Making an Inheritance Claim As A Dependant Of The Deceased in the UK
When people make their Will, more often than not they make specific provision for people who are dependant on them financially to ensure they will be taken care of after their death. Occasionally, though, omissions are made in Wills – so if you are a dependant of the deceased but no provision has been made for you, you may have grounds for making a UK inheritance claim against the estate.
There is a provision under the Inheritance Act 1975 that permits any financial dependants omitted from the Will to claim against the estate of the deceased.
These kind of claims, however, can only be made if the deceased passed on whilst living in England or Wales.
Need specialist advice on an inheritance claim? We can help
Our litigation lawyers regularly handle a wide range of disputed wills and contested probate claims both locally from our 4 offices in in Salisbury, Andover, Fordingbridge and Amesbury and throughout Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and further afield.
Thinking of making an inheritance claim? Call our expert team on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.
Sadly inheritance claims are becoming much more common
Recent figures of the number of claims brought in the High Court in 2019 under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 continue to rise. For example, it appears that over 10,000 applications to stop probate being granted were made in 2023, up 14 per cent on 2022. And this followed an even bigger jump of over 1000% in the number of claims made annually between 2005 and 2015.
One of the main reasons for the recent increase in the number of claims is the growing complexity of British families – with a significant upswing in divorce, remarriage, and living together outside marriage – especially when no allowance was made in the will for second families or additional children. In particular, the significant increase in the number of couples living together has resulted in a huge 284% hike between 2007 and 2021 in the number of inheritance claims made annually by those who believe they should have received assets from the estate of their late partner.
Additionally, the massive hike in home ownership and British property prices over the last 30 years has meant that a much larger number of people now have substantial and valuable assets.
But a third very important factor is the mistakes and errors made when preparing “DIY” or home-made wills. Getting your will wrong can prove catastrophic for the loved ones left behind when you pass on. Probate, wills, inheritance tax and the administration of estates is a complex area, where a lack of understanding can prove very expensive indeed.
Who is entitled to make an inheritance claim?
The Act confirms that the people who can make an inheritance claim in respect of financial dependency on the estate of the deceased:
- Their surviving spouse or civil Partner, provided they have not remarried or entered into another civil partnership. This most commonly happens when the spouse was financially dependant on the deceased but there is nothing in the will to take account of that. The spouse can then make an inheritance claim in order to receive a share of the estate
- A person who lived with them for at least two years as a co-habitee. People living together don’t have the same rights as a surviving spouse or civil partner. However, the law was amended in 1995 to take account of the fact that more people live together without being married. Now, if a couple has lived together for at least 2 years, then the surviving partner is eligible to contest the will of their deceased partner if they feel adequate provision has not been made for them. The number of cohabitees making a claim in this way has increased significantly. In addition to the increase in house prices, an important factor has been the increased awareness among unmarried couples about their rights to claim assets from the estate of their late partner.
- Children. Whether the children of the deceased are natural or adopted, they too have the right to contest the will. This generally happens if they were financially dependant on their deceased parent, but it can also happen if they feel they were unfairly left out or neglected in favour of their siblings. The law also makes provision for any step-children of the deceased, or any others that they may have looked after as if they were their own children.
- Anyone else financially dependant on the deceased may also be able to make an inheritance claim if they have been overlooked. This could be an elderly relative or disabled person who was reliant on the deceased, or anyone who received regular maintenance from them.
Dependency claims are also possible under what are known as the “intestacy rules” if the deceased had assets but didn’t leave a valid will.
Can a Former Spouse Make a Claim?
If the deceased had a former spouse who remained unmarried following their split, then they may also be entitled to contest a will if they feel they have been unfairly left out. If successful, their payment will generally be in the form of maintenance payments in case they choose to marry again, at which point their entitlement to the estate will cease.
What are the most common causes of inheritance claims?
