Contesting a Will Solicitors

Can a Will be contested?

Our contesting a will solicitors know that the last thing anyone wants to do is to contest a loved one’s Will, but the law recognises there are good reasons why it can become necessary. If you are concerned about the validity of a Will or you feel you’ve been short-changed under its terms, you may be able to start a claim. A person contesting a will must have valid legal grounds to do so, such as lack of testamentary capacity or undue influence.

There are two key reasons to bring a claim to contest a Will:

The Will is invalid

You may think the Will is invalid on the basis that the deceased did not have the mental capacity to make a will or where it is alleged that the deceased lacked mental capacity at the time the will was made. Perhaps they were suffering from serious illness, dementia or Alzheimer’s at the time – almost 982,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia. In other cases, you may want to challenge the Will on the basis that, for instance, it simply doesn’t reflect what you know your loved one’s true intentions were or because you’ve been unfairly cut out of the Will.

The Will does not provide reasonable financial provision

You may have no doubts that the Will itself is valid, but it’s your view that because you or another family member were dependents of the deceased, and should have been properly provided for under the Will’s terms. In these circumstances, you can make a claim under The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

What makes a Will valid?

For a will to be valid in England & Wales, it must meet certain legal requirements, including:

• The will must be signed by the person making it (the testator).
• Two independent witnesses must be present at the signing
• The witnesses must sign the will in the presence of the testator and each other.
• The testator must have the mental capacity to understand what they are doing. See more on this below.

Unfairly left out of a Will

It is important to understand that a basic principle in English law is that you can leave your estate to whoever you choose, so being cut out of a will is not in itself a legal reason to challenge the will.

However, with every rule there are exceptions, and the courts are increasingly willing to allow contested Will claims in circumstances that they may not have done a decade ago. In these types of dispute, the terms of the existing will are scrutinised to determine the validity of the claim and the intentions of the deceased.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to contest a Will, our specialist team of contested wills solicitors know every case is unique. For that reason, we carefully approach each case with a combination of empathy and assertiveness, determined to offer a strategic path to achieve a realistic solution for our clients.

To start the process, it’s essential to act urgently before any distribution of the estate assets can begin. Our specialist lawyers will talk you through your circumstances and guide you through the process.

How to contest a Will

It’s crucial that we act quickly before the executors begin administering the estate. Assuming you have good grounds to contest the Will, we will enter a caveat to buy us time to fully investigate the merits of your claim before the estate can be administered under the terms of the Will.

We will need a copy of the Will, any documentary evidence you have which supports your claim and details of potential witnesses that can assist. Strong evidence is essential when challenging a will. Witness statements can play a vital role, especially if there are concerns about how the will was signed. They can help show whether the legal formalities were followed and support your version of events.

It’s also important to explain the wider background. This might include any promises the deceased made to you, their conduct in the years before their death, or family circumstances that shed light on their intentions.

In cases where mental capacity is in question, medical records are particularly important. They can provide insight into the testator’s state of mind at the time the will was made and help establish whether they had the capacity to make a valid will.

We will then contact the personal representatives informing them of your claim. We would hope to secure a settlement to avoid any expensive and time-consuming litigation, but if litigation becomes unavoidable, we will start formal proceedings to protect your interests.

While we will take an aggressive approach to your claim to resolve it swiftly and effectively, we will also work with the other side with a view to reaching a settlement to avoid litigation. That may involve probate mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution and we will discuss these routes with you.

Who can contest a Will?

Anyone who is an ‘interested person’ can dispute a Will. This would normally be the spouse/civil partner or cohabitee of the deceased, a child (including adult children) or anyone else who may be mentioned in the Will. Civil partners have the same legal rights as spouses to make financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Any person who was financially dependent on the deceased can also contest the Will, as can an executor of the Will.

In cases where a previous Will forms part of the bigger picture, a beneficiary mentioned in that earlier Will could also bring a claim.

What are the grounds for contesting a Will?

