Inheritance Act Claims

There are strict time limits (usually within six months of the date of the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration) to bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act) 1975, so you must act quickly if you want to make a claim or contest a Will.

Myerson have one of the largest specialist Inheritance Act teams in the country, successfully securing substantial financial settlements for many clients over the years. You can see some of our successful Inheritance Act claims below.

Who can claim under the Inheritance Act 1975

It is a basic principle of English law that we can leave our estates to who we wish.  However, the Inheritance Act 1975 was introduced to enable certain claimants to bring financial claims.

To be eligible to claim under the Inheritance Act, you must fall into one of the categories below:

• A spouse or civil partner of the deceased
• A former spouse or civil partner who has not remarried
• An unmarried partner of the deceased who lived with them as husband or wife for a period of two years before the date of death
• A child of the deceased, including illegitimate or legally adopted children
• A person who was treated by the deceased as a child of the family
• A person who was financially maintained by the deceased

If you fall within one or more of the categories above, the next step is to consider whether the Will or intestacy has made reasonable financial provision for you.

If you are out of time you may still be able to claim by applying to the court to bring proceedings out of time.

If you think you may be out of time, please get in touch, and we can advise you as to whether we believe you may be able to bring the claim out of time.

If you choose to work with us, you will discover exceptionally talented lawyers who have a passion for making a genuine difference in our clients’ lives. We pride ourselves in being approachable and always ensure that everything we do is in your best interests.

All our solicitors are either full members of ACTAPS (the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) or are working towards that. The team is overseen and led by experienced Partner Helen Thompson, a member of STEP (the global professional association for practitioners specialising in inheritance and succession planning), and has completed the Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. We are also proud to be ranked in the top tier of the prestigious Legal 500 directory.

We provide practical advice and, unlike other firms, are able to deliver a complete service with support from colleagues in our Property and Private Client teams.

How much does making a claim cost?

From the outset, our costs will be clear and transparent, and we offer a range of funding options, including:

• “No Win, No Fee” agreements
• Deferred payment
• Fixed fees
• Litigation loans
• Third-party funding
• Legal expenses insurance
• “After the event” insurance