Contentious Wills & Probate Solicitors In Bath & South West

Our contentious trusts and probate solicitors handle all areas of disputes. Our solicitors in Bath help clients across Bath, Wiltshire and South West with:

• Will Disputes: Challenging wills based on concerns about capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution. Our will dispute lawyers assess your case and help you contest probate when there are genuine grounds.
• Inheritance Act Claims: Seeking reasonable financial provision from a deceased person’s estate when you’ve been left out or inadequately provided for. These claims must be brought within 6 months of the grant of probate or letters of administration.
• Executor Disputes: Resolving probate issues when executors fail to act in beneficiaries’ best interests, mismanage assets during estate administration, don’t follow the will, or don’t communicate properly throughout the probate process.
• Trust Disputes: Handling disagreements involving trustees, trust administration, or beneficiary rights in contentious trusts and probate matters.
• Intestacy Disputes: Estate disputes when someone dies without a valid will and intestacy rules apply, often leading to contentious probate issues between family members.
• Caveat Applications: Preventing a will being admitted to probate when there are concerns about the validity of the will or the probate application at the probate registry.
• Defending a Will Contest: Protecting the validity of a will against challenges such as lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution, and representing executors or beneficiaries in probate disputes before resolution or court proceedings.

Our contentious probate solicitors have experience in dealing with these types of disputes through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, and court proceedings when necessary, including High Court litigation for complex contentious probate cases.

How Our Contentious Probate Solicitors Can Help

• Early Assessment: One of our contentious probate lawyers will review your case quickly, assess the strength of your position, and advise on the best route forward for resolving contentious probate matters.
• Swift Action: Time limits are critical in probate disputes. We act fast to protect your interests, whether filing caveats at the probate registry, sending pre-action letters, or commencing court proceedings when needed.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Most contentious probate issues don’t need to go to court. Our contentious probate team prioritises negotiation and mediation to achieve the best outcome while minimising family conflict and legal costs.
• Estate Administration Support: When executor disputes arise, we work with beneficiaries to ensure proper trust and probate administration, transparency in estate management, and compliance with legal obligations.
• Expert Representation: If your probate dispute requires court proceedings, our contentious probate solicitors deal with all aspects of litigation, from initial applications through to High Court trials when necessary.
• Inheritance Act Expertise: Our contentious probate specialists have extensive experience helping dependents, cohabitees, and family members claim reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance Act (Provision for Family and Dependants) 1975.
• Clear Communication: We explain the contentious probate rules and probate process in plain English, keeping you informed at every stage of your contentious probate matter.

Why Choose Our Bath Contentious Probate Solicitors

• Expert Leadership: Our contentious probate team in Bath is led by Paul Walshe, Partner at Awdry Law and Head of Contentious Probate. Paul is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), bringing specialist expertise and professional recognition to every contentious probate case we handle.
• Specialist Contentious Probate Team: Our team specialises exclusively in wills and probate disputes, trust disputes, and contentious probate matters.
• Swift Action: Contentious probate issues require urgent attention. Our contentious probate lawyers act quickly to preserve your position, meet strict time limits, and prevent grant of probate when necessary.
• Flexible Funding Options: Our no win no fee contentious probate solicitors offer Conditional Fee Agreements for strong cases, alongside traditional funding and legal expenses insurance options. We’ll explain what’s available for your contentious probate case.
• Clear Advice: We explain your rights, prospects of success, and the probate process from the outset. You’ll understand what to expect at each stage of your probate dispute.

When You Should Contact Our Contentious Probate Team

Get in touch with our contentious probate solicitors today if:

• You believe a will is invalid or was made under pressure
• You’ve been unfairly left out of a will or estate
• An executor is not acting properly or communicating during estate administration
• You were financially dependent on the deceased and need to make an Inheritance Act claim
• You suspect fraud, forgery, or undue influence in will preparation
• You need to prevent a grant of probate or letters of administration being issued
• There are disputes between beneficiaries or family members about the deceased person’s estate
• A trustee is not managing trust assets in your best interests
• You’re concerned about how intestacy rules affect estate distribution

Don’t wait as many contentious probate issues have strict time limits. Contact us as soon as concerns arise, even before the grant of probate has been issued.

Work With Our Contentious Probate Solicitors in Bath

Speak to our contentious probate team today for a free initial consultation. One of our contentious probate lawyers will assess your issue, explain your options, and advise on the best approach to achieve the best outcome.

Call our Bath office on 01225 417111 or email info@awdry.law to discuss your probate and estate administration dispute.