Specialists in resolving estate administration and executor disputes

If someone close to you has dies then it can be a very upsetting time. Matters will only be made worse if you then face difficulty in resolving the administration of your loved one’s estate.

Contact our specialist team today

Contact us today

We have assisted clients with many different issues which can arise when dealing with the administration of an estate.

Whether you are a beneficiary or an executor, we can look at your situation and advise you on the best way forward.

  • Resolving disputes between executors and beneficiaries regarding how the estate should be administered

    We have helped both beneficiaries and executors to reach compromises to ensure that the beneficiaries can receive their share of the assets and progress can be made to conclude the administration of the estate as quickly as possible.

  • Bringing and defending claims made against executors for mismanaging assets and funds in the estate

    We will work hard to ensure that you are able to receive what is rightfully yours and recover any losses caused by the actions of executors.

  • Preventing individuals from becoming executors and removing executors

    You may have concerns that someone who has been appointed an executor is inappropriate for the role. Alternatively, someone may already have begun acting as an executor and there may be serious concerns about the steps they are taking. We are on hand to ensure the estate is managed properly.

  • Advising executors where claims are brought against the estate and when caveats have been entered which prevent progress being made

    We can provide our expertise to analyse the difference between claims which have merit and those claims which are merely designed to cause nuisance and delay the administration of the estate.

  • Advising executors where relatives refuse to leave or vacate a property belonging to the estate

    This issue commonly arises where a property has been left by a parent to multiple children, but one of those children lives in the property at the time of death and refuses to leave. We can help clarify the legal rights of the beneficiaries in these circumstances.

Contact our team today:

Our credentials

“Amanda Noyce (Band 4) is head of the inheritance and trusts disputes department in Bath. An interviewee describes her as “very approachable and understanding,” adding: “I couldn’t recommend her highly enough. She is very thorough with her investigations and covers all angles.”

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Chambers, UK-wide
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“RWK Goodman ‘achieves good results for its clients time and time again’. Amanda Noyce ‘is unflappable’ in Court of Protection applications involving mental capacity issues, as well as Inheritance Act, tax and professional negligence matters.”

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Legal 500, South West
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Mike Muston is “highly recommended” by independent legal directory The Legal 500, who added that he “gives excellent and fair advice“. His team is also recommended by The Legal 500 as it “achieves good results for its clients time and time again.”

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Calum Campbell has been recognised by Chambers and Partners UK as an Associate to Watch. According to an independent source “he is very thorough, commercially minded and pragmatic,” while another commends him for being an “extraordinarily approachable, down-to-earth and engaging man.”

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faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any time limits that may affect my claim?

The time limits that may affect your claim will depend on the type of claim you are looking to bring. Some claims have strict time limits, which may be as short as 6 months after a Grant is obtained from the Probate Registry. However, even if your claim is not subject to a strict time limit, you will want to make sure that the property you are claiming against remains safe and secure. For this reason, whatever the nature of your claim, we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to protect your position.

Do you offer a free initial consultation?

We like to consider each case before we meet with prospective clients. This aims to ensure that you do not need to pay for unnecessary fees, should we feel that there is not a case worth pursuing.

Please complete the enquiry form, providing us with as much detail as possible. We will then aim to get back to you within 24 hours with a response. We are also happy to have a short no obligation phone conversation with you, in order to understand the case further and advise on the next steps to be taken.

How long will the dispute last?

Some can last just a few weeks, but others may, unfortunately, take many months to resolve. Whatever your circumstances, we take an active approach and look for practical solutions to help settle a case as quickly as possible. We’ll treat every case as sensitively and efficiently as possible, always focusing on the best interests of our clients. By aiming to settle your case well before trial, we’ll hopefully save you time, stress and money.

How much will the dispute cost and how will it be funded?

Once we have considered your case we can provide you with advice about the anticipated costs and the options of funding that are available. Your funding options may include:

  • Funding the costs yourself
  • Funding the costs through your legal expenses insurer
  • Funding through a “no win no fee” agreement

Whatever your situation, we’ll make sure to keep you fully informed every step of the way. We try and settle just about every case before it comes to trial, which keeps costs to a minimum and ensures you have as much control over any agreement reached as possible.

Our contested probate services

How we can help to protect you and your loved ones

Contesting a Will
You may be concerned that a Will left by a loved one doesn’t reflect what they would have wanted. Whatever disputes you face, we have an expert team who can help you to contest a Will with sensitivity and tact.
Court of Protection and attorney disputes
At what is a difficult time, matters can be made worse if you're concerned that a person taking advantage of your loved one, or if a person appointed to manage their financial affairs isn't doing so properly.
Defending a Will
You may be the beneficiary of a Will, but are facing accusations from family members that the will was not valid and that you should not receive what you believe is rightly yours.
Farming inheritance disputes
Farms and agricultural land are often involved in inheritance disputes. Unfortunately the disputes are often complicated further by the emotional strain of a farm being run as family enterprise.
Property inheritance disputes
Sometimes a relative can leave a Will that doesn’t tally with what you think is fair. We have expertise and experience of dealing with all aspects of trust disputes and can guide you through the complexities that may arise.
Trust disputes
We have experience dealing with all aspects of trust disputes and can guide you through complexities that may arise. Our team can understand complex family trust arrangements and help resolve disputes to protect your wealth.
Inheritance Act claims
Perhaps you feel you haven’t been left a fair share in a Will, or you may have been left out of it entirely. In situations like this, our expert Inheritance Act claims team can help you restore the balance.
Legal insights

Insight from our legal specialists

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