Wrigley Claydon Solicitors

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  • Probate lawyers and heirs clash over fortune of music icon Prince

    Probate lawyers and heirs clash over fortune of music icon Prince

    A Minnesota probate judge overseeing the estate of Prince has refused to appoint either of two probate lawyers seeking to represent the late music star’s likely heirs in managing his legacy, citing disagreement among the siblings over whom they prefer.

    Prince left behind a fortune believed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars when he died without a will in April 2016.

    Under Minnesota law, his assets are expected to pass equally to Prince’s younger sister, Tyka Nelson, and five surviving half-siblings, as he had no offspring or spouse and his parents were both deceased.

    But the judge has said he would not formally validate the inheritance of the six siblings until court appeals from various other claims against the estate last year have run their course.

    The judge also cited potential conflicts that could arise from each candidate’s ties with third parties involved in litigation with the estate.

    Wills and Probate disputes can be very complex and require expert legal guidance to resolve matters as fairly as possible.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier, whether you are bringing a claim or you are on the receiving end. We are experienced in this field and have won complex cases for our clients. As it is an emotional time we deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for dispute advice please contact us. Call 0161 785 3534 to speak to Shalish Mehta, in our civil and commercial litigation department or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.

  • Woman in divorce court battle to separate from husband

    Mrs Tini Owens has taken her husband to the Court of Appeal to ask three judges for a divorce because he makes her feel ‘unloved, isolated and alone’.

    In 2016 Mrs Owens failed to persuade a family court judge to allow her to divorce her husband but Mr Hugh Owens is opposed to the divorce even though his wife had an affair in 2013 and said they still had a ‘few years’ to enjoy together in life; they have been married 38 years.

    Mrs Owens could have to live next door until at least February 2020 because in England and Wales a couple must be separated for five years for a divorce to be allowed without the consent of both parties.

    If Lord Justice Munby and the two other appeal judges overturn the decision it would be a landmark ‘no fault’ divorce case, where a spouse does not have to prove that his or her partner has done anything wrong.

    Mr Owens, runs a successful fruit and vegetable growing company with a £7million annual turnover. He and Mrs Owen are the two main shareholders. They also have a property company and are said to own four homes between them.

    Sir James said the job of appeal judges was to ‘apply the law’. He said they would examine legislation laid down by Parliament and said, ‘It is not a ground for divorce if you find yourself in a wretchedly unhappy marriage – people may say it should be.’

    They are expected to publish a ruling soon.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make the difficult divorce process a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for family advice then please call 0161 785 3521 to speak to Terri Pickup in our Family Department or email tp@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Do you think that a spouse should be allowed a divorce if there is no fault by the other party?

  • Beyoncé sued over intellectual property rights…

    Beyoncé is being sued for $20 million by the estate of a late internet star who is sampled in her song and video Formation.

    The estate of Anthony Barré, also known as Messy Mya, alleges in a filed federal lawsuit that Beyoncé used a sample of Mya in the single and its video without permission.

    The sampling is not heard in a digitally purchased version of Formation from Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. Both the song and the album are nominated in the 2017 Grammy Awards.

    If you have a brand, something you have invented, or an original piece of work that you have written and someone infringes your rights we can help. We can assist you in securing an injunction and/or damages or account of profits and the delivery up and destruction of the offending item. If you have been accused of infringing someone’s intellectual property rights then we can also help by raising various defences and minimising your liability.

    If you feel you have an intellectual property rights case and need some legal advice then please speak to Shalish Mehta, our civil and commercial litigation solicitor. Please call us on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.
  • Increased maintenance payments for ex wife who invested money ‘unwisely’…

    Increased maintenance payments for ex wife who invested money ‘unwisely’…

    Maria Mills received a £230,000 lump sum along with £1,100 monthly maintenance payments when she split from her husband Graham after 13 years of marriage.

    But since the divorce in 2002 Mrs Mills invested the money ‘unwisely’ in London properties, landing herself in debt because of her ‘poor’ decisions.

    Mr Mills argued he ‘should not be the insurer against his ex wife’s poor financial decisions’, saying it was unfair that he should ‘pick up the tab’ years after they split.

    However, he has now been ordered to increase Mrs Mills’ monthly payments to £1,441 so she is ‘able to meet her basic needs’.

    It was held that the Judge in the first court action, had calculated the Mrs Mills’ ‘needs’ at £1,441 a month, but had gone on to order that her monthly maintenance should not be increased from £1,100.

    But the Appeal Court said that ‘shortfall’ was unexplained and left Mrs Mills out of pocket. Mrs Mills would not be able to move towards independence. The Appeal Court further stated that Mr Mills has and had the ability to make the maintenance payments asked for.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for family advice then please call 0161 785 3521 to speak to Terri Pickup in our Family Department or email tp@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Do you think that it is fair that the wife was able to go back to court to ask for increased maintenance payments?

