Inheritance Disputes 

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Disputes around inheritance have been on the rise in recent years. As individuals have been able to own more and family situations change and become increasingly intricate. Resolving these situations can prove extremely different from case to case. If these situations are not handled effectively, they can escalate quickly and leave families in dire circumstances.

Stirling Ackroyd Legal has a team dedicated to resolving conflicts surrounding inheritance disputes. Our team will take the time to work out your main objectives to ensure that we receive the best result possible.

What are the causes?

The nature of inheritance means that if an individual’s Estate is not managed correctly, families may find that difficult situations arise. Reasons for disputes vary in each matter, but consistent reasons we find disputes arise are:

• Being left out of a will

The Provision for Family and Dependants Act 1975, allows certain individuals to be included in deceased family members will. The result of this application by the court depends much on the circumstances and relationship to the deceased individual.

Usually, this is applied when the correct provisions have not been made for dependent individuals. High profile cases in recent years have swayed courts decisions.

• Dying intestate

The circumstances of not having a legally binding Will is known as dying Intestate which means that you cannot decide how your Estate is distributed, and this would lead to the following challenging scenarios being presented to the deceased family.

• The deceased persons children would be subject to the Arbitrary rules of Intestacy, which would dictate the terms on which the Estate would be distributed.
• A cohabitation Partner would have no Legal Interest to the deceased’s Estate, and would need to rely on Implied Trusts of the Home to make a claim against the Estate which would be costly and have no guarantee of success
• The family home could be required to be sold in order pay the onerous Inheritance Tax Liability for the Estate
• A surviving spouse would only be entitled to a limited share of their Partner’s Estate which would be capped at £250,000 free from Inheritance Tax
• Blended families

As families grow, they also change over time. Disputes about wills and estates have risen sharply in the past decade as the number of blended families has increased. This has required that solicitors refine and evolve how they tackle these types of disputes.

Individuals’ wills must be updated in-line with the growth or changes of their family. The reason for this is that the rules of Intestacy are clear in terms of cohabiting couples or stepchildren as so far a will must be in place to accommodate them.

In light of this, it is clear to see why a dispute may arise if an individual has not updated their will as their family changes.

What to do when you confronted with an inheritance dispute

• Remain calm and speak to a specialist

Dealing with the death of a loved one is stressful enough without having to engage in a dispute around their possessions. Whichever side of the argument you are on it is essential you remain calm. The situation may cause distress which in turn could cause unwanted animosity between the two parties. By electing our team to represent you, we can provide the much-needed barrier between the opposing parties preventing any difficult situations from occurring.

• Formulate a strategy

We have years of experience advising our clients in successfully resolving inheritance disputes. Our team will take the time to understand your specific family dynamics and your objectives to advise you on the best route to success.

The Inheritance Claims Act 1975

We are frequently asked if anything can be done if the intestacy rules or will fail to make adequate provisions for a close or dependant family member. The best tool to leverage is The Inheritance Act.

• Who can make a claim?

Claiming under the inheritance act is there to make provisions for family members who have not be adequately take care of such as:

• Civil partners
• Spouses
• Children
• Other surviving dependants

If the will fails to make reasonable financial provisions to individuals that fit into any of these categories, then there are grounds to explore using the Act.

• What does the court take into account

As a priority, the Act will take into account the financially dependent individuals as well as the following:

• The Age of the applicant
• Duration of the relationship or marriage
• The size of the Estate
• The health and mental capacity of the applicant

• How to defend or bring a claim

If you feel that you have a claim or need legal help defending a claim, you must contact our team immediately. We have both professional and practical experience in reaching successful and cost-effective resolutions for our private clients.

Due to the nature of the claims, they can become involved with several legal considerations that need to be taken into account. You must choose a solicitor that can understand this and has a proven track record of doing so.

How to reach a resolution

The most effective way of preventing these types of disputes amongst families is to ensure that a will is in place and up-to-date with the families dynamics.

• Seek legal advice

If you’re making or defending a claim, you must seek legal advice to advise you on your legal position. Our law firm can work with you to produce a route to a successful resolution or provide inheritance provision for families.

• Mediation

Mediation is a solution that provides families with a cost and time effective way of resolving a dispute. By going through mediation, both parties save on costly and lengthy court proceedings. Solicitors will also aim to reach an outcome that suits both parties, which can often mean damage to family dynamics for both adults and children is avoided.

• High Court Proceedings

If a resolution cannot be made through mediation, the next step is to secure a result through court proceedings. Once the judge has received both sides of the arguments, they will pass a decision on the case.

Contact us

Should you wish to know more about other similar services such as contentious probate, power of attorney or constructive trusts. Contact our client services department via our enquiries page, or give us a call 0203 058 3365.