Disappointed Beneficiary Claims Solicitors in London, Birmingham and Northampton

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Losing a loved one is a difficult time and dealing with issues surrounding their Will and inheritance adds yet another burden on the family. We understand how emotionally challenging such situations may be, especially when the loss of inheritance puts a strain on your financial situation, therefore we handle all disappointed beneficiaries’ claims with confidentiality, compassion and understanding.

Our solicitors have over 100 years of combined experience and we know what it takes to support and guide you through the process of fighting for your inheritance when your loss is caused by a mistake on the part of the deceased’s solicitor. Our team will take the time to explain the situation to you clearly without legal jargon, so you can feel confident when making decisions about your case.

If you need legal advice regarding a disappointed beneficiary claim, you can speak to our wills experts in London, Birmingham and Northampton by calling 0300 303 2071 today. Your initial, no-obligation consultation is free of charge. Alternatively, you can send us your query at info@witansolicitors.co.uk to see what we can do to help.

When Can I Make a Disappointed Beneficiary Claim?

When working on their will, people often agree to leave certain possessions to their loved ones but these verbal agreements don’t always make it into the final will. If this has happened due to a mistake made by the Will writer, then you could have grounds to make a disappointed beneficiary claim.

A disappointed beneficiary claim is a type of professional negligence claim that you can make if your loss is caused directly by the failure of the Will writer to fulfil their duty of due care. Here are some of the most common scenarios where this happens:

• The Will writer was instructed to add new beneficiaries to the Will but they took too long to make the amends and were unable to complete the Will before their client passed away
• A person who is named in the Will as a beneficiary has been asked to witness the Will, thus taking away their right to benefit from the Will
• Major mistakes during the writing of the Will, such as failure to follow the rules of intestacy or to check existing Wills, have made the Will ineffective
• Technical errors, such as poor or incorrect drafting of the Will
• The Will writer has given bad tax advice, causing the estate to lose value
• The Will isn’t executed properly due to incorrect advice or lack of supervision by the Will writer

The challenge in a disappointed beneficiary dispute is to prove that the Will writer has, in fact, made a mistake and that this mistake has caused your losses. Here’s where advice from our professional negligence experts in London, Birmingham and Northampton becomes indispensable for the positive resolution of your case.

Disappointed Beneficiary Claims – How We Can Help

If you would like to make a claim against the Will writer, this must be done no longer than six months after the grant of representation is issued. Our solicitors can guide you through this process and take all necessary steps to raise a successful claim.

Our team is well-versed in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and we will always try to negotiate a fair settlement agreement out of court where possible. Using negotiation and mediation techniques allows us to resolve the issue quickly and efficiently for you, granting you an outcome you are happy with without the need to go through the stress of lengthy litigation.

If an agreement can not be reached, we will represent you in court and we will fight to win your case. You can rest assured that with an excellent track record of winning cases dating back to 2014, our litigation team provides reliable legal counsel in your corner.

Disappointed Beneficiary Claim Costs 

The legal costs involved in dealing with a disappointed beneficiary claim depend on the complexity of each individual case and whether a settlement can be reached or if you need to bring your claim to court. 

If your will dispute is resolved outside of court, who pays the legal costs is agreed upon in the settlement agreement, so there will be no unpleasant surprises. 

If your case goes to court, then, depending on the outcome, the court will rule on who needs to pay the legal fees at the end. 

Why Choose Witan Solicitors?

• 100+ Years of Combined Experience: Trust our experience gathered in over a century of working in the industry to achieve the best possible outcome in your case
• Established in 2014: Witan Solicitors are trusted experts in Wills and litigation who have been working with individuals across the UK for over a decade
• Legal 500 Recognised: Our Solicitors have been recognised in the Legal 500
• Industry Experts: To ensure we provide the best legal advice, we never stop learning and we are always on the lookout for new changes in the law
• Multilingual Support: Our team is fluent in more than 10 languages offering efficient multilingual support when you need it
• Individual litigation experts near you: You can meet our litigation solicitors in London, Birmingham and Northampton

To find out whether Witan Solicitors are the right litigation experts for you, book an initial, no-obligation consultation free of charge on 0300 303 2071 to discuss your disappointed beneficiary claim.

FAQ

Can I make a disappointed beneficiary claim?

You may be able to claim against the Will writer if as a result of their mistake (professional negligence), you have inherited less than what you should. To see if you have a case, you should speak to a specialist solicitor for advice. 

What is the time limitation for making a disappointed beneficiary claim?

All claims by disappointed beneficiaries must be made within six months of the issue of the grant of representation.

Do all disappointed beneficiaries’ claims go to court?

No, many disappointed beneficiary claims are resolved with a settlement agreement before they reach the court. 

How long does it take to resolve a disappointed beneficiary claim?

Most disputes involving disappointed beneficiaries are resolved within one year and they usually don’t reach the court stage. If a settlement can’t be reached, the matter could take longer to resolve. 

What happens if my claim is successful?

If the validity of the Will is successfully challenged, the estate will be distributed either based on an earlier Will (if available) or the rules of intestacy will be applied.