VWV has recently settled a complex and long running claim under
the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975,
brought by a cohabitee. After years of hard-fought litigation, the
claim settled at mediation for a 7-figure sum.
In this article, we highlight some of the issues for
practitioners to be aware of when dealing with these notoriously
difficult types of claims, and set out some top tips to assist in
reaching a successful settlement.
Who Made the Claim?
We acted for the Claimant, Ms X, in her claim for reasonable
financial provision from the estate of her late partner, Mr Y, a
wealthy business man.
Ms X and Mr Y were in a relationship for over a decade before Mr
Y's tragic death. A few years into their relationship, Ms X
moved in to live with Mr Y. At Mr Y's invitation, Ms X gave up
her job in order to support him more fully in his business
ventures. Mr Y assumed financial responsibility for Ms X and the
couple enjoyed an affluent
