Stephen Wood Mediation
Civil and Commercial Mediation Tel: 01295 814 999
Workplace Mediation Mob: 07906 200 469
Contentious Probate Mediation
Many different types of contentious probate disputes can arise. These can include disagreements concerning:
- Lack of testamentary capacity
- Lack of testamentary intention
- Lack of knowledge and approval
- Lack of due execution
- Undue influence
- Fraud and forgery
- Revocation
- Construction or interpretation of a Will
- A failure to make adequate financial provision
- Disputes during the administration of estates
Mediation is ideally suited to resolving contentious probate, contested Wills and inheritance disputes. Family members are frequently still grieving and Court proceedings will often cause rifts between parents and children and drive a wedge between siblings. Mediation allows parties to fully air their grievances whilst trying to preserve family relationships, and can hasten settlement.
The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) Code for the resolution of trust and probate disputes endorses the use of mediation at an early stage. Whilst the Code is voluntary, it is held in high regard by judges and the courts.
Consider Stephen's article 'Mediation of Contentious Probate Disputes'.
Call Stephen Wood for an informal chat to discuss whether mediation could be suitable for your contentious probate dispute.
- To preserve the estate assets for the intended beneficiaries rather than spending large sums of money on litigation costs
- To preserve relationships between beneficiaries
- Confidentiality, privacy and informality within the mediation process
- Flexibility of solutions in mediation
- A refusal to mediate can lead to the Court making an adverse costs order in litigation
Stephen undertakes contentious probate mediations in the following areas at our standard mediation fees, without travel costs: Bedford, Birmingham, Cambridge, Coventry, Leicester, London, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough and throughout Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, London and Greater London.
Stephen mediates throughout the UK but for areas not listed above, for example Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sunderland and Wakefield, travel costs would also be charged.