  • Multi-million pound legal battle for estranged husband and wife behind tiger charity

    Multi-million pound legal battle for estranged husband and wife behind tiger charity

    Chinese conservationist Li Quan and estranged husband Stuart Bray, a banker from America, who founded a charity called Save Chinese Tigers before their marriage broke down have returned to court for another round of litigation in their multi-million-pound legal fight.

    For three years, they have been embroiled in a legal battle. Ms Li claims that Mr Bray used a £50 million offshore trust set up to fund a shelter for South China tigers to hide his money. In turn, Mr Bray maintains he has committed his cash to saving endangered animals and is virtually penniless.

    The couple initially fought at a hearing in the High Court in London and Ms Li complained about a ruling by Judge Sir Paul Coleridge.

    She argued that money put into the Save China’s Tigers charity was used to fund the couple’s “personal lives” but Mr Bray disagreed.

    The Judge ruled in Mr Bray’s favour, calling her an “unreliable” source, but Ms Li complained that there was a “lack of detail” in the ruling and called for a review.

    Two appeal judges last year agreed that the Judge’s ruling should be reconsidered.

    The latest hearing, at the Court of Appeal in London, is due to end later this week.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make the difficult process of divorce or separation a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for family advice or want to know how to start divorce proceedings then please call 0161 785 3521 to speak to Terri Pickup in our Family Department or email tp@wrigleyclaydon.com.
  • 20 year-long bitter neighbour dispute could see pensioner face criminal trial

    20 year-long bitter neighbour dispute could see pensioner face criminal trial

    A pensioner is to face a criminal trial for ‘illegally digging up some soil’ as part of a bitter neighbour dispute that has lasted nearly 20 years.

    Valerie Vivian was allegedly spotted digging up soil laid by her neighbours in a jointly-owned communal garden in Somerset.

    Her neighbours had laid the soil over a gravel path she had allegedly put down in a ‘land-grab’ without planning permission, which goes back to a planning dispute that started in 2001.

    Vivian’s neighbours previously accused her of planting around 300 50ft leylandii trees on her land to block their views in ‘an act of revenge’ after they opposed her application to build on the land.

    Mrs Vivian has applied six times to build four houses on private land she bought in 1996 but each time has been refused.

    The council denied the application after opposition from neighbours who were worried a development would block their views of Solisbury Hill.

    Neighbours accused her of blackmail after she promised to remove the wall of trees if they backed her planning application, but they refused to do so.

    The council says they cannot act as homes in the street get plenty of sunlight and homeowners do not have a legal right to a view of Solisbury Hill.

    However, after years of arguing, there are rumours that residents plan to take the law into their own hands and cut the trees down themselves.

    If you find yourself in a neighbour dispute then call Shalish Mehta in our civil and commercial litigation department on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com. We can advise you on the appropriate course of action and assist with any legal documents or proceedings that may occur.

    How important is it you to have good relations with your neighbours?

  • Construction dispute against rogue traders

    Two rogue traders in charge of building firms which carried out tens of thousands of pounds of shoddy work face prison after they admitted a catalogue of reckless trading offences.

    Jonathan Jones and Rebecca Dack pleaded guilty to crimes against customers who were charged more than £50,000 for building work.

    It was said they “failed to adequately undertake building works”, while in one they failed to provide a cost breakdown.

    Jonathan Jones told a woman he needed a £1,450 deposit to build a new wall at her home, he told another woman he needed £1,200 to build a patio, and told a man he needed £4,300 to construct a driveway, as well as promising refunds of £1,200 and £300 for cancelled works.

    Rebecca Dack told one customer a contract could not be terminated within the cancellation period as £800 had been spent on materials.

    If you have received a shoddy service from a builder or contractor then you may have a right of action under the Consumer Rights Act. The Act states that the work must be completed with reasonable care and skill be completed within a reasonable time, unless a specific time is agreed and use materials that are of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose.

    We can help you obtain the result that you deserve.

    If you feel you have consumer issue and need some legal advice then please speak to our construction dispute solicitor Shalish Mehta, our civil and commercial litigation solicitor. Please call us on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Read more about Construction Disputes.

  • Can an ex spouse ask for more years after a divorce settlement?

    Glen Briers built a £30million sports and street-wear business incorporating brands Lambretta and Vision Streetwear.

    When he split from Nicola Briers, his wife of 18 years in 2002, the business was turning over £1million a year.

    When they divorced Mr Briers gave his wife £150,000 to pay off the mortgage and she kept the £700,000 family home.

    She also got a £10,000-a- year salary, plus child maintenance but he kept the business and is now said to be worth £10million.

