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Wills update: undue influence & other concerns

22 September 2017
Issue: 6672 / Categories: Legal News , Wills & Probate
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The Law Commission’s proposals on testamentary undue influence are ‘cause for concern’, Jonathan McDonagh, Serle Court, has warned.

Writing in NLJ this week, McDonagh critiques the Commission’s consultation, Making a will, due to close on 10 November. While the Commission has called the law out-of-date, McDonagh says there is no need to scrap it just because it was made by Victorians. On proposed reforms to introduce circumstances where a presumption of undue influence can be applied, he says it is ‘very difficult to see what could be achieved’.

Also in NLJ this week, Alison Regan, partner at Russell-Cooke, asks how far a charity should go to protect a charitable legacy, and the duties of charity trustees, particularly in the high-profile case of animal lover Tracy Leaning.

Geldards’ partner Giselle Davies, and legal executive Ellis Pugh, meanwhile, consider the Fundraising Preference Service, which screens junkmail, and ask if it will alleviate concerns about charity behaviour.

 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

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

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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