John Critchley will speak at an Estate Research webinar on Thursday 12 September about assisted suicide, the forfeiture rule and relief.
The criminal offence of assisted suicide has myriad implications. The webinar will highlight the legal, ethical, and practical issues of such sensitive and complex cases to help families and their advisers to understand the forfeiture rule:
- what it is
- when it applies
- its effect
- how the court analyses whether it is engaged, and
- the court’s approach to an application for relief.
Presenters' involvement in Ninian v Findlay -1st and only reported decision on assisted dying and relief against forfeiture rule
John and his co-presenters: Alexa Payet (Michelmores disputed wills & estates partner) and barrister Toby Bishop acted in the 1st and only reported decision involving assisted dying and relief against the forfeiture rule: Ninian v Findlay [2019].
They represented the wife of a man suffering from a progressive incurable disease who had reached the decision to end his life with the assistance of a clinic in Switzerland.
If Mrs Ninian had not collated material about her husband’s suicide, taken specialist legal advice and reported the facts to the police, then co-operated with the investigation, she would likely have been caught by the forfeiture rule in common law.
The effect of the forfeiture rule is that anyone who helps someone else to die by suicide forfeits an interest in their estate and any jointly-owned assets will be severed.
How to register for the webinar
Register for free to attend Estate Research's webinar: 'Suicide, forfeiture and relief'.