Trusted guidance through inheritance and trust conflicts
If you’re seeking advice on inheritance, trust and probate disputes, it’s likely you’re facing a difficult and emotional situation. You may feel you’ve been unfairly left out of a loved one’s will or have concerns about how a trust is being handled. Whatever the issue, our experienced contentious probate solicitors are here to support you with empathy, expertise and clear advice.
We’ll take the time to truly understand your circumstances, your perspective and what a fair outcome means to you. Whether you’re pursuing or defending a claim, we’ll help you understand your options and find the best and most cost-effective way to achieve your objectives.
How our wills and probate litigation specialists can help you
Our experienced team advises both claimants and defendants in a wide range of inheritance and probate disputes, including:
- Trust disputes
- Disputes between trustees, administrators and beneficiaries
- Claims from disappointed beneficiaries
- Challenges to the validity of wills
- Capacity issues
- Inheritance Act claims
- Applications for the removal of executors
- Disputed or failed gifts in wills and construction of wills
- Court of Protection matters
- Proprietary estoppel claims
- Legacy disputes
- Agricultural disputes
We also support executors facing challenges in administering estates and offer preventative advice to reduce the risk of future contentious probate disputes.
Our expertise
Led by Managing Partner Ragan Montgomery, our contentious trusts and probate team brings decades of experience to your case. Ragan is an accredited mediator and frequently acts in this role in contentious trust and probate litigation, helping clients resolve disputes swiftly and amicably. Her appointment by the Court of Protection as an independent deputy further strengthens her insight into complex estate matters.
Members of the team hold memberships with the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), the Contentious Trusts Association (CONTRA), and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), demonstrating our commitment to excellence in the field.
Mediation and negotiation
We understand that court proceedings aren’t always the best route. Our inheritance, trust and probate litigation specialists are highly skilled in mediation and negotiation, helping you reach cost-effective outcomes while preserving important family relationships wherever possible.
Diverse legal knowledge
Our team’s in-depth expertise spans tax, trusts, property litigation, business matters and more. This breadth of knowledge allows us to deliver holistic advice without the need to bring in external counsel, saving you time and legal costs.
Recognised excellence
We’re regularly instructed by barristers and specialist legal teams from other firms, reflecting the trust placed in our wills and probate litigation services. The Legal 500 praises our work in trust disputes, capacity issues and Inheritance Act claims, and notes our additional strength in complex property disputes.
“Led by Ragan Montgomery, the LCF team specialising in contentious trusts and probate is very impressive indeed – fighting the corner of its clients whilst giving shrewd and pragmatic advice.”
“Ragan Montgomery is a very experienced and unflappable partner – nothing fazes her. She’s brilliant with clients.”
If you’re dealing with an inheritance, trust or probate dispute, our experienced contentious probate solicitors are here to help. Contact us today to speak with a member of our trusted team.
Common types of inheritance, trust and probate disputes
Concerns may arise if someone believes a will isn’t legally valid, perhaps because the person who made it lacked mental capacity, was under undue influence or didn’t follow the correct legal formalities. We can help you challenge or defend the validity of a will with sensitivity and skill.
If you’ve been left out of a will or feel you haven’t been provided for adequately, you may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance Act. We advise both claimants and defendants in these emotionally difficult cases.
Problems can arise when executors or trustees are not acting fairly, efficiently or in line with their legal duties. We can help remove or defend executors or trustees where there is a breakdown of trust or allegations of mismanagement.
Disputes may involve how a trust is being managed, disagreements between beneficiaries or claims that a trust was created under pressure. Our specialist team can advise on all aspects of trust law and resolve disputes in a pragmatic way.
If someone promised you property or land in return for your reliance or care and later changed their mind or failed to honour that promise, you may have a claim. These cases often arise in farming and family business contexts.
Sometimes there’s uncertainty over the meaning of a will, or disputes may arise over gifts made before someone’s death. We help clarify complex wording and advise where gifts are being challenged.
We can assist with disputes involving attorneys or deputies and decisions made on behalf of someone who has lost mental capacity, including applications to the Court of Protection.
