Defending a Contested Will Solicitors

Validity challenges

The starting position is that if a Will appears to have been executed properly, then it is presumed to be valid.  There are strict requirements relating to the signing (or, more accurately, the “execution”) of Wills and in England and Wales, we are generally free to make a Will in any terms we wish.

There are several grounds to challenge a Will:

    1. Testamentary capacity

The test to establish whether or not someone has the capacity required to make a Will was set down in a case decided in 1870 (Banks v Goodfellow). Broadly speaking, a testator is required to be able to:

  • Understand the nature and effect of making a Will.
  • Understand the extent of the property they are disposing of.
  • Consider the claims of the people they might be expected to name in their Will.

The testator should also have no mental disorder that could cause them to make a Will they would not otherwise have made.

If a testator does not satisfy all of these requirements at the time that they gave instructions for the Will, it is likely to be invalid.

    2. Undue influence

If a testator was coerced into making the Will in particular terms that they did not want, then the gift obtained by undue influence is liable to be set aside. Successful claims for undue influence are more common in the case of someone who is vulnerable as a result of impaired mental capacity or otherwise failing health. This is a difficult claim to bring. Persuasion itself is not unlawful, so it needs to be shown that someone has overpowered the testator and caused them to make the Will they made.

    3. Want of knowledge and approval

In very general terms, this relates to whether the testator knew, understood and approved of the contents of the Will at the time they signed it.

    4. Lack of due execution

The first ground to consider when reviewing the validity of a Will is whether it was executed (that is, signed and witnessed) correctly.

The requirements of executing a valid Will are set out in section 9 of the Wills Act 1837:

  • A Will must be made in writing and signed by the person making it (or, in certain circumstances, by someone on their behalf).
  • The person making the Will (the testator) must intend for the Will to be valid when they sign it.
  • The testator’s signature must be acknowledged in the presence of at least two witnesses who must also sign the Will.

If any of these requirements are not met, then the Will was not properly executed and is not valid.

    5. Forgery

It may be argued that the signature of the person who made the Will and/or one of the witnesses is not genuine.  If that is the case, it cannot be a valid Will.

    6. Fraudulent calumny

If someone makes false comments about another person which lead to the testator excluding that person from their Will, that Will could be set aside.

If someone alleges that a Will is invalid, they will usually be expected to make a claim.  Their first step will often be to enter a “caveat”, which prevents the executor from extracting a grant of probate.  At this stage, it is usually worth exchanging letters to establish each side’s position, and potentially engaging in settlement negotiations.

If they enter a caveat but do not bring a claim, there are steps the executors can take to progress matters.  These include “warning off” the caveat, which may be followed by court proceedings, and applying for an “interim” grant of probate.  Please contact us to discuss your circumstances.

Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“the 1975 Act”)

Beneficiaries

If a person’s Will (or the rules of intestacy) mean that you are due to receive a share of their estate, you are referred to as a “beneficiary”. 

A claim under the 1975 Inheritance Act could reduce what you receive from the estate.  If you are a beneficiary and someone makes a claim, we can advise you in relation to defending that claim.  We can often help to resolve the position quickly and before costs escalate.

Executors

Executors who do not benefit from an estate will usually adopt a neutral role in claims under the 1975 Act.  They are still obliged to be a party to the litigation and to provide certain information for the benefit of the other parties and the court.  The cost of obtaining legal advice in this regard is normally a legitimate estate expense and is therefore paid by the estate.

Although we have used the word “executors”, the position is the same for administrators/personal representatives.

Please contact us if you are interested in discussing these options with a member of our team.

Defending a Contested Will

Why Work With Our Contentious Probate Team?

  • We have been ranked as a Top Tier law firm by the Legal 500 for the last seven years.
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  • Price transparency - we provide our clients with clear cost advice at the outset with ongoing updates throughout the matter. Sometimes, we can pursue a contentious probate claim for you on a no win no fee basis.
  • The contentious probate team is led by experienced Partner Helen Thompson, a member of STEP (the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in inheritance and succession planning) and has completed the Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. 
  • All our Contentious Probate solicitors are members of the highly accredited Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists ACTAPS. 
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Meet Our Contentious Probate Solicitors

Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our contentious probate lawyers are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.

Helen Thompson

Helen Thompson

Helen is a Partner and Head of the Contentious Probate Team

Jennifer McGuinness

Jennifer McGuinness

Jennifer is a Partner in our Contentious Probate Team

Adam Carvalho

Adam Carvalho

Adam is a Legal Director in our Contentious Probate Team

Nicola Moulds

Nicola Moulds

Nicola is a Senior Associate in our Contentious Probate Team

Eleanor Clarke

Eleanor Clarke

Eleanor is a Senior Associate in our Contentious Probate Team

Stephanie Ewan

Stephanie Ewan

Stephanie is an Associate in our Contentious Probate Team

Katie Hayes

Katie Hayes

Katie is an Associate in our Contentious Probate Team

Jade Smith

Jade Smith

Jade is a Trainee Solicitor in our Contentious Probate Team

Thomas Lees

Thomas Lees

Thomas is a Trainee Solicitor in our Commercial Litigation Team

Lisa Birrell

Lisa Birrell

Lisa is a Paralegal in the Contentious Probate Team

Helen Mort

Helen Mort

Helen is a Paralegal in our Contentious Probate Team

Danielle Malpus

Danielle Malpus

Danielle is Legal PA in our Contentious Probate Team

Sarah Carruthers

Sarah Carruthers

Sarah is a Legal PA in our Contentious Probate Team

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