Every wills and contested probate dispute tends to be different – but amongst the most common reasons for these kind of claims are the following;
- lack of financial provision for a dependent of the deceased – including potential heirs being disinherited when the deceased’s remarriage automatically invalidated their previous will
- mistakes in wills
- claims by a surviving cohabitee when the deceased failed to leave a will
- legacies in the will not reflecting what had been promised verbally by the testator before their death
- family members not receiving the kind of inheritance they expected
- the that the testator did not have the mental capacity to make the will
Click here to read more about Challenging a Will for Lack of Mental Capacity
Proving Your Inheritance Claim at Court
Anyone who makes a claim on the estate must have proof of their inheritance claim. If a case goes to court and the estate is worth less than £30,000, then it will be heard by the county court. If the estate is worth over £30,000, then it will be heard in either the Family Division or Chancery Division of the High Court. If successful, then the money will generally be paid in the form of a maintenance allowance rather than a lump sum as with most other inheritances.
Inheritance Act Claims – What will the Court look at?
When challenging a Will as a financial dependant, the court considers several factors when making their decision about the eligibility of your inheritance claim:
- The size of the estate
- The needs and resources of the claimant
- The needs and resources of the other beneficiaries
- The responsibilities that the deceased person had to the claimant
- Any disabilities experienced by the claimants
- The financial status of any fellow claimants
This allows the Court to make a fairly judged decision as to whether the provisions made in the Will are reasonable. Where the principle of the inheritance claim is successful, it is up to the dependant to persuade the court how much should be awarded from the estate of the deceased.
It is important that you act quickly if you do intend to a claim as there is a strict time limit in which to make such claims.
Strict Time Limit for your Inheritance Claim
These types of claims must be made within 6 months from the date of the grant of probate (Grant of probate is the document issued by the Probate Service which acts as legal authorisation for the executor to deal with the deceased’s assets).
The Court does have power to permit claims after this time limit has expired, but this would only be in exceptional circumstances. If you are thinking of making inheritance claim, our strong advice is to make sure you get specialist legal advice as soon as possible. Don’t delay – the alternative is losing out on your right to make an inheritance claim entirely.
The need for specialist legal advice
Finally, don’t forget this is a complex area of law. If you are the dependent of someone who has recently died, were not left anything in the will, and are now thinking of making a claim, make sure you appoint a solicitor with plenty of experience of these kind of contested probate claims.
How can I fund my inheritance claim?
Our specialists can discuss the options with you – and that may include whether you have representation for this kind of case covered under legal expenses insurance
Making your inheritance claim – A Warning
The sad fact is that for many people who make an inheritance claim, or indeed any other sort of contested probate application, the result, regardless of whether any financial award is made, is often to set friends and family members against each other.
In our experience this tragically often causes real rift and disputes between families – and sometimes those previously close family members never speak again. So if you are thinking of making a claim, do consider the consequences and impact on other family members first.
No one really wants to become involved in contesting probate and end up falling out with their friends or relatives, but having a solicitor or mediation service to help you deal with any contentious issues can be massively beneficial to all involved.
Nationwide coverage – and acting for expats
Provided the deceased was living permanently in England all Wales at the time of his or her death, we can represent you, either in face-to-face interviews or using a combination of phone, email and Skype or Facebook video calls.
You don’t even need to be based in the UK. We regularly complete cases for expats and those working abroad.
What is a probate caveat?
A probate caveat can be used to prevent someone taking a Grant of Administration over an estate.
Lack of capacity of the testator (the person whose Will is in question) during the time the Will was created, or a belief that the Will in question is not the latest copy written by the deceased, can cause concerns over validity.
In addition the person taking out the Grant may well be of concern themselves – if, for example, they are a significantly younger foreign national, who married very close to the time of his or her demise, the relatives may feel it likely that the estate will be cashed in and taken abroad.
How does a probate caveat work?
When there are concerns over the validity of a Will or the identity of the person who is proposing to take the Grant over an estate, a caveat can be entered at the Probate Registry to effectively freeze distribution of an estate.
To enter a caveat is relatively inexpensive and a comparatively simple way to stop the Grant being issued – although it may be necessary to ensure this is done quickly as the person seeking the Grant may attempt to ‘warn off’ your caveat on the basis that there are no grounds for concern.
