Our articles are written by experts in their field and include barristers, solicitors, judges, mediators, academics and professionals from a range of related disciplines. Family Law provides a platform for debate for all the important topics, from divorce and care proceedings to transparency and access to justice. If you would like to contribute please email emma.reitano@lexisnexis.co.uk.
Spotlight
A day in the life Of...
Read on

Barnes v Phillips [2015] EWCA Civ 1056: Imputation! Imputation! Imputation!

Date:28 OCT 2015
Third slide
Barrister
This judgment is somewhat unusual. I have summarised it below and highlighted tensions with the recent decision in Capehorn v Harris [2015] EWCA Civ 955 and with the Court of Appeal's guidance on equitable accounting set out in Willcox v Tait [2006] EWCA Civ 1867 [2007] 2 FLR 871.

Facts

The parties had been in a relationship since 1983 and had lived together since 1989. They bought their first property together in 1996 in Lee South-East London. It was purchased in the parties’ joint names in 1996 for £135k at a time when they had a two-year-old child. The purchase was funded by their £25k savings and a joint repayment mortgage of c. £110k with HSBC. The lower court found that at the time of purchase the parties were joint tenants in law and equity as that was their common intention. Mr Barnes (B) paid the mortgage and life insurance whilst Ms Phillips (P) paid the council tax. They shared the utility bills and although B may have made a greater financial contributions because he earned more P made...

Read the full article here.