Will, inheritance and estate adminstration disputes
- Challenging the validity of a Will (for example, on grounds of coercion (known as undue influence),lack of mental capacity, lack of knowledge or approval of the Will, incorrect legal formalities or forgery)
- Inheritance Act Claims – where a family member may have been excluded from a Will (or the rules of intestacy) or left insufficient funds to meet their needs.
- Problems with the administration of an estate – if the administration of an estate is being progressed too slowly or there are concerns about the executors / those administering the estate, steps can be taken to replace the Executors and recover any losses to the estate.
- Contesting or defending charity legacies
Deputyship and Power of Attorney
- Applying to the Court of Protection for Deputyship Orders
- Misuse of a Power of Attorney – either investigating claims during a person’s lifetime or after their death where concerns come to light.
- Advising in investigations by the OPG – acting for deputies or attorneys being investigated.
- Court of Protection disputes – during a protected party’s lifetime, there could be concerns about a Deputy’s appointment or management of the individual’s property and financial affairs or dispute relating to a statutory Will or gifts being made.
- Trust disputes and concerns about the administration of trusts– there may be concerns about the trustees’ management of the Trust or distributions which have or have not been made. We can help assess the Trustees’ management and advise.
- Removal of trustees – because they not performing their roles correctly, or cannot work together in the best interests of the Trust.
Professional negligence claims
- Involving poorly drafted Wills or Trusts, or the way in which a professional has managed the adminstration of an estate or Trust .
Proprietary estoppel claims
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- Where promises about property have been broken and a will fails to record the lifetime promises made.