A Family Fall Out, a Contested Will and a Huge Court Bill
February 23rd 2026A recent High Court decision has brought Will and Inheritance Disputes into the spotlight and provides a stark reminder of how family disagreements can quickly turn into costly legal battles. In this article, our Head of Will and Inheritance Disputes, Rebecca Armstrong takes a closer look at the case and what could have been done differently. The case in brief A father (Laxmikant Patel) made a new Will shortly before…
What Happens If a Beneficiary Refuses to Engage With an Estate?
January 27th 2026Administering an estate can be challenging at the best of times. But what happens if a beneficiary simply refuses to engage, leaving the estate stuck for years? A recent High Court decision, Lowe v Daniells [2025], has provided important guidance on what can (and cannot) be done when a beneficiary’s silence brings estate administration to a standstill. In this article, Head of Will and Inheritance Disputes, Rebecca Armstrong, explains what…
What happens if an unmarried person dies without a Will?
October 16th 2025A recent survey undertaken by Will Aid has discovered that two-thirds of unmarried cohabitees (i.e. people who live together) don’t know what would happen to their estate if they were to die without a Will. Common misconceptions A quarter of those surveyed falsely believe that their estate would automatically pass to their partner. This is a common misconception, associated with the myth of ‘common law marriage’, which wrongly suggests that…
Cumbrian legal firm shortlisted for national law award
August 28th 2025A Cumbrian legal firm has achieved national recognition after being named as a finalist in the British Wills and Probate Awards 2025. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is shortlisted for the best Contentious Wills & Probate team (Boutique) at the awards which celebrate legal excellence across the country. Rebecca Armstrong, who is Head of Will and Inheritance Disputes at Cartmell Shepherd, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our specialist expertise in…
Alarming Increase in Inheritance Disputes
August 19th 2025Recent data reveals an unprecedented surge in inheritance disputes across England and Wales. In the final quarter of 2024 alone, the Probate Registry received 3,061 applications to enter a ‘caveat’ – a legal mechanism that halts the granting of probate to allow claims to be investigated. This figure marks a historic high, reflecting a dramatic 56% increase in caveat applications over the past five years, rising from 7,268 in 2019…
