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Things unsaid

Jones v Kernott: to infer or to impute, asks Jonathan Fowles

The decision in Jones v Kernott [2010] 3 All ER 423 should invite property practitioners to take stock of developments in the law of common intention trusts. Beneath the surface of Jones v Kernott is a long-running and profound academic debate about the nature and justification of the common intention trust, which seems not to have been resolved by Stack v Dowden [2007] 2 AC 432. It would be inappropriate in an article of this length to attempt to do justice to that debate or to engage with it. This article seeks to place Jones v Kernott in the context of earlier case-law, and to suggest in light of that what the impact of the decision might be.

The issue in Jones v Kernott

An unmarried couple live together in a house registered in their joint names. At no time do they discuss in what shares they own the property. They subsequently separate

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Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

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Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

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