We understand how unfair it can seem when you believe you should have been left something under someone’s Will. However, to bring a formal contested Wills claim you must have one or more of the following legal grounds on which to do so:

Lack of mental capacity

The law says a Will-maker must have ‘testamentary capacity’ to make a valid will. In practical terms, this means they must be of sound mind and understanding of what they were doing when they made the Will and the effects of it. That includes an appreciation of the impact of the Will’s terms on those who are included (or excluded) by their Will. Having a mental disorder or a physical condition affecting the brain at the time of making the Will can easily lead to a claim. And the UK’s ageing population means there is an increased risk of contested Wills claims based on a lack of mental capacity. The number of dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers in the UK is growing rapidly – in 2019, there were more than 850,000 people with dementia in the UK according to the Alzheimer’s Society. The majority of those were in England. By 2025, the numbers are expected to reach 1m.In circumstances where someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s makes a Will, there is the potential for a claim based on a lack of mental capacity and legal advice should be taken.

Invalid execution

For a will to be valid, it must be properly signed in line with strict formalities under the Wills Act 1837. This includes the requirement that the testator signs the will in the presence of two independent witnesses, who must also sign it in the presence of the testator and each other.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sharp increase in the number of wills being made, but the restrictions on social contact created serious challenges for complying with these witnessing rules. In response, the government temporarily introduced emergency legislation allowing wills to be witnessed remotely via video link, provided strict criteria were followed.

Although this measure was intended to provide flexibility during exceptional circumstances, it also led to a rise in disputed wills, often due to concerns about whether the witnessing process was carried out correctly.

While the temporary remote witnessing provisions have now ended, questions about the validity of wills executed during that period are still common. If you are concerned about how a will was signed, speak to our solicitors.

Lack of knowledge and approval

If you think a Will is suspicious, there may be grounds to set it aside based on ‘want of knowledge and approval’. For instance, it may be a ‘DIY’ will containing words, phrases or other uncharacteristic features of the testator, and it simply doesn’t reflect what you know your loved one’s true intentions were.

Being unfairly disinherited

Someone unfairly cut out of a Will may be able to bring a claim. The courts are increasingly allowing claims by disinherited adult children, particularly where the claimant can prove that a parent promised to leave an asset, such as property, to them on their death. Such claims are complex and early legal advice is therefore crucial. The likelihood of a successful claim depends on the strength of the evidence and the specific circumstances of the disinheritance.

Undue influence, forgery or fraud

Where the circumstances indicate the testator was put under undue influence or coerced to make their Will, or there is evidence they were defrauded, or the Will is a forgery, it is essential to establish that the will was not made of the testator’s own free will, and a prompt claim should be brought.

Inadequate financial provision

Anyone financially dependent on the deceased at the date of death can bring a claim for reasonable financial provision. The amount they are legally entitled is a matter for the court to decide. Still, our experienced inheritance claims solicitors can provide important guidance on what you could expect to receive.

Inheritance Act Claims

If you’ve been left out of a will, or not left enough, you may be able to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. This law allows certain people to apply for reasonable financial provision from a deceased person’s estate.

You may be eligible if you were:

• A spouse or civil partner
• A child or stepchild
• A former spouse or civil partner who hasn’t remarried
• Someone who was financially dependent on the deceased

Inheritance Act claims can be complex. They depend on your relationship with the deceased, your financial needs, and the size and nature of the estate. Find out more about Inheritance Act claims here.

How long do you have to contest a Will?

Depending on your claim, we might only have a matter of months to start formal proceedings. It is important to be aware of the time limit for contesting a will, as missing the deadline can prevent your claim from being heard.

• Dependency claims – If you’re a dependant considering a claim for financial provision out of the estate, you only have SIX MONTHS from the date the grant of probate was issued to lodge a formal claim. After the six months have expired, you will likely lose the window to bring a formal claim.
• Beneficiaries – If you’re a beneficiary, you have 12 years from the date of death. In practice, you must still act fast. Otherwise, it can be harder to prove the merits of your claim.
• Breach of trust – If you have a claim against the executors on the basis that the estate has not been properly distributed, depriving you of your full entitlement – you have SIX YEARS to bring a claim.
• Fraud – There are no time limits to bring a claim based on fraud.

What happens when a Will is contested?

