Contentious Probate Solicitors in Bristol

Contentious probate is any dispute about how a person’s estate is administered after their death.

Probate disputes can be a difficult and sensitive matter to handle. If you're worried about how your loved one's estate is being handled, our expert solicitors are here to help.

At Lyons Solicitors, we have extensive experience in resolving contentious probate dispute cases and can assist you in contesting probate with sensitivity and professionalism.

We specialise in Wills and Probate and have a long-established local client base as we pride ourselves on providing a first class personal service to all of our clients. 

We have teams based in our three offices situated in Westbury on Trym, Kingswood and Chew Magna. We also help and advise clients throughout Bristol, North and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Speak to our contentious probate solicitors in Bristol

We are able to offer a free first consultation to answer any questions you might have about contentious probate claims and help clarify your situation.

To book a free initial consultation with our specialist contentious probate solicitors in Chew Magna, Kingswood or Westbury-on-Trym and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch today. You can use the contact details for each office or fill in the enquiry form on the right-hand side of the page to request a call back.

Our contentious probate expertise

Disputed Wills

There are several grounds to legally contest a Will in the UK, including:

• Failure to properly execute the Will - Where the Will hasn't been signed or witnessed correctly according to legal requirements.
• Undue influence – When someone has pressured or influenced the testator to make changes to their Will that they wouldn't have otherwise made.
• Lack of knowledge and approval – Where the testator didn't fully understand or approve of the contents of the Will.
• Lack of testamentary capacity – Where the testator lacked mental capacity, causing the Will to be considered invalid.
• Fraud and forgery - Where the Will has been tampered with or falsified.

If you are considering challenging a Will, our contentious probate solicitors can assist with the process including gathering the necessary evidence and representing you in court proceedings.

Inheritance Act claims

The Inheritance Act 1975 allows eligible people to contest a deceased person's Will if they believe it doesn't adequately provide for them.

The following people may be eligible to make a claim under the Inheritance Act:

• A spouse or civil partner - This includes legally married spouses or civil partners of the deceased.
• A former spouse or civil partner – A former spouse or civil partner, providing they have not remarried or entered into a new civil partnership.
• Children – Biological, adopted and step children of the deceased, including adult children.
• Cohabitees - Unmarried partners who were living with the deceased as if they were married or in a civil partnership for at least two years.
• Claims for maintenance - Individuals not covered by other categories but who had a relationship with the deceased and were being financially maintained by them in some way.

If you have not been adequately provided for in your loved one’s Will, our contentious probate solicitors can assist you with seeking a court order for a fairer distribution of the estate.

Trust disputes

A trust dispute is a legal conflict arising from the administration or distribution of assets held in a trust. This can involve disputes between trustees, beneficiaries, or third parties.

Trust disputes typically arise over the interpretation of the trust, the management of assets, or the distribution of property. They may also involve allegations of conflicts of interest, or challenges to the validity of the trust itself.

If you have any concerns about the way a trust is being administered or the way a trustee is conducting their role, our expert probate dispute solicitors can assist you in resolving the matter promptly and effectively.

Executor and estate administration disputes

Executor and estate administration disputes are disagreements that arise during the process of managing and distributing the assets of a deceased person's estate.

These disputes can involve challenges to the actions or decisions of the executor or administrator responsible for handling the estate, such as allegations of mismanagement, failure to properly account for assets, or conflicts of interest.

Our contentious probate lawyers can assist with a wide range of executor and estate administration disputes, ensuring that the best possible outcome is reached with as little conflict as possible.

Lifetime transaction disputes

A lifetime transaction dispute is a disagreement over financial transactions or gifts made prior to someone’s death, particularly if it has affected the distribution of their estate after their death.

These disputes can arise when there are allegations of undue influence or lack of capacity regarding transactions such as gifts, transfers of property, or changes to financial accounts.

Our highly skilled contentious probate solicitors help you establish the legitimacy of a gift and handle any disputes that may arise.

Contact our contentious probate solicitors in Bristol

We are able to offer a free first consultation to answer any questions you might have about contentious Wills and probate and help to clarify your situation.

To book a free initial consultation with our specialist contested probate solicitors in Chew Magna, Kingswood or Westbury-on-Trym and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch today. You can use the contact details for each office or fill in the enquiry form on the right-hand side of the page to request a call back.