PT-2025-BRS-000081 - [2025] EWHC 2128 (Ch)

On 1 July 2025, the claimants issued this claim under CPR Part 8, without naming a defendant. They are the executors of the will of Patricia Fassam, and they obtained a grant of probate on 25 October 2023. The deceased, who died a widow on 22 November 2022, had two children: (1) Mark, who predeceased her, unmarried and leaving no issue, and (2) Jason, who survived her but who also so far is unmarried and has no issue. He is now 55 years old.

The deceased settled various trusts during her life. The earliest of them, established on 1 October 1987, is the subject of this claim. It held a life assurance policy with Allied Dunbar, which was acquired by Zurich Assurance Ltd in 1988. Unfortunately, the trust instrument cannot be found. Zurich has paid the proceeds of the policy (£168,000) to the claimants, and they seek the directions of the court as to how to deal with them.