Challenging an Executor of a Will

Challenging the Executor of a Will

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is always an extremely challenging and painful experience. If you believe that their estate is being mismanaged by an executor, this can make matters even more difficult to cope with. In these situations, our contentious probate solicitors will be available to advise you with sensitivity and understanding.

At Tinsdills Solicitors, our dedicated team have experience in handling a wide range of legal disputes. When challenging an executor of a Will, we will be by your side through every stage of proceedings, providing practical support which is geared towards achieving the best possible outcome.

We have developed strong negotiation skills and use these to secure outcomes that reduce the potential for disputes where possible. We always focus on securing the best outcome for you, which means getting to grips with the dispute and what approaches we need to take in order to reach a resolution. If court proceedings are necessary, then we can provide close personal support and robust representation to guide you through the process.

To reduce the potential of dealing with contested probate, and its far-reaching consequences, it is essential to seek expert legal advice when dealing with lifetime planning maters such as Wills, and Trusts. In addition to dealing with matters related to contested Wills, Trusts and Probate, our team also deal with various other matters. These include:

To arrange an appointment with one of our contentious probate solicitors in Hanley, Leek, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, or Sandbach please call 01782 652300 or use the enquiry form on the right hand side of the page.

Our Expertise with Challenging the Executor of a Will

Bringing a Challenge Against an Executor

While the process of administering an estate can be complicated and time-consuming, executors have strict responsibilities which they must adhere to. These responsibilities will typically include:

Collecting the deceased’s assets
Paying outstanding debts
Detailing assets and liabilities in the estate
Distributing the estate according to the terms of the Will

If you believe that an executor is distributing assets incorrectly, or is failing in any other duties, it may be possible to make a claim against them. For example, you could make a claim if the executor:

Is not acting in the best interests of the estate
Has not provided a full account of the estate
Has taken ownership of assets
Is not meeting the correct timescales

Our contentious probate solicitors can work alongside you to build an effective case against an executor, helping to recover any losses you may have suffered as a result of their mismanagement.

We can also assist with removing an executor from their role altogether. Find out more about that here.

Defending Executors Facing Challenges

If you are an executor who is facing a claim from a beneficiary, or a co-executor, you are likely to be under a lot of stress. This is especially as you will already be taking every measure to ensure that the estate is properly executed and that the wishes of the deceased are properly upheld.

Our contentious probate solicitors will review your situation and act in your defence if you are facing a challenge as an executor. We will build an effective defence case by clearly laying out the facts and establishing that you have upheld your duties as an executor and that a challenge has no merits.

Meet our Dedicated Contested Probate Team

Legal & Commercial Director

Paul Woolliscroft

Paul is a litigation Solicitor, Legal & Commercial Director and Head of the Litigation…

Senior Associate

Jason Washington

Jason is a Senior Associate and advises both businesses and individuals in resolving disputes….

Legal Executive (FCILEx)

Shannan Sutton

Shannan is a Chartered Legal Executive who specialises in civil matters for the department,…

Get in Touch With our Contested Probate Solicitors Today

Do you want to discuss challenging an executor? We have expertise in this area and more.

With a dedicated team on hand to take you through every step of the process, you can rest assured that we will provide you with the best chance of getting the outcome you deserve.

To arrange an appointment with one of our contentious probate solicitors in
Hanley,
Leek,
Newcastle-Under-Lyme, or Sandbach,
please call 01782 652300 or use the enquiry form on the right hand side of the page.

Challenging an Executor FAQs

Who Can Challenge an Executor?

Typically, you will be able to challenge an executor if you are a beneficiary of an estate, or you are a co-executor.

Can You Remove an Executor?

Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to apply to have an executor removed from their role altogether. It may be possible to have an executor removed if:

They are unsuitable for the position
They are subject to a conflict of interest
They are unfit or unable to act as an executor (for example, if they have been convicted of a crime or they lack the mental capacity to manage their affairs)

The executor can also voluntarily give up their position. However, this must be done before the grant of representation has been issued. A Court Order will be required for their removal once they have commenced the practicalities of their role.

What Happens if a Will is Invalid?

If an executor is appointed through a Will which is later declared to be invalid, one of two steps is likely to be taken. If there is a previous Will, which is valid, this is used instead. This means that there could be changes to the executors who are named in the Will.

If there is no valid Will, the rules of intestacy will be followed instead. In these situations, no one has the immediate authority to act as a personal representative of the estate. Instead, a relative of the deceased needs to apply to the Probate Registry for a grant of letters of administration. If accepted, that person then becomes the estate administrator.

An administration has broadly the same responsibilities as an executor, only that they do not have a Will to follow.