DISPUTED WILLS SOLICITOR - EXPERT ADVICE

Disputed Wills and Contentious Probate ~ Most will and probate solicitors specialise in those two areas and do not deal with litigation or court work of any type. However, there are some will and probate solicitors that are also skilled at handling litigated legal cases that involve disputed wills and contentious probate. They have experience with handling legal actions in the High Court of Justice.

Skilled, Qualified Solicitors ~ The day-to-day work of a will solicitor mainly involves drafting wills and assisting clients with uncontested probate cases. There is no legal requirement that you hire a solicitor to create your will. “Do-it-yourself” will-making kits and guides are everywhere. Whilst going the DIY route might seem cheap and convenient, you are taking an enormous risk with one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make – the distribution of your assets. Today the average home in the UK is worth several hundred thousand pounds and disputed wills cases are now frequently dealt with by the High Court. The distribution of an estate of that size should not rest on the services provided by a non-professional trained in a one-week course.

A wills and probate solicitor, on the other hand, is highly trained. Each year they are required to continue their education in order to renew their practicing certificate. United Kingdom lawyers must also be insured and contribute to a compensation fund. Unlike one of those DIY services, solicitors are held up to standards dictated by statutes and the Law Society. There is even an independent Legal Complaints Service to which solicitors are answerable.

Obviously cost is an important consideration to most people when making a will. Often individuals wonder if they can afford the services of a solicitor. Quite contrary to what most people think, hiring a solicitor to draft your will is quite affordable. In fact, the services of a solicitor can even cost less than those of a “do-it-yourself” company. When you hire a solicitor, you’re paying for much more than a piece of paper. More is at stake than just your home or bank accounts. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes. You’ll know that you’re protecting your family from litigation over your estate or the validity of your will. Your family will be taken care of, and they will have the time they need to grieve and move forward. Most certainly the last thing that you want is a legal action for disputed wills shortly after your death.

Poorly Drafted Wills ~ Unfortunately, a large amount of a will solicitor’s work centers around sorting out poorly drafted wills that were found invalid because of an avoidable mistake. Without experience and a thorough knowledge of wills and probate laws, a person can easily make one of the following common errors:
~ failing to properly execute the will in accordance with the strict mandates of the law, which can invalidate the entire document
~ failing to distribute all of your assets, which enables the State to claim all or some of your estate
~ failing to consider the effects that a divorce would have on your will, as well as failing to account for other life changes such as birth, death and marriage
~ failing to adequately provide for dependents who have the right to continued support Free Legal Advice Our network of solicitors believes in the importance of communicating in plain English. You’ll never be bamboozled by legal jargon when speaking with your solicitor, and all of your documents will be written in plain English as well. We want our clients to understand the will-making process every step of the way. Our charges, which are based on the amount of work performed to carry your instructions, are very reasonable. We also offer discounts for mirror wills for spouses and family wills. Contact us today to speak with a solicitor who can provide you with a quotation and free advice.