Guidance over disputed will leads to high praise from client

When the wording of a will was disputed by family members, private client partner Laura Banks and disputed wills, trusts and estates partner Beth King-Smith, along with solicitor Leanne Harle, provided advice to the daughter of the deceased.

The wording concerned whether a large sum of money had been left to the daughter or fell into the rest of the estate (known as the ‘residuary estate’), which would benefit another family member.

Laura and Beth represented the daughter of the deceased and her adult children. They defended the claim from the other family member and managed to ensure the daughter and her children received their inheritance.

The case was complex due to the family dynamics and the numerous debts owed by the estate. Beth and Leanne managed to reach a settlement agreement with the solicitors acting for the other party. The agreement covered all issues, including the inheritance received by each family member, protection against potential inheritance tax liabilities and the parties’ legal costs.

The client said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Beth, Leanne and Laura for all the work put into this over the past year. Thankfully the right ending to this saga has been reached and it’s finally over – a huge relief and weight off our shoulders!”