National Conference 2024
It’s A Family Affair
It’s a Family Affair
This year’s conference takes the form of a day long case study. Ricky and Stephanie’s blended family face some challenges in this gripping Lifetime Lawyers tale. Listen to how our five expert speakers untangle the various issues for their immediate family and beyond.
The case study synopsis is below. To read the full case study, please click here


To make things more fun, please read the full case study in advance of the conference and jot down how you would approach this scenario and your key considerations. You can then compare your notes with the experts.

1982
Ricky is born.
2001
Ricky starts his medical degree at university in Norwich and meets Lucy in the second year.
2004
Ricky and Lucy move in together when Lucy finishes her law degree.
2006
Lucy finds out she’s pregnant and they get married when Ricky finishes university. Lucy dies in childbirth.
2009
Max is diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum.
2015
Ricky meets Steve (they/them) who identifies as non-binary and they move in together a few months later. Steve’s lost contact with his parents Valerie and John, though he’s still in occasional contact with his sister, Rebecca but hasn’t met her children.
2018
Steve comes out as transgender, begins the process of transitioning socially, and starts to use the name Stephanie, changing their name using a Change of Name Deed.
2019
Tom is diagnosed with skin cancer, but it is caught quickly, the treatment is effective, and he goes into remission.
2020
Max starts a YouTube channel, Ricky helps him monetise the channel and the money is paid into his Child Trust Fund.

Ricky and Stephanie decide they want to start a family and approach a surrogacy agency.
2022
The first round of IVF with their surrogate using embryos created with sperm from each of Ricky and Stephanie is unsuccessful.
2023
The second round of IVF is successful, and their surrogate is due to give birth in July 2024.

Valerie is rushed into hospital with heart failure and dies leaving a Will including some provision for grandchildren.

Max turns 17, starts learning to drive and wants to use some of his YouTube money to buy a car.
2024
Barbara is diagnosed with dementia.

Tom’s cancer has returned, and it is terminal. His prognosis is 1-2 years.

Our Speakers

  • Max is 17, about to turn 18, and is on the autistic spectrum. He has a monetized YouTube Channel, and Ricky has been paying the money into his child trust fund account.
  • Max is learning to drive and has talked about buying a car with his YouTube money when he passes his test.
  • Ricky is concerned about Max’s ability to manage his money. What advice would you give to Ricky and/or Max on how best to protect Max and his assets going forward?
  • Should Max be obtaining independent advice?
  • Tom is terminally ill, and Barbara has been diagnosed with dementia.
  • Ricky is concerned that his mum won’t cope well after his dad’s death; he’s found a leaflet for Dignitas at their house and doesn’t know who this belongs to.
  • Ricky knows his parents did EPAs (Enduring Powers of Attorney) years ago but he’s not aware of them having anything in place for health and welfare, or how up to date their Wills are, though believes he was named as executor alongside the surviving parent in their most recent Wills.
  • Ricky is concerned that his mum will be extremely vulnerable if left living on her own after his dad’s death and wants to protect her as best he can. How can he help both now and after his dad’s death? What should be done about the Dignitas leaflet?
  • Ricky’s parents Tom and Barbara own a modest home in East London, and Ricky is their only child. What IHT (Inheritance Tax) allowances do they have available, and what could/should they include in their Wills to maximize those allowances?
  • Ricky is a GP, and he and Stephanie are very comfortable and own a home together. Stephanie doesn’t work; they maintain the home, and it’s intended they will be a full-time caregiver when their surrogate child is born. Ricky and Stephanie aren’t currently married or in a civil partnership but aren’t opposed to this. What IHT allowances will be available to them both now and if they should marry or enter into a civil partnership?
  • Ricky has been dabbling in crypto assets. What consideration needs to be given to these in his Will, and what are the IHT consequences of owning these types of assets?
  • Tom has active social media accounts, and he has terminal cancer. What will happen to these accounts after his death, and what measures can he take now to protect them? What will happen if he doesn’t take those measures?
  • Ricky is a widow and sole parent to Max, currently 17.
  • Ricky met Stephanie in 2015 when they identified as nonbinary, and they moved in together a few months later. Stephanie came out as transgender in 2018 and is in the process of transitioning. They have yet to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate, and they and Ricky are having a baby via a surrogate who is currently pregnant.
  • What issues need to be considered when advising Ricky and Stephanie on their own Wills and LPAs?
  • Does their unborn child have any claim as a grandchild named in Valerie’s Will, and will their child/future children have any claim under John’s Will?
  • What other things need to be considered when advising Ricky and Stephanie?
  • Stephanie is estranged from her parents John and Valerie, who have never supported their sexuality and gender identity.
  • Stephanie has attempted to maintain contact with their parents and is still in contact with their sister Rebecca but has not met Rebecca’s children.
  • After Valerie’s death, Stephanie has seen her Will which leaves most of her estate to John and 10% to “my grandchildren”. As Stephanie’s unborn surrogate child doesn’t currently have any right to inherit, could a claim be made on their behalf?
  • Having seen Valerie’s Will, Stephanie is aware that the default residuary provisions have been updated recently, and she’s excluded from the default residuary provisions. On the assumption that John’s Will has the same provisions, on his death what chance of success would a claim brought by Stephanie for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975?

Where we are

 

Shaw Theatre

100-110 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AJ

 

 

 

 

To find out more about the event click here

Date and Time

The date of our Conference is:

2oth June 2024

The time of our Conference is:

09:00 - 16:45

Our Drinks Reception runs from:

16:45 - 19:00

 

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