Insights and guidance

When the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 originally came into force, the societal landscape looked very different. Marriage was the norm, and the legislation was enacted...

Whenever a story about a contested will appears in the news, the comments section fills with a familiar refrain: “it’s their money, they can leave it to whoever they want.” As a solicitor who...

Every week, we speak with families who are devastated – not just by grief, but by the discovery that a loved one’s final wishes may not be worth the paper they’re written on. The rise of...

Disputes over wills and estates are rarely just legal arguments. They arise at a time of loss, involve close family members, and bring long-standing tensions to the surface. Challenges to the...

Family life looks very different today than it did even a generation ago. Second marriages, blended families, long-term cohabitation and periods of estrangement are now common. Yet many wills still...

Being asked to act as an executor is often seen as an honour. Many people accept the role without hesitation, assuming it involves little more than administration and common sense. In reality,...

Contentious probate disputes are rising at a pace that is hard to ignore. The number of caveat applications has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting deeper shifts in society, family...

The Times recently reported on the HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) investigation into over 2000 estates, resulting in the recovery of over £170 million in inheritance tax (IHT) that had been...

What is estate administration? Estate administration is the process that personal representatives go through to collect in a deceased person’s assets, discharge their liabilities and distribute...

What is a Life Interest Trust? A life interest trust is a trust that is written into your Will and is a means by which you can provide future security for particular individuals, such as your...