CONTESTING A WILL � UK PROBATE LAW

Contested probate

As a network of specialist will and probate lawyers and solicitors, we have the required experience and knowledge to assist you with any and all matters relating to wills, disputes, contested wills and the validity of such documents. Sometimes someone who was not included in the original will feels they are owed a claim to some of the assets or property involved in the will. In these cases, and cases of a similar nature, the law is a very complicated matter. If you need free legal advice from experts then do not hesitate to use our free helpline or fill in the contact form on this webpage for one of our friendly professionals to call you back.

Valid wills

Is the will itself valid? This is the all important question. For a will to be legally valid it must always have been created under certain regulations such as the person being over the age of eighteen and of sound mind. They cannot have been unfairly influenced by someone else � a common problem for many testators. Has the will been signed properly? Two additional witnesses to the will must have signed the document and they cannot be included in the document itself as beneficiaries. If a witness is a beneficiary they will lose their inheritance!

Lost wills

Sometimes it really does happen � an original will is lost somewhere and the appointed executors can attempt to prove a copy of the will and thereby obtain a �grant of probate�. Understandably, if these copies do not include beneficiaries who say they were included in the original, there is often a dispute. Subsequently such parties will attempt to prove in court that the will was not lost but destroyed by the testator (the owner) which would invalid the copy and mean an earlier version is the valid will. As you can see, contesting the content of a will is never a simple task! Legal documentation and evidence is required if you want to improve your chances of a successful claim of this type. Only the best legal advice will help.

Dependents claims

If the original author of the will forgets to make suitable allowances for a dependent such as a child or other person who they were supporting, that person is permitted to take legal action in the courts on the basis that the author of the will had a responsibility to them despite their death.

Free legal advice

Simply fill in the form on this website to be contacted by one of our plain speaking professional solicitors who will give you friendly advice on your current situation. There is no charge for this service and no obligation to use our services should you not wish to. We look forward to assisting you soon.