Mediation of Probate Disputes in London

August 26, 2017
Many different types of contentious probate disputes can arise.  These can include disputes concerning:
  • A failure to make adequate financial provision (pursued under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975);
  • Lack of testamentary capacity;
  • Lack of knowledge and approval;
  • Lack of due execution;
  • Undue influence;
  • Fraud and forgery;
  • Revocation;
  • Construction or interpretation of a Will; and
  • 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, children and 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.

Why mediate contentious probate disputes?:
  • To preserve relationships between beneficiaries;
  • To preserve the estate assets for the intended beneficiaries rather than spending large sums of money on litigation costs;
  • Confidentiality, privacy and informality within the mediation process;
  • Flexibility of solutions in mediation; and
  • A refusal to mediate can lead to the Court making an adverse costs order in litigation.
Call Stephen Wood on 07906 200 469 or 10295 814 999 for an informal chat to discuss whether mediation could be suitable for your contentious probate dispute in London.
 

What is 'Commercial Reality'?

August 20, 2017
As a civil and commercial reality, and also as a dispute resolution solicitor, I often discuss the phrase 'the commercial reality' with users of mediation and my legal clients.  When emotions run high, asking a party about the commercial reality can often bring their focus back onto settlement, as they consider the inherent risks of litigation, and the costs of wasted energy, anxiety, time and money.
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Getting Past No

August 13, 2017
"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way" - Daniele Vare, Italian diplomat.

So starts William Ury's book 'Getting Past No', the sequel to the bestseller, 'Getting to Yes'.

'Getting Past No' addresses the thorny aspect of dealing with people who won't deal.  It is a useful book for mediators, negotiators, dispute resolution lawyers and parties involved in litigation.  Ury sets out a 5-step approach to change the game from face-to-face confrontation to side-by-side problem-solv...

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Workplace Mediation in Bicester

July 16, 2017
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them to negotiate their own resolution and create an agreed way...
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Decision Trees in Mediation

July 16, 2017
Decision trees can be used in mediations as a method of analysing the risks and quantum of a case.  

For instance, in a tripping personal injury case, where the Claimant is suing for £100,000, a simple version of a decision tree may consider:

1. How likely is it that the Judge will find that the Claimant tripped over a dangerous defect in the highway?  Perhaps 90%

2. Did the Defendant do what it reasonably could to prevent the danger, particularly having regard to Section 58 Highways Act 1980? ...
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Workplace Mediation in Mansfield

June 30, 2017
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them to negotiate their own resolution and create and agreed wa...
Continue reading...
 

Costs and Mediation

June 30, 2017
A significant reason to settle a case is to avoid the future legal costs.  In practice, a successful party is unlikely to recover 100% of their actual legal costs from the unsuccessful party.  Accordingly, if a party were to spend a further £10,000.00 to reach a trial, and even if they were to win, they would only recover back £7,500.00 of this, doesn't it make sense to consider putting this £2,500.00 into a settlement?
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Arb-Med and Med-Arb

June 29, 2017
These are hybrid variations of two traditional ADR approaches, incorporating both arbitration and mediation, with the same person acting as arbitrator and mediator.

In Arb-Med an arbitration will be held but the arbitrator's award is placed in a sealed envelope, kept by the arbitrator.  He will then act as a mediator.  If the mediation does not result in a settlement, the arbitration award will be published.

In contrast, in Med-Arb, the mediation occurs first. If it doesn't result in a settleme...
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Workplace Mediation in Nottingham

June 25, 2017
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them to negotiate their own resolution and create an agreed way...
Continue reading...
 

Workplace Mediation in Milton Keynes

June 25, 2017
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them to negotiate their own resolution and create an agreed way...
Continue reading...
 

About Me


Stephen Wood is an ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Workplace Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Online Mediator and a Consultant Litigation Solicitor. In 2017 Stephen was appointed to the Panel of Chairs of the Valuation Tribunal of England. In 2023 Stephen was appointed a Family Court Magistrate in Leicestershire. Stephen has undertaken over 100 paid mediations.

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