Marcus v Marcus: can a non-biological child be ‘a child of the settlor’? – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted January 9th, 2025 in children, families, interpretation, news, trusts and tagged by sally

‘In the recent judgment of Marcus v Marcus [2024] EWHC 2086, Master Marsh found that the words “the children and remoter issue of the Settlor” in a settlement meant the two adult sons of the settlor, even though (unbeknownst to the settlor during his lifetime) one of his sons was not biologically his child. The case raises interesting and difficult questions about how “terms of art” should be treated in settlements, wills and contracts. And, how that concept fits with the well-established approach to interpreting documents having regard to the ordinary, natural meaning of words and the intention of the party or parties making the document.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 4th December 2024

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk