Inheritance Dispute Solicitors in Manchester & Cheshire
Contesting or defending a will? We’ll help you resolve it calmly, fairly and with as little conflict as possible.
- Specialist inheritance dispute solicitors
- We act for every side – beneficiaries, executors and those challenging a will
- Resolution-focused, aiming to avoid court wherever possible
- Calm, objective advice in an emotionally charged situation
- Advice in person or remotely, wherever you are
Falling out over an inheritance is painful, and more common than people like to admit. When someone dies, grief, money and old family tensions can collide, and a dispute over a will – sometimes called contentious probate – can quickly turn bitter. Our expert inheritance dispute solicitors help you resolve things calmly and fairly.
Whether you have concerns about a will, questions about how executors are behaving, or you need to defend a will that’s being challenged, Chris Strogen and Judith Chesters will listen to your whole story, take an objective view, and give you honest, focused advice on the best way forward.
Who we help
We help people on every side of an inheritance dispute – beneficiaries, executors, and those who want to challenge the validity of a will. Whoever we’re acting for, we focus on the real issues and the legal principles a court would apply, taking the emotion out of a highly charged situation so we can work towards a resolution.
Grounds for contesting a will
A will can be challenged on several grounds, including:
- Lack of mental capacity – the person making the will (the testator) wasn’t mentally capable at the time, often raised where there are concerns about dementia.
- Undue influence – they were pressured or coerced into signing.
- Forgery – the will, or a signature on it, is fake.
- Lack of proper formalities – the will wasn’t correctly signed or witnessed.
- Lack of knowledge and approval – they didn’t understand or approve what they were signing.
When a will may need a closer look
Sometimes there’s reason to investigate whether the will-maker truly understood what they signed – for example where the main beneficiary helped create the will, the will was homemade without a solicitor’s advice, no medical opinion was taken on capacity, the will-maker had been behaving unusually, the will contains obvious errors, or the decisions simply don’t add up, such as leaving everything to a distant relative for no clear reason.
Who can contest a will?
The law allows certain people to contest a will: a beneficiary named in it, someone owed money by the deceased, or someone who was promised something. Separately, some people can bring a claim against the estate if the will – or the intestacy rules, where there’s no will – didn’t make reasonable financial provision for them, such as children, spouses or civil partners. A claim can also arise from professional negligence if the will was drafted or executed incorrectly.
Left out of a will, or not properly provided for?
Challenging whether a will is valid is one thing. Being left without the financial provision you needed is another – and it has its own route to a remedy. If you’ve been left out of a will entirely, or the will (or the intestacy rules, where there’s no will) doesn’t make reasonable financial provision for you, you may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Certain people can bring this kind of claim, including:
- A husband, wife or civil partner, or a former spouse or civil partner who hasn’t remarried
- Someone who lived with the person as their partner for at least two years before they died
- A child of the person who died, including an adult child
- A child treated by the person as a child of the family
- Anyone who was being financially maintained by the person before they died
There’s a strict time limit – a claim usually has to be brought within six months of the grant of probate – so it’s important to get advice quickly. If you think you’ve been unfairly left out, or you’re an executor or beneficiary facing a claim of this kind, we’ll give you an honest view of where you stand and the best way to resolve it, through negotiation or mediation wherever possible.
Why choose Evolve’s inheritance dispute solicitors
An inheritance dispute can be as emotionally charged as any family dispute, whether you’re challenging a will or defending one. That’s why it helps to have an expert on your side who’ll hear your entire story before giving you an honest, objective opinion. Because Chris and Judith also write wills and handle probate and estate planning, they understand exactly how and why disputes arise, and the best ways to resolve them.
Not sure where to start?
If something about a will or an estate doesn’t feel right, it’s worth talking it through sooner rather than later, as some claims have strict time limits. Get in touch and we’ll help you understand where you stand, with no pressure to take things further.
Why choose Evolve
Every side of a dispute
we act for beneficiaries, executors and those challenging a will.
Calm and pragmatic
we take the heat out of emotionally charged disputes.
Resolution-focused
we aim to resolve things without court wherever possible.
Deep expertise
our team writes wills and handles probate, so we know how disputes arise.
Transparent pricing
our fees are published online.
Meet your inheritance dispute solicitors
You’ll work with a named specialist from start to finish. Chris Strogen and Judith Chesters lead our inheritance dispute work, and you’ll have your solicitor’s direct contact details, so you can always reach the person handling your case.
Resolve it calmly, with the right advice
An inheritance dispute can strain family relationships at an already hard time. The sooner you get clear, honest advice, the more options you’ll have, and the better the chance of resolving things without a bitter court battle. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
Inheritance disputes – your questions answered
An inheritance dispute arises when someone believes a will is flawed or unfair, or has concerns about how an estate is being handled. With more remarriages and blended families, competing claims to an inheritance are increasingly common.
The main grounds are lack of mental capacity, undue influence, forgery, a lack of proper signing or witnessing, and the will-maker not understanding or approving what they signed.
A beneficiary named in the will, someone owed money by the deceased, or someone who was promised something. Others may be able to bring a claim against the estate for reasonable financial provision, including children, spouses and civil partners.
Start by getting advice as early as possible. We’ll review the will and the circumstances, tell you honestly whether you have grounds, and advise on the best way to resolve it – often without going to court.
There are strict time limits for some claims. A claim under the Inheritance Act, for example, must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate. Because timing matters, it’s important to get advice as soon as you can.
It depends on the nature of the dispute and whether it can be settled without court. We’ll be upfront about likely costs from the start, and our fees are published online.
Yes, and that’s usually the aim. Many disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation, which is less costly, less stressful and quicker than a court battle.
Yes – by phone or video wherever you are, or in person at our Manchester or Cheshire offices.