On the basis that you have good reasons to dispute the Will, a crucial first step is to enter a caveat with the probate registry on your behalf. This effectively pauses probate in its tracks and buys us crucial time to gather the information for your claim. ( NB: a caveat is inappropriate if your claim is under the 1975 Inheritance Act).

Once the caveat has been lodged, the grant of probate will not be issued, which means the executors (also known as the personal representatives) cannot administer the estate. We will then have six months to investigate your claim and examine the circumstances of the Will in more detail.

We will then be able to advise you on the merits of your claim and whether you have legal grounds to make a formal claim. If a settlement cannot be reached, it may be necessary to issue court proceedings to resolve the dispute.

How much does it cost to contest a Will?

The expense of challenging a will varies significantly depending on factors such as whether your claim can be settled quickly.  However, claims can be lengthy and are not cheap to run. Costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds.

In our experience, if parties set out their positions clearly early on and before proceedings are issued, costs could be around £25,000 – £50,000 plus VAT. This could also include barristers’ fees and the cost of mediation. If a matter runs via the courts up to a trial, costs could exceed well over £150,000, especially if a matter has become protracted. Costs are incurred due to all the steps necessary to comply with the Civil Procedure Rules and the Courts’ directions. In a current will validity dispute, the parties have estimated their fees to trial at over £200k plus VAT.

Given the cost of litigation, it is very important to only bring claims with good merits and where it is proportionate to do so. The size of the estate will have a bearing on this. We would also advise that litigation is undertaken in a reasonable proportionate manner and effort is made to settle matters outside of Court.

Most claimants are private paying clients, so it is advisable to check any insurance policies you have to see if it includes legal expenses insurance which could cover the costs of bringing a claim if you lose. Unfortunately, legal aid is not available for contested wills claims.

Who pays the cost of disputing a Will?

If your claim reaches the courts, the losing party will normally be ordered to pay the winner’s legal costs. In most disputes, this is the standard approach taken by the courts. In some cases, some or all of those costs could be met out of the estate itself, for example, if the judge believes that the deceased’s conduct caused the legal problem in the first place.

Can you contest a Will after probate in the UK?

It is always advisable to act promptly where there is a potential claim so that a caveat can be entered at the probate registry before the grant of probate is issued. Taking action at an early stage maximises your options and chances of success.

After the grant has been issued, you can still bring a claim. While we cannot halt the grant of probate, we can write to the other side with our intention to make a formal claim on your behalf. By threatening legal proceedings, the executors will be on notice of your claim and should pause any distribution of the estate assets pending the resolution of your claim.

If necessary, we can ask the court for an injunction to prevent the distribution of the estate to ensure your interests are protected.

Can you contest a Will after the distribution of assets?

Contesting a Will after the assets have been distributed can be difficult, but if you have a solid legal basis, we will guide you through the process and take decisive action on your behalf. Sometimes, it becomes apparent that an executor has wrongly or improperly distributed estate assets, depriving you of what you were fully entitled to.

Once the assets have been distributed, it can be tricky to claw back what you are legally entitled to, but with a strategic approach, we can take the steps necessary to bring your claim.

If you are considering legal steps to challenge the Will on the basis that you are entitled to some (or perhaps more) of the estate, speak to our specialist solicitors.

What is the success rate for contesting a Will?

Around half of contested wills cases are thought to settle before they reach the courts, and of the other half (where litigation becomes necessary) – only a tiny percentage (around 2%) get to the final trial hearing.

The success rate of contesting a Will very much depends on if you meet the legal requirement to contest a Will and if so, how strong your evidence in supporting your claim is. The stronger, the better. Though some grounds of dispute make it difficult to gather evidence due to its nature, for example, undue influence is most likely to occur behind closed doors. The stronger your case, the more likely we can work towards an early settlement before court proceedings become necessary. You are also more likely to succeed if you instruct solicitors specialising in this area.

Talk to our expert solicitors

To speak with one of our contesting a will solicitors, contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811

Our team includes accredited probate specialists, trust and estate solicitors, and expert will writers, ensuring you receive advice from leading experts in inheritance and probate.