Concerned about a will, an inheritance or how an estate is being handled? Legacy Wills and Probate helps Manchester clients understand the questions and possible next steps in an estate dispute.
Tell us what you would like help with. We can discuss your circumstances, the scope of the work and the next step.
Our principal office is in Bolton. Please contact the team to discuss consultation arrangements.
An estate disagreement may concern the validity of a will, the financial provision made for someone or the way an executor is administering the estate. These are different issues and can require different evidence and procedures. Being unhappy with an outcome does not, by itself, establish a legal claim.
Legacy Wills and Probate advises Manchester clients on contentious probate and inheritance disputes within England and Wales. A free 30-minute initial consultation provides an opportunity to explain the concern and discuss possible next steps. Any further work, costs or funding arrangement would need to be considered separately.
If your concern is how the estate is being handled, explain what has happened and what information is missing. Keep relevant correspondence, dates and copies of any documents you have received. Distinguish what you know from what you suspect, so that advice can focus on the actual issue.
A slow response or difficult relationship does not automatically mean an executor has acted unlawfully. The position may need investigation before the appropriate step is clear. If you are an executor facing a complaint, explain that too; the wider responsibilities and estate position will be relevant.
A challenge to a will’s validity needs a recognised legal basis and supporting evidence. A separate question is whether an eligible person may seek reasonable financial provision from the estate. The will may be legally valid even where that separate route needs consideration.
Exclusion, an unexpected gift or an unequal division should be explained in context. Tell us about your relationship to the person who died and the concern you want addressed. We will not assume that a particular outcome can be obtained simply because a will seems unfair. See our main contentious probate service for further information.
Different disputes have different time limits. Contact the team promptly rather than waiting for all the estate’s paperwork to become available. Mention any grant of probate, proposed distribution or approaching date that you know about; the timing may affect the options.
If available, bring the will, estate correspondence, relevant financial information and a brief chronology. Avoid making changes to original documents. A useful first conversation can identify what else may be needed and the work that could follow. If you need routine administration support rather than a dispute, our probate service provides the appropriate starting point.
Unfairness alone does not invalidate a will. A recognised ground of challenge or a separate eligible financial-provision claim may be relevant, depending on the circumstances and evidence.
Seek advice promptly. Distribution and legal time limits can affect the position. Tell us any relevant dates rather than waiting for a universal deadline that may not apply to your type of dispute.
The free initial conversation is an opportunity to explain your circumstances. Any further investigation or legal work, including its scope, costs and potential funding, would need separate consideration and agreement.
Explore wills, probate and estate planning for Manchester clients, or read our main service guidance.