After the grant of a probate caveat, the validity of any will is going to be ultimately determined by the Court.
Domicile and Your Inheritance Claim
The rules governing domicile with regards to inheritance claims are complex and a number of factors have to be taken into consideration. If you’re thinking of making a probate claim, seek advice from our team of specialist contested probate solicitors so that we can help eliminate reasons for doubt about domicile issues at an early stage.
However in general terms, to bring an inheritance claim, you need to show that the deceased was domiciled in England and Wales. “Domicile” broadly means the country that someone considers their permanent home, or lives in.
However difficulties can arise where a person has actually moved in or out of a particular country while they were alive, or shown their intention to do so.
The guidelines for considering domicile in inheritance disputes are as follows:
• Everybody has a ‘domicile of origin’, i.e. the place where they were born
• You can acquire a ‘domicile of choice’ through a combination of actually living in a particular country and being able to prove and intention to permanently live there
• Only one domicile is possible, i.e. joint domicile as with joint nationality does not exist
• Nobody can be without a domicile
• An existing domicile continues until it is proved that a new domicile has been acquired
• A person can give up a domicile by either ceasing to live there, ceasing to intend to permanently live there or indefinitely live there
• If a new domicile of choice is not acquired, the person’s domicile reverts to their domicile of origin
When considering whether a person has acquired a domicile of choice, the Court must look at any circumstance that provides evidence of a person’s residence, or their intention to permanently reside in a country. When considering if someone intends to permanently reside, the Court can look at the motive for moving to a particular country, the fact that residence was not freely chosen and the fact that residence was precarious.
The best way to avoid inheritance claims on your estate?
That’s simple – making sure you have a valid and up-to-date will at all times. In particular wills are often not updated after major life events – but failing to do so can prove very expensive.
Even the government’s own gov.uk website recommends regular will reviews. In particular here is a direct quote taken from that site;
“You should review your Will every 5 years and after any major change in your life”.
Click here to read more about making a will.
Will I need to attend court?
A contested probate claim can be long and costly due to the amount of prior preparation needed – numerous documents maybe required, for example, to prove the deceased’s financial status. As a result of this, many contested probate cases are settled out of court by agreement.
If after negotiations the claim cannot be settled out of the court and if you want to proceed with your claim, legal proceedings will have to be issued which will involve you attending court. Fortunately only a relatively small number of inheritance claims end up in a contested court hearing.
Going to court – new court rules on mediation and arbitration
From 1st October 2024, UK courts have the power to impose legal costs on parties who fail to participate in alternative dispute resolution often referred to as ADR) in inheritance claims under the 1975 Act.
Mediation and arbitration are the most commonly used forms of ADR.
These kind of powers have been available to family courts for some years – and they do use them.
And that means that if a party to proceedings refuses to take part in ADR without good reason, they may to pay additional legal costs.
Can a “Mistress” Make an Inheritance Claim?
The lot of a mistress/lover or the male equivalent can be a very lonely one and when it comes to making inheritance claims, both mistresses and lovers are often left out in the cold. Now at least they are usually allowed to grieve openly or to take centre stage at the funeral, even if they are not allowed to have help in the sense of a pension etc, and what’s more, in some circumstances, they can make an inheritance claim to support them after their loved one dies.
The Inheritance Act is very clear that a mistress or a lover can only make an inheritance claim if they were maintained by the person who has died.
However even if they were being maintained by the deceased, that does not mean necessarily that the maintenance was full time. They might have been ‘partially maintained’. This is why inheritance claims can often be so difficult, as this kind of maintenance is not a black-and-white issue.
“Partially maintained” might relate to a regular gift of goods or monies to ensure their ongoing welfare. If the deceased person simply gave small gifts every so often, then this is not likely to be viewed as qualifying for inheritance claims.
Instead, any lover or mistress will probably need to show that the deceased gave them monies and gifts of sufficient worth that they were used to maintain that person’s lifestyle – and that without these gifts and monies, they would experience significant levels of hardship or their standard of living would be substantially altered.
