Wills, trusts and probate disputes

What are wills, trusts and probate disputes?

Wills, trusts and probate disputes are matters where people fall out about estates, wills or the way in which trusts are run. The most common categories are:

• Challenging the validity of a will or part of it. There are limited grounds upon which a will can be challenged. Examples are where a will has not been correctly signed; the person making it did not have the capacity to understand it; or the person was being unduly influenced by someone else. Challenging a will is not straightforward; and simply thinking a will ‘isn’t right’ or ‘it wouldn’t be what they wanted’ is not enough grounds to contest a will. It is also important to think about what would happen if the will was invalid. Would you be any better off?
  At LCF Law we are experts in advising you on whether you have grounds to contest a will and whether it is worth your while to do so.
• Claims against estates. In certain limited circumstances some relatives and dependants of someone who has died can make a claim for provision from an estate if they have not been provided for in the will. Their rights are set out in the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. We have years of experience of advising potential claimants, executors and other beneficiaries on whether there might be a claim worth pursuing. If you are thinking of making a claim against an estate, it is important that you speak to us straight away. There are strict and very short time limits and if you do not act quickly you may be too late.
• Broken promises. It can sometimes be possible to make a claim against an estate if you have been promised something and the promise has not been fulfilled. In particular, unfulfilled promises can sometimes amount to an enforceable contract; there is also a legal principle called estoppel, which says that if someone has been promised something and acts to their detriment in reliance on the promise, the promise can become binding. If you have not been left something you were expecting, we can advise you on whether these principles might apply.
• Problem executors. The executors are the people who are given the responsibility under a will of dealing with the estate. The beneficiaries may be unhappy with the way they do their job. For example, they may think the estate is taking too long or that the executors are favouring some beneficiaries. We have considerable experience of advising both beneficiaries and executors about such concerns.
• Guidance for executors. Equally, executors can sometimes run into problems in carrying out their duties, such as interpreting the will or dealing with conflicting interests of the beneficiaries. As a last resort it can sometimes be advisable to ask the court to tell the executors what to do and we can help executors with the relevant court application.
• Trust disputes. Many of the points mentioned above in relation to beneficiaries and executors of estates apply equally to trusts: beneficiaries may be unhappy with the handling of the trust by the trustees or the trustees might need the guidance of the court to carry out their duties. Another common situation is where beneficiaries are unhappy with the way a trust fund has been invested and do not think the trustees have followed their legal duties.

Will I have to go to court?

Not necessarily. One of Dickens’ problems was that he didn’t see the wider picture. We have years of experience of dealing with matters similar to these and this enables us to take a step back and consider all the factors involved. We understand that for the majority of clients it is about peace of mind and we will not encourage you to go to court if it is not in your best interests or what you really need to do.

I just want the truth

For example, clients sometimes come to us to say they want to challenge a will when in reality they simply want to understand what has happened. If a will comes as a surprise they might simply want to know what was in the mind of their relative. Our job, therefore, may be to advise our client on their legal rights to obtain information.

Mediation and negotiation

Another aspect of seeing the wider picture is recognising that people often don’t want to go to court. This can be particularly true of probate disputes where the opponents can often be other members of the family. It can be far better (and also more cost-effective) to reach an agreement by way of mediation and negotiation. Mediation is a process where an independent expert tries to help the parties involved to reach an agreement. In fact it can sometimes be required, under certain rules, before any court action can happen.

There are various potential benefits, including lower costs and the fact that a dispute that goes to court has a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser’ and this can result in bad feelings within families that can endure over generations.

We are experts in using trust and probate law to construct arguments that are strong enough to bring the other party to the table in order to seek a negotiated dispute settlement.

But if all else fails

If all else fails, then our Litigation Department, in particular partner Ragan Montgomery, is widely recognised for their expertise in wills, trusts and probate litigation. Regardless of whether the matter does end up in court, Ragan and her colleagues will be involved from the outset to make sure that anything that is done along the way puts you in the best possible position in the event that you do have to go to court.

Avoiding disputes in the first place

Another major advantage of our many years of experience of wills, trusts and probate disputes is that we know in advance what might go wrong. When helping you with your affairs or making your will we can advise if anything you are intending to do might cause problems further down the line and advise you how to avoid this. This can be as simple as talking through your intentions with your family to avoid any surprises later on.

LCF’s personal lawyers act as your ‘trusted advisors’. In any dispute you can be confident of our support and in our knowledge. We will support you every step of the way and will always look for the most cost-effective resolution for you whilst protecting your position; and we will always be realistic and honest with you about any likely outcomes.

We take time to listen and really understand your situation. We are by your side to provide sensitive support and quality advice, whatever the circumstances.

Legal Directory LEGAL 500 (2023 Edition) has this to say about our Contentious Trusts and Probate Team

The ‘unflappable’ Ragan Montgomery heads the Bradford-based team at LCF Law. The team acts on a wide spectrum of matters, including trusts disputes, complex issues of capacity, gifts in wills, Inheritance Act cases, removal of executor claims and Court of Protection matters. Montgomery is able to draw on her experience as an accredited mediator in contentious matters.

Testimonials

‘LCF is a strong regional practice with excellent personal service, timely actions and it’s cost-effective.’

‘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.’

‘A small team but does good work locally and is easy to deal with- no ‘point scoring’ even when faced with opposing views. Ragan Montgomery is really lovely to deal with, a good brain, practical and sees the commerciality in reaching a conclusion.’

‘Ragan Montgomery is strong and rolls her sleeves up to get the job done. Works hard and sees the wood from the trees.’

‘Ragan Montgomery is great to work with – knowledgeable and approachable. She knows which points to take and which to leave.’

‘The firm are collegiate and really do work together across practice areas and seniority.’

‘The individuals at the firm are friendly, approachable and put clients at ease.’

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