (see Ilott v Mitson [2015] EWCA Civ 797). The charities—the Blue Cross, RSPB and RSPCA— appealed.

Richard Kershaw, family law partner at Hunters Solicitors, said: “This is a matter of precedent for the charities but a matter of real need for Mrs Ilott.

“If the Supreme Court upholds the Court of Appeal, it will push the door ajar and encourage many more cases of this kind in future.”