Family relationships are increasingly complicated and you may feel that you have wrongly been left out of a Will, or there may simply be no trace of any Will, leaving the estate intestate.

In either case, if you feel that you have not received what you expected from your loved one’s estate, it may be possible to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, which is often referred to as an Inheritance Act or a 1975 Act claim.

If you would like to talk to one of our wills disputes lawyers about making a claim under the Inheritance Act, contact us 0161 930 5151 or e-mail willdisputesteam@gorvins.com for a free initial discussion with no obligation.

Gorvins Approach to Inheritance Act Claims

The Inheritance Act makes provision for people who have not been included in an individual’s Will, or have not benefited from a person’s estate under the laws of intestacy, provided they hold one of the following relationships with the deceased:

  • They are the spouse or civil partner of the deceased
  • They are a former spouse or former civil partner who has not re-married or entered into a subsequent civil partnership
  • They are a person living in the same household as husband or wife of the deceased, in the two years immediately prior to their death
  • They are a child of the deceased
  • They are a person who was treated by the deceased as a child of the family
  • They are a person who was being maintained by the deceased

Provided an individual can prove that they fall within one of the above categories, a Court can order that a Will is varied, or an estate be redistributed, in a variety of ways to include that individual.

Claims under the Inheritance Act are usually heard in the High Court and can take up to 12 months to conclude.

How can Gorvins Help?

It is essential for anyone who might be considering pursuing a claim under the Inheritance Act to seek the advice of Gorvins’ specialist team at the earliest opportunity, as any claims must be commenced within six months of the Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate.

Call the inheritance act team today on 0161 930 5151, e-mail willdisputesteam@gorvins.com or fill in our enquiry form and we will call you back at a time to suit you.

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