Challenging will validity – 5 points to consider
Taking legal action that results in challenging will validity is a big step. There are a number of factors to consider before deciding what to do.
What happens if the will is declared invalid? This is probably the most important consideration. If the challenge to will validity is successful and the will you are concerned about is declared invalid, the estate of the deceased will then be distributed according to the previous will – or if there is no will, then the rules of intestacy. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may end up receiving less than under the will you are challenging. More fundamentally, if you would not benefit either under the previous will or under the intestacy rules, you are unable to challenge the will because you do not have ‘an interest’ in it.
What will it cost? Legal action is a significant expense, and challenging will validity is no exception. Assistance is not available under the Community Legal Service (formerly known as Legal Aid) for this type of legal action, so you will need to be able to fund the claim privately. Many firms offer ‘no win no fee’ arrangements which offer more certainty in respect of the legal costs. However, even if you are successful, the legal fees may reduce what you actually receive once the ‘dust has settled’ quite significantly. You can read more about the costs of challenging a will here.
What evidence do you have? Evidence – what you have and evidence you might need is something you will need to discuss with your solicitor. Evidence is a major consideration in challenging the validity of the will. Without evidence, you are unlikely to succeed in your challenge. The irony of any will dispute is that the person who can give the best evidence about the will – the circumstances in which it was drawn up and why it was been drawn up in the particular way – has passed away. You will therefore be relying on the accounts of other people when challenging will validity: perhaps doctors, close friends, the solicitor who drew up the will, those who witnessed the will. Some of these people may be people who benefit under the will (perhaps at your expense) – and this can be problematic.
How long will it take? In the ‘worst case’ scenario, a will dispute where there are points of law to be considered can take many years to resolve a will dispute. The case of Ilot v Mitson finally concluded earlier in 2017 with a Supreme Court decision, some 10 years after the first judgement in the case. 10 years is excessive, and it is unlikely that your will dispute will take this long. On the other hand, if you end up going to court, rather than resolving the dispute using Alternative Dispute Resolution, it can take at least a year to eighteen months to reach a court hearing.
Will relationships be damaged? It is important to bear in mind that challenging the validity of a will can have some serious consequences for your family dynamics. Perhaps you are disappointed that a will leaves something significant (a property, perhaps, or a share of a business) to a sibling and you feel you have been treated unfairly. We do understand that this can be an exceptionally distressing situation to be in, however, legal action can damage family relationships very deeply and for lengthy periods of time. It is worth bearing this in mind especially if you challenge involves accusing another family member of acting improperly. The situation is less problematic if the will concerned leaves the bulk of an estate to a non-family member and your family is united in a concern that foul play has led to this situation.
These are the main considerations you should weigh up before challenging a will. You may also find it helpful to discuss your case with a solicitor before deciding whether to proceed or not. Every case is different and has its own considerations. We offer a free claim assessment for people considering their position – why not get in touch?