Inheritance claim if you are left out of a will

Generally, under English law, a person making a will can leave his or her assets to anyone they choose. However, there is a caveat to this, which is the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

This legislation allows for certain people to make a claim on your estate if they believe that reasonable financial provisions are not made for them. The success of this claim would be at the discretion of the courts and there would be numerous factors such as:

• age,

• dependency,

• relationship to the deceased,

• value of the estate and

• relevant medical conditions etc

which would be taken into consideration when deciding if reasonable financial provisions have in fact been provided or should have been provided.

As such, the determinative factor, this being ‘reasonable financial provisions’ is very much a subjective rather than an objective test. This means that each case would be determined on the individual facts of the case.

There are cases which are likely to have more success than others.  These are usually spousal claims which will be comparative with the Divorce crosscheck as to whether sufficient provision has been left for a spouse.

The Court will look at whether financial provision has been provided for the spouse had the relationship ended in divorce as opposed to death and the reasonableness of that provision. So, the starting position is 50% of the joint matrimonial assets. The Court can go up and down depending on all the circumstances of the case.

It is important to note that there has only been one reported case where a spousal claim for provision was not successful and this was because the widow was wealthy in her own right.

Who can make a claim if they are excluded in a will?

The following can make a claim on a deceased estate:

• Spouse (or civil partner)

• Former Spouse (but not if a subsequent marriage has been undertaken)

• Cohabitee/ Partner of the Deceased (as long as they have been living in the same household as husband and wife or civil partnership in the immediate period for two years prior to death)

• Child

• Any person who the deceased stood in the role as a parent to (stepchildren etc)

• Any person who immediately before death was being financially maintained either wholly or partly by the deceased.

The Court will consider each case on its individual facts. and has wide discretion. There are no guarantees in this type of litigation which can be expensive, and we would suggest that you take legal advice as to your individual circumstances and whether you have a meritorious claim against the Estate.

Most cases are settled at mediation given the cost risks to both parties.

Time Limit to make a claim

It must be noted that there is a time limit to this claim (except if permission is granted from the court) which is six months from the date in which representation with respect to the estate of the deceased is first taken out, which generally means six months from obtaining probate.

Ellie Jaggard is a Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts & Probate department. If you are looking for further information regarding Contentious probate please get in contact.