News - Contesting Wills

What happens if the executor named in the Will has died The executor named in the Will has died – What happens now? When drafting a Will, a testator will usually appoint one or several people to act as their executor. An executor is responsible for managing the administration of the… Read more
How do I challenge a Will? Challenging a Will We offer a free 30 minute consultation on challenging Wills. We will review the legal merits of your case, tell you what your options are, and explain how to go about contesting the Will. We will also… Read more
Challenging a fraudulent Will One of the cornerstones of the law of England & Wales is the concept of testamentary freedom. This gives a person making a Will (known as the testator) the freedom to dispose of their assets exactly as they choose. However,… Read more
Challenging an invalid will Our specialist inheritance and trust disputes team has been successful in challenging another invalid Will. It was a complex case involving a heated dispute between siblings over the validity of their parent's Will. There was strong disagreement over the factual… Read more
My spouse has cut me out of their Will My spouse has cut me out of their Will, what can I do? When someone makes a Will, they are entitled to leave their estate to whoever they want. This is known as ‘testamentary freedom’, and it includes a testator's… Read more
Is Legal Aid available to contest a Will? People often ask if they can get Legal Aid to contest a Will?' Unfortunately, while it was once available for this type of case, Legal Aid is no longer available for contentious probate claims. However, there are a number of… Read more
Challenging a Will on the grounds of capacity There are a number of grounds you can rely on when challenging a Will when you think it is invalid. The most common ground for challenging a Will is that the testator (the person who made the Will) did not… Read more
Can a beneficiary challenge legal costs? Our free legal helpline frequently receives calls and emails from people asking, 'Can a beneficiary challenge legal costs incurred in the administration of an estate?' The legal costs of administering an estate are technically incurred by the executor (or administrator).… Read more
My dad left everything to his second wife. What can I do? We offer a free 30 minute consultation with a specialist solicitor on any contested will case. Is there anything I can do if my dad left everything to his second wife? Can I contest my father's will? When making a Will… Read more
How the Courts handle issues of mental capacity? We look at how the courts handle issues of mental capacity One of the most common grounds for disputing a Will is whether the person who made the Will (the testator) was of sound mind when they did so. In… Read more

Client Testimonials

“Executor dispute and contentious Will mediation”

I was in a difficult position with a co-executor that left the estate idle and Slee Blackwell were excellent in navigating a resolution to achieve the appointment of an independent PR. In addition my father’s Will was being challenged by one of the beneficiaries against the largest recipient of the estate and Naomi Ireson was very solid in her advice and helped to arrange a successful mediation. Naomi was ably assisted by Sharnie Jenkins in this matter.

“Expertise and Understanding”

I was tentative about making enquiries from Australia with a UK group of solicitors, Slee Blackwell, about a claim on a deceased estate there as an ex-spouse. Right from the get go I was treated with respect and expert advice with Kristi. Anya was instrumental in guiding me through the whole process and I was very impressed with her expertise and obvious knowledge of the situation. If I lived in the UK I wouldn’t hesitate to use this firm again. Thank you to Anya and her team.

“Positive experience”

I contacted Kristi regarding an inheritance matter and she was swift to respond and the issue, which has been ongoing for three years now, was immediately resolved. I highly recommend.

“Challenge to the validity of a will”

Unfortunately, I had to defend a challenge to the validity of my fathers will. Naomi Ireson, with the help of Sharnie Jenkins and the rest of the team were absolutely amazing. It was such a stressful time but Naomi had my back through it all, and pursued the case relentlessly. Her expertise and competence in her field is exemplary and I never once believed that there would be a problem. The team kept me informed at all times and were always easy to talk to. I would recommend them in a heartbeat.

“Defending a claim made against Estate”

After receiving a claim against my late fathers estate, I was left feeling extremely anxious and frustrated. Chris was amazing, his knowledge and professionalism was impeccable. I immediately felt in safe hands and I received a prompt response to any queries I had. Sharnie was also amazing throughout the experience. I was so impressed with the service that I used Slee Blackwell for an eviction and conveyancing. I received outstanding service again. Thank you so much for relieving my stress, that is truly priceless!

“Contentious Probate – Establishing Paternity”

The brother of my grandfather died without children, and after a dispute with my family who said that I was not the son of my father, I read a very professional article written by Naomi Ireson that was very informative. I saw that I could ask some questions and her answer really helped. I later hired her and she resolved the accusation of my family. She is also very organized and is doing only what is necessary. Thank you for your work and to all the members of your team.

“Dispute – Breach of Trust”

I can’t express enough gratitude to Chris for his outstanding service over the past year. My case was especially challenging, but Chris handled it with compassion and the highest level of professionalism. The outcome was fantastic, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Chris’s expert advice and support. I would strongly recommend his services to anyone who is going through a difficult will dispute. Many thanks again Chris!

“Fantastic Solicitor”

Brontë, guided us through a very difficult time, and always gave the best advice even if it wasn’t what i always wanted to hear. I really appreciated her honesty,her knowledge and experience. I’d highly recommend

“Kind and Informative”

I emailed Kristi to ask some questions about contentious probate. She was very helpful and answered all my questions. Kristi followed up with me and I was able to ask further questions which really helped in my decision making process.

“Excellent”

Excellent advice and help with a complex probate issue. Advice was always timely and I was always kept well informed. I felt communication was always direct and friendly. Anya was always approachable, fair and quick to respond to questions and concerns. Would definitely return if future needs required legal advice or representation. Many thanks

A contentious wills, trusts, and probate service from