Contentious trusts and estates

Navigating disputes in trusts and estates demands precision and expertise. This topic provides valuable insights and practical guidance tailored for legal professionals. Understand the complexities of contentious issues and equip yourself with strategies to manage and resolve conflicts effectively within this specialised field.

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Administration actions Family provision claims Jurisdiction Practice and procedure Probate actions Professional negligence—Wills, estates and trusts Trust disputes Trusts and divorce

Latest Private Client News

HMCTS review finds digital court reforms improved speed and access but challenges remain

HMCTS review finds digital court reforms improved speed and access but challenges remain
Private Client weekly highlights—11 September 2025

Private Client weekly highlights—11 September 2025

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Private Client weekly highlights—11 September 2025

Question of the week: If a witness to a Will is under the age of 18, does that invalidate the Will?

Question of the week: If a witness to a Will is under the age of 18, does that invalidate the Will?

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Question of the week: If a witness to a Will is under the age of 18, does that invalidate the Will?

OSCR announces new automatic disqualification rules now in force

OSCR announces new automatic disqualification rules now in force

Featured Private Client content

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certainties

Nature and classification of trusts—the three certaintiesCertaintyIn order for a settlor to create a private express trust the three certainties must...

Protectors

Protectors

ProtectorsWhat is a protector?A protector is a person who holds powers under a trust but who is not a trustee. A protector is a person who is...

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administration

Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administrationFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The postal application forms PA1P and PA1A for...

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilities

Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilitiesAn individual may assume obligations, for example in respect of...

Precedents

Loan agreement—individuals

Loan agreement—individualsDATE:Parties1[[name] of [address] [and [name] of [address]] OR [name] and [name] both of [address]] (Lender[s])2[[name] of...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

The Cy-près doctrine

The Cy-près doctrineFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a...
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30th May
Practice notes

Trustees—appointment of trustees

Trustees—appointment of trusteesOriginal trusteesTrustees will usually be appointed by the instrument that brings the trust into existence. The trust...
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2nd Jun
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Death in service benefits

Death in service benefitsOverview of the types of death in service benefits and their tax treatmentThere are three types of death in service...
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Produced in partnership with Eleanor Walsh, Lily Hurley and Emily Cook of Sinclair Gibson LLP
30th May
Practice notes

Assent of assets by personal representatives

Assent of assets by personal representativesPersonal representatives (PRs) can transfer assets to beneficiaries in any way that would also be...
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2nd Jun
Q&As

A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there is a declaration of trust in respect of the shares held for them. The other is a minor and there is a separate declaration of trust for him. What would or should happen to the company shares on the death of a beneficiary? Neither declaration of trust deals with this issue.

A trust holds the beneficial ownership of shares in a company of which one trustee is a director. Of the three beneficiaries, two are adults and there...
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Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk
30th May
Practice notes

Intermeddling in an estate

Intermeddling in an estateWhat is intermeddling?An individual who performs certain duties which a personal representative (PR) would perform to...
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Produced in partnership with Jenny Bird and Charlotte Kynaston of Macfarlanes
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Termination of trusts—methods of termination

Termination of trusts—methods of terminationDuration of a trustThe duration of an express trust is subject to the restrictions imposed by the rules...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Trusts as a vehicle for holding company shares

Trusts as a vehicle for holding company sharesIntroductionMany trusts own shares as part of a portfolio of investments. This Practice Note looks at...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Benevolent funds

Benevolent fundsFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Charities Act 2022 (CA 2022) received Royal Assent on 24 February 2022 and will be implemented on a staggered...
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30th May
Practice notes

Creation of trusts—life insurance trusts

Creation of trusts—life insurance trustsDefining life insurance trustsA life insurance trust usually involves either:•an assignment of an insurance...
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30th May
Practice notes

Lifetime gifts

Lifetime giftsA lifetime gift is a gratuitous transfer of ownership of any property between living persons and not made in expectation of death. In...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Source of income (and private client)

Source of income (and private client)When advising an individual on cross-border or offshore tax planning, it is important to establish the 'source'...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Liferent trusts—Scotland

Liferent trusts—ScotlandLiferent trustsA liferent trust (or trust liferent) is a trust which, when settled, confers a use and income benefit, or both,...
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Produced in partnership with Pete Murrin of Turcan Connell
30th May
tag iconScottish Law
Q&As

When can a mistake in an executed deed be rectified by a manuscript amendment rather than by a deed of rectification?

When can a mistake in an executed deed be rectified by a manuscript amendment rather than by a deed of rectification?This Q&A explains when it is...
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Produced in partnership with Emma Holland of Stewarts Law
30th May
Practice notes

Advantages and disadvantages of an offshore trust

Advantages and disadvantages of an offshore trustAn offshore trust is a trust where the trustees are resident in a low or zero tax jurisdiction....
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Produced in partnership with Mourant Ozannes
30th May

Popular documents

What is the procedure to remove a caveat?

What is the procedure to remove a caveat?A caveat is effective for six months. It can be extended on an ongoing basis for six months at a time. If the caveat is not renewed it will expire and any interested party is free to extract a grant.Withdrawal of caveatA caveat can be withdrawn at any time

Trust disputes—claims in negligence against trustees for their administration of the trust

Trust disputes—claims in negligence against trustees for their administration of the trustThis Practice Note is concerned with those breaches of duty by a trustee which consist solely of negligent acts or omissions, and which do not involve either the misapplication of trust funds or the breach of

Applications under CPR Part 64 (trusts and estates)

Applications under CPR Part 64 (trusts and estates)The scope of CPR Part 64CPR Part 64 concerns:•claims relating to the administration of estates of deceased persons and trusts, together with•charity proceedings (in a separate section)This Practice Note is concerned with the first part.It applies to

Trust disputes—beneficiaries' rights to information

Trust disputes—beneficiaries' rights to informationA distinction should be drawn between disclosure by the trustees under trust law, due to the rights of beneficiaries to receive information and ‘non-party’ disclosure by trustees during litigation, whether voluntarily or as a result of a court