Lindsay Bisiker v Judith Ann Bisiker & Ors

Facts

The Bisiker family fell into dispute about the beneficial ownership of 'Moonhills', a substantial five-bedroom property with 4.5 acres near Beaulieu in Hampshire, registered at HM Land Registry in the name of Judith Bisiker since 1984. The property was bought in 1984 with funds provided by her father Jim, then resident and domiciled in Canada, who also paid for extensive renovations, the annexe, stabling, a tennis court and most running costs. Judith lived there with her partner from 1984 to 1995; her brother Brian and his wife lived there for about two years; Jim and his second wife Brenda used it as a summer holiday home; and Lindsay, Jim's youngest daughter, later formed the closest connection with it. From 2004 onwards Jim explored transferring the property out of Judith's name for tax reasons, and from 2015 relations soured, with Jim asserting variously that Moonhills was his and that it was held in trust for the family. On 28 April 2023 Judith took possession and excluded Lindsay. Lindsay issued this claim on 13 September 2024 against her siblings and parents, seeking declarations that Judith held the property on trust — for the children, or for Jim — and relief for wrongful eviction. Judith counterclaimed for a declaration of sole beneficial ownership. Jim, a protected party, participated neutrally through Brenda as his litigation friend.