Area of law: Property, family and trust law

Reforming the law to improve the current complex landscape, making kinship care for children options simpler and easier to navigate.

The Law Commission is seeking to reform the law of burial in England and Wales which is piecemeal, complex and outdated. The consultation period for this project has now ended.

Reviewing whether the current law is working effectively and delivering fair, consistent outcomes for divorcing couples.

Establishing whether a person’s wishes about what happens to their body after death should be binding, and who should have rights and obligations in relation to bodies in other cases.

This project aims to close a historic loophole and save homeowners millions in insurance costs.

The Law Commission is reviewing the law on wills. The consultation period for this project has now ended.

Ensuring Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 works for today’s commercial leasehold market. The consultation period for this project has now ended.

The Law Commission of England and Wales has published its joint report with the Scottish Law Commission, outlining recommendations for a robust new system to govern surrogacy, which will work better for children, surrogates and intended parents. Our recommendations are accompanied by draft legislation. We have received the Government’s interim response to our recommendations.

We published our report on leasehold enfranchisement (“Leasehold home ownership: buying your freehold or extending your lease”) on 21 July 2020.