Contested Wills and Probate Services in Norfolk
Disputes around wills, trusts, and estates can be emotional and complex, but you don’t have to face them alone. As experienced contested probate solicitors in Norfolk, we offer clear, compassionate advice to help you navigate even the most sensitive situations with confidence.
Helping You Resolve Will, Trust, and Estate Disputes with Clarity and Care
Contesting a will or dealing with estate disputes isn’t easy, especially when emotions are already running high. That’s why we take a calm, solution-focused approach to every case. Whether you’re dealing with a contested will, disputes between executors, or concerns about how an elderly loved one’s affairs have been handled, we offer straightforward, expert support tailored to your situation. With years of experience in contested wills and probate services, our team work closely with clients across Norfolk to resolve conflicts as efficiently and sensitively as possible, always with your best interests in mind.
We start by understanding your unique situation, please book a free 15 minute call in the first instance.
You can meet with us in person at our office in Wroxham, near Norwich in Norfolk, or we can work together virtually via Teams online.
How can we support you?
Contested Wills
If you believe a will is unfair, invalid, or wasn’t made properly, we can help you challenge it and work towards a fair resolution.
Contested Trusts
Trust disputes can be complicated, but we’ll guide you through the legal process to protect your interests and ensure fairness.
Disputes Between Executors
If executors or administrators disagree on how to handle an estate, we can help resolve conflicts and keep things moving smoothly.
Disputes Between Trustees
When trustees don’t see eye to eye, we step in to find practical solutions that work for everyone involved.
Inheritance Act Claim
If you’ve been unfairly left out of a Will or haven’t received what you need, we can help you make a claim for financial provision.
Disappointed Beneficiaries
If you were expecting an inheritance but feel something isn’t right, we can advise on whether you have grounds to challenge a Will or Trust.
Invalid Will Claim
A Will might be invalid if it wasn’t made properly, the person lacked mental capacity, or they were pressured. we’ll help you investigate and take action if needed.
Elderly Abuse Claim
If an elderly loved one was pressured into changing their Will or had their finances misused, we can help you fight for justice.
Claims Against LPAs
(Lasting Powers of Attorney)
If someone with power of attorney isn’t acting in the best interests of a loved one, we can help challenge their decisions and protect those at risk.
Disputes Against Attorneys
Attorneys managing someone’s affairs should always act responsibly. If they aren’t, we can help hold them accountable and protect vulnerable individuals.
Contested Wills and Probate FAQs
Do you offer free consultations?
We offer a 15 minute discovery call, which is a chance to see if we’re able to help you with your case, and to be able to signpost you to somewhere else if either we can’t help, or there would be someone better placed to help you right now. Or if we can help we’ll then book a longer paid for appointment with you.
Your 15 min discovery call is not designed to be an advice session, and you might find that we ask you a lot of questions, which we’re doing to see if we can help you and whether we are a good fit for your needs.
Equally you need to know that we’re the right firm for you.
When will I know my costs?
When we fully understand your situation, and how we can help, we will always give you an individual bespoke estimate of costs depending on what your individual situation is.
Sometimes we can do that based on the 15 mins call, but sometimes we will invite you in for an initial fixed fee paid for appointment and then after that we can give you a full bespoke estimate of costs.
We will always be transparent about costs, and always give you up front clear information about costs.
We also encourage you to ask any costs questions so we can give you clear information up front so you can decide what you want to do.
Can a Will be challenged after probate has been grated?
Yes. Although it’s easier to challenge before probate is granted, claims can still be made afterwards, especially if there is new evidence. Definitely act quickly though if you think that you may need to challenge a Will.
What are valid grounds for contesting a Will?
- Lack of mental capacity
- Undue influence or coercion
- Forgery or fraud
- The Will not being properly signed or witnessed
- Lack of financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
How much does it cost to contest a Will?
We offer free initial 15 mins discovery calls so you can ask some initial questions, and we’ll then schedule a longer meeting with you (either in person or online) so we can understand more about your situation and costs is one of the things we will discuss as part of the overall issues.
The costs vary massively depending on your situation. Our team will give you clear and transparent costs advice. charges are based on an hourly rate, and we’ll give our best estimate of an overall cost too. If it isn’t going to be worthwhile contesting a Will, we advise you about that.
Can I stop probate from going ahead if I plan to contest a Will?
Yes, you can enter a caveat with the Probate Registry to prevent probate from being granted while the dispute is resolved. There are some things to be aware of though, so it’s best to have a conversation with us first before you take this step.
Can a handwritten or DIY Will be contested
Yes. Handwritten or DIY Wills are more vulnerable to being challenged, especially if they don’t comply with formal legal requirements.
Do I have to go to court to contest a Will?
Not always. Many disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation before going to court. We always advise clients to consider non-court options, and we give you sensible practical advice, which will save costs.