Unfortunately, disputes can arise in relation to the Wills or Estates of individuals in a variety of ways and very often these type of cases involve disputes between family members.

In these cases we will always give careful consideration to the family relationships as opposed to the  purely commercial considerations. We will always seek where possible to resolve your case by negotiation or mediation, therefore avoiding the need for expensive litigation. 

The Wills & Inheritance Dispute teams in Chesterfield, Sheffield and Mansfield are very experienced in dealing with contested Wills and claims under the Inheritance (Provision of Family and Dependants) Act 1975, for both claimant and defendant.  These type of claims arise where a person feels that a reasonable financial provision has not been made for them in the Will or intestacy of the deceased.  The 1975 Act allows certain categories of claimant to seek a reasonable financial provision from the estate.

The following people are entitled to make a claim under the UK Act:

• A spouse or civil partner of the deceased
• A divorced spouse or a separated civil partner of the deceased, given that they have not remarried or entered into a new civil partnership
• Any person who lived with the deceased for a minimum of two years prior to their death
• A child of the deceased (including children over the age of 18)
• Anyone who was treated as their child by the deceased person, including adopted children, fostered children, step children and so on
• Anyone being cared for by the deceased person prior to their death