Team of Partners

The Partnership team at Nockolds LLP have extensive legal expertise in the complex areas surrounding contentious probate, particularly with Will and Inheritance disputes.

The Partnership team can guide you through the complex legal processes to either help assisting in making a successful challenge or to defend a challenge in relation to the estate.

Peter King heads up the Wills, Probate, Tax and Trusts Team. He is a member of The Law Society Probate Section of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Peter Dodd specialises in acting for cohabitees and acted in the case of Negus v Executors of H Bahouse Decd [2007] All ER(D)353(Oct), [2007] EWHC 2628 (Ch) and 2007 WL 3001880.

Sadly, many thousands of people die each year without having made a Will. In the absence of a Will, the rules of Intestacy dictate how the estate of the deceased person should be split between surviving relatives. The Intestacy rules do not make any provision for partners outside marriage and Civil Partnership and with the ever increasing complexity of the family tree, it is becoming commonplace for intestate estates to be challenged and for Wills which make inadequate provision for dependants to be contested. Even though dealing with a deceased persons estate can be straightforward, (and we have years of experience at Nockolds in this area,often called Probate) significant litigation can ensue with claims and counterclaims from the deceased person’s family where there is failure to make a suitable Will.

We appreciate that this can be a highly sensitive and difficult time and we pride ourselves on dealing with matters professionally, but also in a straightforward and practical manner.

We act for all parties including Executors, Beneficiaries and Claimants as well as Parents and for Guardians of minors. We work hard with Barrister’s Chambers using highly experienced Counsel so that we can use our best attempts to avoid litigation whilst striving for a successful outcome.

Range of Services

• Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
• Disputed Wills based on allegations of mental capacity
• Disputed Wills based on allegations of undue influence
• Disputed Wills based on allegations of invalid procedure or fraud
• Disputes involving Executors or Trustees
• Disputed Powers of Attorney
• Negligently drafted Wills and professional negligence claims

If you believe you have a claim against a loved one’s estate or wish to challenge a Last Will and Testament or seek advice on any contentious probate please contact Peter King or Peter Dodd on 01279 755777 or email us at Inheritance_Disputes@nockolds.co.uk