The WLR Daily case summaries
[2024] WLR(D) 438
Chancery Division
Morris v Morris and others
[2024] EWHC 2554 (Ch)
2024 Oct 3: 9
Trower J
Public policy— Administration of estates— Suicide— Claimant assisting terminally ill wife in travelling to assisted dying clinic in Switzerland— Wife accompanied to clinic by adult children and sister— Police finding no grounds for further investigation into claimant’s actions and no public interest in prosecution— Claimant’s assistance in wife’s suicide sufficient to engage forfeiture rule precluding acquisition of beneficial interest under wife’s will— Whether statutory modification of forfeiture rule appropriate— Whether actions of children and sister also engaging forfeiture rule— Approach to determining whether necessary parties joined to proceedings in assisted dying cases—
Forfeiture Act 1982 (c 34), s 1, 2(1)(2)
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Suicide Act 1961 (9 & 10 Eliz 2, c 60), s 2(1)