About our contentious probate services at Wright Hassall

OUR CONTENTIOUS PROBATE TEAM

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

CONTENTIOUS PROBATE

Contentious probate is the umbrella term for any dispute relating to a person's will or estate after their death.

We act for clients nationally and location is not a barrier to instruction.

We can help with a range of contentious probate matters, including:

• Contested wills

• Disputed estates

• Removal and substitution of executors and trustees

• Proprietary estoppel Partnership disputes on death

• Contested trusts

• Court of Protection disputes

OUR CREDENTIALS

SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR CONTENTIOUS PROBATE WORK…

We have a vast amount of experience across the team. Three of which are full ACTAPS members; with a further fellow member of ACTAPS.

Some recent examples that give an idea of the work we regularly undertake are:

• Appeal heard in the High Court in a reported case regarding a portfolio of properties worth over £1 million, which were determined to be held on trust for our client.

• Settled a spousal claim for financial provision under the Inheritance Act, at mediation, in respect of a £18 million estate.

• Acted in the Hirachand appeal in the Supreme Court, which relates to the claimant recovering a CFA uplift contrary to Section 58 (6) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

• Acted in a defended will challenge and proprietary estoppel claim up and including a 5-day trial.

• Successfully acted in 2 presumption of death cases.

• Settled a death-bed gift claim, before proceedings were issued.

• Successfully defended an executor removal claim.

• Acted in Ilott v Mitson, the only other Inheritance Act claim to go before the Supreme Court, Hirachand being the second.

• Acted in a will dispute relating to a high-value farm, which was settled at mediation.

RECOGNISED IN CHAMBERS & PARTNERS AND THE LEGAL 500

Our team have been recognised in independent legal directories Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2024 and the Legal 500 2025.

Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2024

• Ranked Band 2

• Martin Oliver is a Ranked Individual

• Katie Alsop is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’

The Legal 500 2025

• Ranked Tier 1

• Martin Oliver ranked in the Hall of Fame

• Katie Alsop ranked as a Next Generation Partner

"Katie is robust, tactical in dealing with opponents, strong technically in law, abreast of legal developments and, in addition, laser-focused on achieving good outcomes for clients."

Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2024

“With the ’wonderful tactician‘ Martin Oliver at the helm, the practice covers all types of contentious trusts and probate work. Oliver has acted in many high-profile inheritance disputes.”

The Legal 500 2025