Will & estate disputes

Contentious trust & probate

We are one of the few UK law firms which has a dedicated contentious trust and probate team. The team deals with any will dispute, estate disputes, trust disputes and Court of Protection issues and acts for all parties – individuals; estate executors and administrators; trustees; charities and a number of banks.

We are experts in contentious trust & probate claims

This is a complex and specialist area of law and you need to ensure that you are represented by lawyers with appropriate experience and knowledge. Nationally, we are one of the few firms which has a specialist team which can provide such representation.

Several members of the team are members of the Association of Contentious Trusts & Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). To become a member of this organistion, you must have substantial experience of dealing with contentious trust and probate work over a number of years.

About contentious trust & probate claims

Our work is varied and our experience extensive. Clients seek our advice on all kinds of matters, including:

• Inheritance Act claims. (Where the Will or the position on intestacy fails to properly provide for the claimant).
• Claims regarding lack of testamentary capacity in execution of wills.
• Claims regarding undue influence in execution of wills.
• Claims regarding improper execution of wills.
• Interpretation of the terms of a will.
• Claims regarding agreements made with the deceased before death, particularly with regards to the disposal of the estate.
• Disputes over the identification of beneficiaries.
• Claims for and against executors and trustees.
• Trusts and charity disputes.
• Claims relating to enduring powers of attorney.

We provide early assessments of case merits and give pro-active advice throughout.

In all cases, we explore non-litigious courses of action first in an attempt to resolve the claim out of court. Several members of the team are accredited mediators and the team has successfully concluded several disputes for clients through mediation. However, where matters do escalate, we are equally able to deliver focused support, practical guidance and effective representation as regards litigation, drawing on the whole firm’s knowledge and resources for the best results.

Funding your case

The dispute resolution team is committed to providing you with the latest funding options and are able to offer a variety of arrangements such as public funding, conditional fees and after the event insurance arrangements. We will discuss your specific options early on and will do everything we can to assist you in choosing the right route for you.

For more information call 0870 1500 100, or use the links above to drop us a line.