Will Disputes
When a person dies, it is usually necessary for their Estate to be administered. This involves gathering the deceased’s assets, paying any debts or tax due and dividing the rest among whoever will benefit from the Estate. Unfortunately, this process can occasionally lead to a dispute.
Common Causes of Disputes
Whilst everyone hopes that the Administration of a loved one’s Estate can be done peacefully, Disputes over a Will can arise for a variety of reasons:
- The Executors do not get on, leaving them unable to act together to administer the Estate.
- An Executor refuses or fails to complete the tasks required to distribute funds.
- An Executor breaches their administrative duties.
- Incorrect distribution of the Estate.
- Money goes missing from the Estate and no accounts are provided.
- There is a disagreement around the interpretation of the Will.
How Jackson Lees Solicitors Can Help?
The experienced team at Jackson Lees can advise you on your options to resolve the Dispute. Some solutions may involve compromise and a simple Court Application, while in other cases it may not be possible to achieve a settlement without a claim being brought.
Executors or Administrators?
A valid Will should state who the deceased nominates to look after their Estate, which can be one or more people. These are known as Executors.
If there is no Will, it is usual for one or more people who were close to the deceased to assume this role, often because they will be a beneficiary of the Estate. In this instance, they are known as Administrators, and must distribute the Estate under the Rules of Intestacy.
Contact Us
If you are involved in a Dispute involving the Executors or Administrators of an Estate, you can call Jackson Lees Solicitors or fill out the enquiry form on this page for more information on how to proceed.