This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7372555.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sisters await results of tax case | Sisters await results of tax case |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two elderly sisters are due to learn later if their battle over inheritance tax has been successful. | Two elderly sisters are due to learn later if their battle over inheritance tax has been successful. |
| Joyce Burden, 90, and her sister Sybil, 82, have lived together in Marlborough, Wiltshire, all their lives. | |
| Last year they appealed against a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that inheritance tax should be paid when the first of them dies. | |
| The sisters said this would not happen if they were a married or gay couple. A judgment is expected on Tuesday. | The sisters said this would not happen if they were a married or gay couple. A judgment is expected on Tuesday. |
| The Burdens started writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1976 urging that cohabiting family members should be treated the same as married couples for inheritance tax purposes. | The Burdens started writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1976 urging that cohabiting family members should be treated the same as married couples for inheritance tax purposes. |
| When the UK Civil Partnership Act of 2004 recognised gay and lesbian couples for inheritance tax purposes, the sisters turned to the European Court of Human Rights. | When the UK Civil Partnership Act of 2004 recognised gay and lesbian couples for inheritance tax purposes, the sisters turned to the European Court of Human Rights. |
| Their lawyers argued that the Act breaches Human Rights Convention articles outlawing discrimination and guaranteeing the "protection of property". | Their lawyers argued that the Act breaches Human Rights Convention articles outlawing discrimination and guaranteeing the "protection of property". |
| The sisters lost the case by the narrowest of margins - a 4-3 vote of the seven-judge court. | The sisters lost the case by the narrowest of margins - a 4-3 vote of the seven-judge court. |
| After hearing their appeal, Human Rights judges in Strasbourg are due to give their verdict. | After hearing their appeal, Human Rights judges in Strasbourg are due to give their verdict. |
| If the Burdens lose, when one of them dies, the surviving sister will have to sell their four-bedroom house, valued in 2006 at £875,000, to pay the 40% inheritance tax on its value above £300,000. | If the Burdens lose, when one of them dies, the surviving sister will have to sell their four-bedroom house, valued in 2006 at £875,000, to pay the 40% inheritance tax on its value above £300,000. |