Inheritance claims and “Proprietary Estoppel”
It is a sad fact that Wills are commonly challenged and claims made by both family and non-family members often lead to heartache and disagreement and your estate may not necessarily easily pass to whom you wish, be they family members, good friends or good causes.
When making a Will it is important that you are really careful about who you promise what to and that you follow through these promises in your Will as much as possible.
If you don’t, there’s a risk that, otherwise the Executors of your estate may be faced with ‘Proprietary Estoppel’.
This occurs when disappointed beneficiaries attempt to obtain a share of an estate by relying on a promise made by the Testator (the person making the Will) in their lifetime, which the beneficiary claims they ‘acted to their detriment in reliance upon’.
However, in these circumstances it is up to the disappointed beneficiary to prove this in order to claim a share of the deceased’s estate. And providing the court with the evidence to prove this is difficult. As a result applications for proprietary estoppel in contested probate claims are relatively rare – though that should not stop you if you have a valid claim.
A good example of proprietary estoppel occurred in a High Court decision in 2023.
The High Court found that Lincolnshire farmer John Spencer had said on a number of occasions that he intended to leave his farm and land to his son, Michael.
But John changed his will a few months before he died, leaving the farmland instead into a trust.
The court was satisfied that the son, who left school at 15 to work on the farm, was able to prove the promise, that he had acted on it and in so doing had missed out on other career options. He was awarded the farm.
FAQs
What is the definition of an inheritance?
An inheritance is an asset that passes on when someone dies. This could be through a Will or, if there is no Will, under the Rules of Intestacy. These rules decide who inherits an estate if no valid Will exists.
An inheritance could be a sum of money, a property, a valuable item, personal possessions or a share of the residual estate. The residual estate is the sum left after all liabilities and specific gifts have been paid.
How much can you inherit without paying tax in the UK?
The amount you can inherit without paying tax in the UK is £325,000. For every estate, the first £325,000 is tax-free. Anything left to your spouse, civil partner, a charity or a community amateur sports club is also tax-free.
Inheritance Tax is payable on the portion of an estate over £325,000. There are some allowances. If your spouse or civil partner’s estate did not use their allowance when they died, then the unused portion can be transferred to your estate. This means a potential allowance of £650,000.
If you leave a property to your direct descendants, there is a further £175,000 property allowance. Again, if your spouse or civil partner’s estate did not use their property allowance, this can be transferred to your estate. This gives a total potential allowance of £1 million.
Inheritance Tax is paid by the estate, meaning beneficiaries will not normally need to pay anything.
What does inheritance from parents mean?
Inheritance from parents means the assets passed on from parents to children after their death. Children may inherit because parents have left them something in their Wills. If the parents have not left a Will, children may inherit under the Rules of Intestacy.
The Rules of Intestacy say that if someone dies and they have a spouse or civil partner and children, the spouse or civil partner inherits all of the personal possessions plus the first £322,000 of the estate.
The rest of the estate is split in half. The spouse or civil partner receives one half and the children share the other half equally.
If a child has not been left anything in a parent’s Will, they may be able to claim an inheritance from a parent’s estate.
Do I need a solicitor to receive inheritance?
If you are inheriting money or other assets, you do not normally need a solicitor. The executor will often engage a probate solicitor. The solicitor will contact you and arrange to transfer the inheritance to you.
Generally, the only time that you need a solicitor to receive an inheritance is if you are concerned about something. For example, you may dispute the validity of the Will, believe you should have inherited more or feel that the executor has not handled the administration correctly.
How common are inheritance disputes?
Inheritance disputes are unfortunately common and becoming more frequent. Emotions are often running high after a death and it is easy to fall out with someone, particularly if a relative is dealing with the estate administration.
The best way to deal with an inheritance dispute is to contact a contentious probate solicitor straightaway. They will be able to step in and try and resolve matters quickly before the situation escalates and positions become fixed.
