Compulsory mediation and costs-only parties in probate dispute (Ivey v Lythgoe)
Private Client analysis: In Ivey & Others v Lythgoe and another, the High Court considered a dispute over the validity and rectification of two Wills made by David Ivey, who died in 2023. The claimants, his nephews and niece, argued that a 2009 Will prepared by Trust Inheritance Ltd did not reflect his true intentions and was the result of professional negligence. They alleged that the company misinterpreted David’s instructions, wrongly excluding intended beneficiaries. The court refused to join the company as a costs-only party under section 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (SCA 1981), holding that negligence must first be established. Instead, it ordered consolidation of the probate and negligence claims under CPR 3.1(2)(h), recognising the factual overlap. The court also directed the company to participate in mediation under CPR 3.1(2)(o), emphasising the importance of alternative dispute resolution. The case also highlights the duty of care owed by Will-writing professionals and the procedural tools available to manage overlapping claims efficiently. Written by Jacob Ashforth, associate, and Madeleine Chambers, trainee solicitor at Burges Salmon LLP.