Contentious Probate.
If you are facing a dispute over a will, inheritance, or the administration of an estate, our specialist Contentious Probate Solicitors are here to support and protect your interests.
Probate Disputes can be deeply upsetting, particularly when you are still trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one.
Contentious Probate can place considerable strain on families and personal relationships during a highly emotional period. What should be a time to mourn and reflect can become overshadowed by questions about a loved one’s estate. Seeking clear legal advice as early as possible can help you understand your position, protect your interests, and give the dispute the best chance of being handled with care and sensitivity.
At Lanyon Bowdler, our Contentious Probate Solicitors provide practical, compassionate advice to help resolve inheritance and probate disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible. We can help with claims for financial provision, professional negligence claims relating to wills or estate planning, proprietary estoppel disputes, rectification claims, trust disputes and challenges to the validity of a will. Seeking clear legal advice as early as possible can help you understand your position, protect your interests, and give the dispute the best chance of being handled with care and sensitivity.
We will explain your options clearly, help you understand the strength of your claim or defence, and work with you to find the most appropriate route forward, whether through negotiation, mediation or court proceedings where necessary.
Speak to our team and let us resolve your probate dispute as sensitively and effectively as possible.
Our wider Private Client Team is recognised for its expertise, with Lanyon Bowdler ranked in Band 1 for Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth and recommended by Legal 500 for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate. The team also includes practitioners who are members of ACTAPS, the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, reflecting our specialist knowledge on disputes over probate. As a full-service law firm accredited with Lexcel, we support clients throughout England and Wales.
We offer a range of clear pricing options, including fixed fees and service level guarantees, so you can make informed decisions from the outset. Contact Lanyon Bowdler today for advice to contest probate disputes.
Claire is one of the few solicitors in the Shropshire/West Midlands area to specialise in contentious probate. She is a member of The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (“ACTAPS”).
The 2026 edition of Legal 500 states: “Claire Vale leads the department at Lanyon Bowdler, which notably represents the National Farmers Union in the West Midlands.”
“Vale herself is a specialist in probate and agricultural disputes, Inheritance Act claims and applications to remove executors.”
“Vale is also well-equipped to handle rectification claims, as well as related professional negligence and financial abuse-related work. Vale is also well-equipped to handle rectification claims, as well as related professional negligence and financial abuse-related work.”
The death of a loved one is extremely distressing and can be made all the more traumatic if you or someone else believes the will to be invalid.
Our team is experienced in dealing with all types of will and inheritance disputes and can help challenge a will’s validity via Validity Claims. Our solicitors can also make sure you are able to claim what you are entitled to in a will via Financial Provision Claims.
They are also experts at helping people recover assets which may have been promised to them via Proprietary Estoppel, or dealing with Negligence or Rectification Claims.
In the unfortunate circumstances of a dispute about a will between beneficiaries, trustees or personal representatives, our specialists are experienced at dealing with Trust Disputes and will work with you to find a solution.
If you feel that you have been unfairly left out of a will or you are an executor who is either acting on someone else’s behalf or defending a claim, our specialist legal team are there to help with the expertise and experience that you need.
If you believe you have grounds to contest a will, it is imperative that you contact us without delay. In some cases, a claim must be brought within six months of any Grant of Probate. You don’t have long, so take legal advice as soon as possible.
In the Legal 500 2026 directory the Contentious Probate department is ranked in Tier Three for the West Midlands which states, “This is a local firm that does good quality and relatively high value contentious trusts and probate work.”
In the vast majority of cases, a will is contested by a family member. For example:
As a family member, you are not necessarily or automatically entitled to receive anything from the deceased’s estate but our accomplished team of solicitors will act swiftly to establish the facts and background to your case, before advising you on the chances of overturning the existing terms of the will.
We can offer advice on whether it is appropriate to contest the will and on the next steps to take.
Disputes often arise over the division of assets or the exclusion of an expected beneficiary completely.
Grounds for contesting a will can include:
From the first contact, the team at Lanyon Bowdler gave a fast & efficient service. They were very friendly & gave me the confidence that I had found the right solicitors. The advice given & the fast responses were beyond my expectations. The matter was resolved in no time at all.
Since dealing with Lanyon Bowdler they have been diligent, efficient and at all times very helpful along with being structured in dealing with matters, fees and clarity on all levels. Thank you.
I was clearly informed of progress step by step. The service you provided was very good.
All work carried out effectively and efficiently.
An excellent service with solicitors that you can talk to and who give you a clear understanding of all necessary legal implications and interpretations.
From start to finish we had excellent service. Friendly, approachable and professional.
Very clear, concise advice and guidance, easy to understand.
Good service provided throughout with clear communication throughout with all options explored.
I can thoroughly recommend the highly professional and supportive service received over the last few months.
Responsive, supportive, approachable, clear and empathetic.
Professional and prompt communication. Supportive and client focused.
Whenever I have had need to contact Lanyon Bowdler I have always received a fast, concise and friendly response.
Definitely would use Lanyon Bowdler again if I need the use of a solicitor.
Smooth and efficient service from very professional firm.
We were particularly impressed with the quality of work, the speed and excellent communication.
Very friendly and approachable. Very good advice
Great Service; Lanyon Bowdler were excellent from the outset. Straightforward and easy process. I just sat back and waited.
Everything has been professional, efficient and courteous throughout and we are very pleased, both with the service and with the eventual outcome of our case. Everything was first class and exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for providing such splendid service. It is really appreciated.
Give a member of the team a call or complete our online enquiry form to see how we can help you.
We have offices in Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Bromyard, Hereford and Conwy; so if one of these locations is particularly convenient to you, please let us know – but we do represent clients wherever they live in England or Wales.
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Podcast
LISTEN AGAIN: Estates and Farming Disputes – Edward Rees and Claire Vale
Blog
Podcast
Financial Abuse by Attorneys – Edward Rees and Claire Vale
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
Podcast
The Law Behind Predatory Marriages – Edward Rees and Claire Vale
Blog
Blog
Blog
"*" indicates required fields
Back
