Inheritance dispute solicitors in St AlbansClear advice on where you stand when a will or an estate doesn't seem right, at an already difficult time.
- Fixed fees, agreed upfront
- Solicitor-led, St Albans office
- Reply within 1 working day
Family & finance consultation (60 minutes)
£250+ VAT
£300 including VAT
- Not included
Court fees, barristers' fees, and costs such as obtaining medical records or a handwriting report are extra if your case needs them.
- Typical timescale
- Act quickly: an Inheritance Act claim must usually be made within 6 months of the grant of representation.
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- Fixed feesAgreed in writing before we start
- 1 working dayTo reply to every message
- English, বাংলা, اردو, हिन्दीLanguages we speak
What it costs
Disputes over wills and estates vary too much for one fixed fee. We start with a 60-minute solicitor consultation, credited against our fees if you instruct us, and then give you a clear estimate for each stage.
| Service | Our fee | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Family & finance consultation (60 minutes) | £250+ VAT£300 incl. VAT | £300 |
Our fees are + VAT at 20%. They don't include court fees, which you pay directly to the court.
Court fees, barristers' fees, and costs such as obtaining medical records or a handwriting report are extra if your case needs them. We'll tell you about these before they're incurred.
Typical timescale. Act quickly: an Inheritance Act claim must usually be made within 6 months of the grant of representation. How long a dispute takes depends on whether it settles and, if not, on the court's timetable.
Court fees on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
| Principal solicitor | £295 + VAT |
|---|---|
| Principal solicitor (complex matters) | £350 + VAT |
| Associate solicitor | £220–£240 + VAT |
| Caseworker | £150–£160 + VAT |
Your fixed fee, in writing, before we start.
Tell us about your situation on a free call and we'll confirm the fee that applies to you.
Book a free call for your quoteIs this you?
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questions or book a free call and tell us what's happened.
- You've been left out of a will, or left less than you need, by a parent, partner, or someone who supported you.
- You have doubts about a will, for example about the person's mental capacity or whether someone pressured them.
- The executors aren't keeping you informed, are causing delays, or aren't dealing with the estate properly.
How it works
Step 1: Check where you stand
We look at the will, the estate, and your circumstances, explain whether you may have a claim, and check the time limits that apply.
Step 2: Protect your position
Where it's appropriate, we can enter a caveat to stop a grant of probate being issued while concerns are looked into. We can also ask for documents, such as the will-writer's file and medical records.
Step 3: Set out the claim
We write to the executors and others involved, setting out your claim and the evidence for it, and ask for the information you need.
Step 4: Negotiate and mediate
We negotiate for you and can take part in mediation, where an independent mediator helps everyone reach a settlement. Any agreement is recorded so that it's binding.
Step 5: Court proceedings if needed
If the dispute doesn't settle, a claim can be issued at court. If it still doesn't settle, a judge decides at a trial.
Challenging whether a will is valid
A will can be challenged if the person who made it didn't have the mental capacity to understand what they were doing, or if they were pressured into it (undue influence). It can also be challenged if they didn't know and approve what it said, if it wasn't signed and witnessed properly, or if it was forged. If a will is found to be invalid, an earlier valid will applies, or the intestacy rules (the legal rules on who inherits when there's no will) if there isn't one.
Inheritance Act claims
Even if a will is valid, the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 lets certain people ask the court for reasonable financial provision from the estate. The same applies if there was no will and the intestacy rules leave someone without reasonable provision. The court looks at things like each person's needs and resources, the size of the estate, and the relationship with the person who died.
Problems with executors
Executors must collect in the estate, pay its debts and tax, and share out what's left in line with the will or the intestacy rules. If they're delaying without good reason, not giving beneficiaries information, or not acting fairly, they can be asked to explain. In serious cases, the court can replace an executor.
Who will handle your case
Every matter is supervised by
Sony Sadaf Haroon
Principal solicitor, SRA ID 482574
Your matter is run by one of our SRA-regulated solicitors. We'll tell you who your contact is when you instruct us.
Sony supervises our solicitors and caseworkers, and is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and for Finance and Administration. She studied at SOAS University of London, was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1997, and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.
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Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to make a claim?
A claim under the Inheritance Act must usually be made within 6 months of the grant of representation (probate or letters of administration). The court can allow a late claim only in some cases, so don't wait. You can also make a claim before a grant is issued.
Who can make an Inheritance Act claim?
A spouse or civil partner, a former spouse or civil partner who hasn't remarried, a child of any age, someone treated as a child of the family, a partner who lived with the person as a couple for the 2 years before they died, and anyone the person was supporting financially. The person who died must have been domiciled in England and Wales, which broadly means it was their permanent home.
Can an adult child make a claim?
Yes. But the court generally only provides for what's reasonable for an adult child's maintenance (their everyday living needs), so being left out of a will isn't enough on its own. It looks at things like your needs, your resources, and your relationship with the person who died.
What is a caveat?
A caveat is a notice at the Probate Registry that stops anyone getting a grant of representation for 6 months, and it can be renewed. It gives time to look into concerns about a will, but it should only be used where there's a genuine reason.
Do we have to go to court?
Not always. Many disputes are settled through negotiation or mediation, and the courts expect you to try to settle before and during any case.
Who pays the legal costs?
If a case goes to court, the losing side may be ordered to pay a large part of the other side's legal costs, although the court has discretion. We'll explain the costs risks before you decide how to proceed.
Book a free 15-minute call
Tell us a little about your situation and pick a time. Our team will call you, explain how we can help and what it will cost.
It takes about two minutes. If you'd like us to help after the call, we send you a fixed quote in writing. There's no obligation.
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