Contentious Probate Solicitors

If you feel that a loved one’s estate is not being managed properly, we can help you contest probate.

We have the expertise to help, whatever the nature of your dispute

If there’s any dispute about how a person’s estate is administered after they’ve died – like who will inherit their assets or live in their house – it may be referred to as ‘contentious probate’.

A solicitor can help you resolve disputes to do with:

If there was no Will and you want to challenge how the estate has been divided up, you can also contest the probate.

A person’s legacy is important, and it’s important to know that it’s being handled in a way that’s fair to those inheriting, and doesn’t damage its value.

What’s the difference between contesting a Will and contentious probate?

Contentious probate refers to any dispute about the way a person’s estate is administered after they die. Technically, Will disputes fall under this term – if you wanted to challenge someone’s Will, that would legally be termed contentious probate.

However, because so many different types of disputes fall under the contentious probate banner, it’s helpful to break them down further. So we distinguish between contentious probate disputes (how the assets of the estate are sorted out after someone’s death), and Will disputes (where there is a problem with the Will itself).

You might contest a Will if:

  • You think it is invalid
  • The Will was forged or the result of fraud
  • You think the person who’s died didn’t have mental capacity to make it
  • The person who’s died was pressured to change their Will to benefit someone else (known as undue influence).

Probate Disputes

Losing a loved one is very difficult and problems with how their estate is being handled can make it even harder. If you feel that a loved one’s estate is not being managed properly, we can help you contest probate. There are a number of ways that Probate can be contested.

  • Executor Misconduct

    Unfortunately, executors can knowingly or unknowingly breach your trust. This can happen through carelessness, incompetence, or them acting in their best interest instead of your estate’s. This is known as executor misconduct.

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  • No Will Disputes

    When a person dies without a Will this is known as intestacy. The ‘rules of intestacy’ set out who can inherit from an estate. However, these rules may not fully reflect the deceased’s wishes or personal relationships.

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  • Interpretation of the Terms of a Will

    Wills are not always easy to understand, so it’s important to get specialist advice if you’re dealing with one that isn’t clear, or if you think a mistake has been made.

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  • Probate Guides

    We have a range of online information to help you navigate Probate and answer questions you may have.

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  • Probate Pricing

    Your costs will depend on the services you require and how your case progresses. For details on fees head over to our Price List.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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