The pain of losing someone you love can be compounded if you find out that you have not been provided for in their Will or that they died without having made a Will and that you are not a family member who benefits under the intestacy rules. We have helped many Clients to make successful claims under the Inheritance Act, after unexpectedly finding that they are not properly provided for on death. We can also help if you are an executor or beneficiary and someone else is contesting the Will for this reason.
Who Can Make An Inheritance Act Claim?
The Inheritance Act allows certain people to make claims against the deceased’s estate if they have not been reasonably financially provided for. If you fall into one of the categories below, you may be able to make a claim:
- The wife, husband or civil partner of the person who died
- A former wife, husband or civil partner who has not since remarried or formed another civil partnership
- Someone who lived with the person for at least two years before their death
- A child of the person who died
- A person treated as a child of the person who died
- Someone who has been financially supported by the person who died up until the death
We can advise you on the law and your rights, regardless of whether there was a Will or not. The Inheritance Act requires you to prove that what has been left to you is not “reasonable financial provision” for you. What is and is not considered to be reasonable will depend upon a number of different factors set out in the Act itself and on your individual circumstances. We can talk you through this in clear and simple terms.
If you want to find out more about making an Inheritance Act Claim contact one of our Wolverhampton based contentious probate lawyers now on 01902 577708.
Our experts will:
- review your options with you
- recommend the best course of action for you and your family
- clarify any costs that may be involved before you proceed
- work with you every step of the way to achieve the best outcome possible
As accredited CEDR mediators our contentious probate team can explore with you whether the dispute can be resolved by way of mediation, in order to avoid the time, costs and stress of litigation and to increase the prospects of maintaining family relationships which is often a real concern in these cases.