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At Stephensons our inheritance dispute solicitors are one of only a small number of dedicated contentious probate teams in the UK. Our solicitors are well experienced in dealing with a wide variety of disputes relating to Wills, estates, trusts and Court of Protection issues.
The death of a loved one is always a distressing time. The stress of the situation can be increased further when the Will is challenged or claims are made against the estate.
If a family member has passed away and what has been left for you in their Will is not what you anticipated, our solicitors may be able to challenge the Will. If you have concerns that it is invalid or that yourself or another family member has been unfairly excluded, we may be able to help.
Alternatively, you may be an executor or beneficiary where a claim is being brought against the estate and you may need advice or assistance in defending the claim.
No matter the nature of your inheritance dispute, whether you are looking to bring a claim or defend a claim, our team will be able to advise you on your case and discuss the funding options available to you. We can advise you on costs, timescales and whether you have a strong case.
Speak to a member of our specialist team today on 0161 696 6178 or complete our online enquiry form and we will contact you directly as soon as possible.
How can our inheritance disputes solicitors help?
If you are unsure as to whether someone made a will prior to their death, we can help you conduct a search with Certainty Will Search, who have access to the National Will Register.
Certainty is endorsed by the legal profession who write and store most Wills written in the UK. Certainty not only check the Certainty National Will Register which has over two million Wills allocated to it but they also have a sophisticated Will search system which connects solicitors throughout the UK.
Certainty makes it easy to do all the things you should do, to search for a Will. To search, simply get in touch with Stephensons and we can help you use this service.
If you are experiencing a dispute in regards to a Will, trust or estate, get in touch with Stephensons today to see how we can help. You can call us on 0161 696 6178 or complete our online enquiry form and someone will contact you as soon as possible.
Will dispute - Prior to his father’s death, our client’s sibling had taken their father to a financial advisor to obtain a new Will and trust document. The new Will left the entirety of his estate to the client’s sibling. The trust document sought to distribute the estate property – the father’s home – to our clients other siblings.Our client had been excluded entirely. After thorough investigations it transpired that our client had a strong claim to bring against the validity of the will. We managed to resolve the dispute with our client receiving a one third share of the estate and a one third share of the estate property.
"Many thanks for your assistance on this matter, which as you have probably realised I have found very distressing given the circumstances. I would like to thank you specifically for your cool calm manner and clear advice from the outset, which I have found very comforting. I also found your candour refreshing and much needed, and also the fact that you are extremely knowledgeable in your specialist area of practice is reassuring." - View from a satisfied client
"Professional, friendly, giving a clear appraisal without legal jargon and a realistic approach to the situation."- View from a satisfied client
"Was treated with respect, friendly staff. Always alert you on the progress of your case whether by writing or by phone. - View from a satisfied client
"A very professional and client focused service which understood my needs." - View from a satisfied client
Contentious probate solicitor Jordan Davies provides guidance on inheritance disputes, outlining the grounds on which the validity of a Will can be challenged. Jordan also provides guidance on the categories of people who can bring a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975 due to being left without reasonable financial provision.
Jordan also explains the importance of instructing a specialist solicitor when making a claim of this nature and why Stephensons are well placed to assist you.
We always aim to resolve inheritance dispute by way of negotiation. Sometimes it is necessary to issue court proceedings but even then, only around 15% of disputes progress all the way to a final court hearing.
There are a number of ways to dispute inheritance. You may feel that the Will distributing the estate is not valid or you may feel that you have been left without reasonable financial provision from the estate.
It is difficult to predict the cost of an inheritance dispute as there are many variables. Some cases may settle within a couple of months without the need for court proceedings, others may progress to a final hearing.
It is always best to try and resolve a dispute prior to the instruction of a solicitor. We will always advise you to explore all other settlement options, and to discuss the matter with the other parties, before seeking to instruct us.
If you wish to bring a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975, court proceedings must be issued within 6 months of the grant of probate. This is a strict deadline and cannot be missed otherwise you will be unable pursue such a claim.
Contentious probate is the area of law dealing with cases involving a dispute surrounding a Will or estate. It can also include disputes involving executors, trusts and administration of an estate.
Challenging a Will falls under the umbrella of contentious probate as it involves a dispute relating to an estate.
We always seek to settle inheritance disputes without the need to issue court proceedings. If court proceedings do become necessary, whether that be due to limitation or the nature of the claim, we still aim to settle before reaching a hearing.
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The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 gives the court the power to amend the way an estate is distributed, whether it is due to be distributed pursuant to the terms of a Will or the rules of intestacy . The act allows certain...
Earlier this year, a lawyer from China, who had married a British man and moved to the UK to live with him, lost her battle in court to defend the validity of his last Will and testament which set to make her the sole beneficiary of his estate. The Will was...
Staff reorder - wills inheritance
