George Harley successfully represented the family of a Deceased Mother in a landmark case involving the recognition of foreign customary marriages and the protection of a minor child’s inheritance rights.
The case arose following the tragic passing of the Deceased, the mother of the minor child. After her death, her partner claimed they were married under Nigerian and Ghanaian customary law and sought recognition as the Deceased’s surviving spouse to inherit her estate under the rules of intestacy. This would have deprived the child of his inheritance.
Acting on behalf of the family, and instructed by Simon Lim and Aimee Benmayor of Bross Bennett LLP, George successfully challenged the validity of the purported marriages under section 55(1)(a) of the Family Law Act 1986. He successfully prevented the partner from being recognised as the Deceased’s spouse, thereby securing the minor child’s inheritance rights.
Judgment can be viewed here.
Further information
For more information from the family team, contact clerks@36family.co.uk
Involving George Harley
