Do you need to challenge a Will to secure your share of a Farm?

After Trevor died, his family were shocked to discover that he had supposedly made a will leaving his entire estate to just one of his children. His other children were adamant that, even on his deathbed, Trevor had assured them that he had made a will that benefitted them all.

With the help of one of our panel solicitors, Trevor’s family were able to find evidence that the signature on the last will was a forgery and put a case together. Thereafter, the forged will was overturned and Trevor’s estate was distributed in accordance with the terms of his original will.

When Lynn died, her son Michael received a share of Lynn’s home under the terms of Lynn’s will. However, Lynn’s husband (Michael’s father) Nicolas asked Michael to allow him to live in the house for the rest of his life, in return for a promise that Michael would receive a bigger share of the house from Nicolas’ estate. Michael agreed and allowed Nicolas to live in the house. After Nicholas died, Michael discovered that Nicolas had broken his promise and had failed to make any provision for him at all.

With the help of one of our panel solicitors, Michael was able to bring a contentious probate case on a no win no fee basis in order to receive the value of Nicolas’ promise.

Many years ago, Frederick struck a bargain with Gina. In return for Gina looking after him, cleaning his house, doing his shopping and cooking his meals for the rest of his life, Frederick promised to leave his entire estate to Gina. However, Frederick failed to make a will in those terms, and after his death, Gina discovered that she received nothing from the estate at all.

With the help of one of our panel solicitors, Gina was able to bring a claim to enforce the terms of the agreement to make sure that she received the entire estate – everything she was rightfully entitled to.

When Rachel and her sister, Stacey, were growing up, their father Peter assured them that he had made a will that shared his estate equally between them. Following a family argument, Peter fell out with Rachel and refused to speak to her again. Rachel tried to make friends with her father, but he rejected her attempts. After Peter’s death, Rachel discovered that Peter had changed his will so that he only made provision for Stacey. This left Rachel in financial difficulties because ill health had prevented her from working.

With the help of one of our panel solicitors, Rachel was able to bring a contentious probate case against Peter’s estate on a No Win No Fee basis. Following a mediation, Stacey agreed to pay some of the estate to Rachel.

When she retired, Margaret made a will that left her estate to her 2 sons, Nathan and Oliver. Years later, Margaret started to suffer from serious dementia. She started to forget many things, and unfortunately was no longer able to recognise her 2 sons. Eventually, she was admitted to a nursing home. Whilst she was in the home, Margaret was encouraged to make a new will. She left her estate to a charity, because she had forgotten that she had 2 children and that she had previously made a will to benefit them.

With the help of one of our panel solicitors, Nathan and Oliver were able to challenge the validity of Margaret’s last will on the basis that Margaret could not have understood what she was doing. They were able to restore the previous will and were given their rightful shares of Margaret’s estate.

Susan and Thomas started a relationship together later in life. Thomas persuaded Susan to give up her job and move in with him. They enjoyed life together, and Thomas provided for Susan’s every need. However, Thomas died without making a will at all, and because Susan was not married to him, Thomas’ assets passed to his children. Thomas’ children even kicked Susan out of the house.

Thanks to one of our panel solicitors, Susan was able to bring a contested probate case on a no win no fee basis, and her lawyer negotiated a deal with Thomas’ children which resulted in Susan receiving her fair provision from the estate.