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 editor@familylaw.co.uk.
Spotlight
A day in the life Of...
Read on

High Court rejects police officer’s claim to invalidate mother’s last will

Date:28 AUG 2015
Third slide
Dispute Resolution Solicitor
The case of McCabe v McCabe [2015] EWHC 1591 (Ch) was a bitter contentious probate dispute between two brothers that lasted 11 days.

Background

Leicestershire police officer Timothy McCabe was disinherited by his mother shortly before her death. Mrs McCabe had made a new will leaving all of her estate to her eldest son Stephen. Timothy claimed that his mother lacked testamentary capacity to make that will did not know or approve its contents and that it was invalidly executed. Timothy applied to prove an earlier will that divided the estate equally between the brothers.

Timothy’s case failed on all counts but it is the testamentary capacity challenge which is really interesting. New issues of confabulation and sequestration offer fresh insight in to problem areas in cases of elderly testators. I acted for Stephen and will take you through Timothy’s challenge and explain why it did not succeed....

Read the full article here.