    After her relationship with her new partner broke down, Mrs Briers went to court asking for more from Mr Briers.

    In 2015, Judge Rogers declared Mr Briers ‘a liar’ who resorted to ‘deception’ in trying to play down his wealth and therefore Mrs Briers was entitled to more.

    The court found that Mr Brier’s failure to honestly disclose his assets meant that his ex-wife had never given her informed consent to the deal.

    Mr Briers then challenged the judge’s decision at the Court of Appeal, insisting that his ex-wife should get only a £500,000 lump sum.

    He argued that the success of his business since the split was all down to his hard work and that it was far too late for his ex-wife to go back on their ‘clean break’.

    But three senior judges have now thrown out his complaints and ordered him to pay the full £2.7 million.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively and fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier

    If you are looking for family advice then please call our Oldham family solicitors on 0161 785 3521 to speak to Corinne Bailey-Brown in our Family Department or email cb@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Tell us if you think it is fair that the ex-wife was able to go back to court to ask for more money.

  • Tragic case of PC Paul Briggs highlights the need for Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

    Tragic case of PC Paul Briggs highlights the need for Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

    The recent case of ‘right to die’ policeman Paul Briggs, highlights the need for people of all ages to have in place a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.

    PC Briggs, 43, was involved in a head-on collision on his motorcycle on his way to work for Merseyside Police in July 2015. He suffered several serious injuries including a bleed on the brain and five fractures to his spine. He had been “minimally conscious” in a coma since the accident.

    His wife, Lindsey Briggs, fought on her husband’s behalf for his right to be allowed to die. Although no formal, written “living will” had been made by Mr Briggs about what should happen to him in such circumstances, Mrs Briggs believed her husband would want to be allowed to die. Mrs Briggs applied to the Court of Protection – where judges consider matters concerning people who lack mental capacity and the ability to make decisions for themselves – for her husband to stop receiving life-support treatment. Doctors at The Walton Centre in Liverpool opposed to withdrawing treatment, however Mr Justice Charles ruled in Mrs Briggs’ favour in November 2016 after a yearlong battle through the courts.

    Mr Briggs was transferred to a hospice in December to receive palliative care and died on 21st January 2017.

    Had Mr Briggs had a Lasting Power of Attorney for his Health and Welfare in which he had given his wife the authority to refuse life sustaining treatment on his behalf, the application, delays, upset and, in her opinion, loss of dignity and possible prolonged suffering, would not have been necessary.

    Partner and head of Trusts, Wills, Probate and Powers of Attorney at Wrigley Claydon, Rachel Damianou comments, “Mr Briggs was young and such a scenario would clearly not have ever crossed his mind but the case highlights the fact that Lasting Powers of Attorney are not just for the elderly.”

    Lindsey Briggs has said she hopes her husband’s story will help other families facing similar dilemmas by highlighting the importance of making “advanced decisions” or Lasting Power of Attorney. She added, “A document, a statement of his wishes would have been totally non-negotiable. But Paul didn’t have one. Who does? You think as a wife you’ll be able to speak for your husband, be their voice. It’s shocking to find that you can’t.”

    For further advice on appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney please speak to our experienced probate department on 0161 624 6811.

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  • Will dispute solicitor

    A former judge and her husband who forged a dead man’s will in order to obtain two country cottages which they then converted into a £325,000 home were jailed for six months each earlier today.

    Margaret and Alan Hampshire made it appear as though Martin Blanche had left his house to an elderly cousin of Mrs Hampshire’s on whose behalf she held power of attorney.

    The court had heard how Mr Blanche was a ‘simple man’ who it was thought couldn’t read or write and it was widely considered by those who knew him that it was therefore unlikely he would have written a will.

    The Hampshires claimed they had found a will written by Mr Blanche who they had never even met, as they cleared out his cluttered home after his death.

    Mrs Hampshire, who had previously worked as a solicitor specialising in wills and probate, then transferred the property and another property that her cousin and Mr Blanche had jointly owned to her daughter, before she and her husband knocked through and developed the two homes into one large cottage.

    They initially denied the offences, but pleaded guilty to a string of charges including forgery, fraud and theft part-way through a trial at Nottingham Crown Court last month.

    Judge Gregory Dickinson QC told them: ‘It is a statement of the obvious that forging a will for whatever reason is very serious”.

    A confiscation will take place next year to determine if the pair will have to pay back any proceeds from their crimes.

    Wills and Probate disputes can be very complex and require expert legal guidance to resolve matters as fairly as possible.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier, whether you are bringing a claim or you are on the receiving end. We are experienced in this field and have won complex cases for our clients.

    As it is an emotional time we deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for a Will dispute solicitor please contact us. Call 0161 785 3534 to speak to Shalish Mehta, in our civil and commercial litigation department or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.