{"id":6381,"date":"2018-10-12T12:38:31","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T12:38:31","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2019-06-17T12:47:54","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T12:47:54","slug":"abbott-abbott-2007","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawteacher.net\/cases\/abbott-abbott-2007.php","title":{"rendered":"Abbott v Abbott [2007]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Abbott v Abbott [2007] UKPC 53<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beneficial ownership of matrimonial home; mortgage instalments; gift from husband\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

Facts<\/h3>\n

The parties were married in 1983 and the following year, Mr Abbott\u2019s mother transferred land to her son, on which their matrimonial home was built. The home was in Mr Abbott\u2019s sole name. Mr Abbott\u2019s mother contributed monies towards the construction cost of the home and the remainder was funded by way of bridging loan and a mortgage which was in joint names. Mrs Abbott did not work from 1986 to 1995 and when they divorced in 1999, she sought a half share of the home.<\/p>\n

Issues<\/h3>\n

Mr Abbott asserted Mrs Abbott\u2019s share amounted to 8% based on her actual contributions to the mortgage when she returned to work after having had children. He sought to rely on Lloyds Bank v Rosset <\/em><\/strong>[1991] 1 AC 107 <\/strong>which held that only direct contributions to purchase price or mortgage instalments would suffice to establish an equitable interest in property. He claimed his mother had intended to gift the land and monies to him alone. Mrs Abbott contended the gift had been intended for both parties, and as they had joint accounts and were jointly liable for the mortgage payments, their whole course of conduct should be considered, and the beneficial interests should be in equal shares.<\/p>\n

Decision\/Outcome<\/h3>\n

The home was held to be in equal shares. The usual inference when a parent gifts property to newlyweds is that it is intended for both parties. The law had moved on from Rosset<\/em><\/strong> and the parties\u2019 whole course of conduct should be considered when establishing their respective beneficial interests. The fact that they held joint bank accounts and assumed joint liability for the mortgage payments was significant, and Mrs Abbott was awarded a half share of the home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beneficial ownership of matrimonial home; mortgage instalments; gift from husband’s mother.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[85],"class_list":["post-6381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cases","tag-uk-law"],"yoast_head":"\nAbbott v Abbott [2007] | LawTeacher.net<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Beneficial ownership of matrimonial home; mortgage instalments; gift from husband's mother.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawteacher.net\/cases\/abbott-abbott-2007.php\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Abbott v Abbott [2007]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Beneficial ownership of matrimonial home; 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