Multi party inheritance dispute

We represented an 8 year old boy via his litigation friend in a complicated multi party mediation concerning the estate of his late father.  Multiple claims were made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants Act) 1975.  The dispute involved:-

• 13 individuals;
• three (possibly four) separate competing claims;
• a deceased (estate) with a history of three marriages, the first two ending upon divorce, the third upon death;
• multiple step-families, two protected parties (one an infant, and one a disabled adult child of the deceased);
• one commercial and seven residential rental properties/units; and
• a self-represented litigant.

The matter was further complicated by the impact of the Brexit referendum and the property market turmoil impacting the efforts to market the largest estate asset – commercial investment property in London.  Additional complicating factors included inheritance tax liability of over £500,000 under the Will as originally structured.

The case successfully resolved after a lengthy mediation and following the court approval of the settlement on behalf of the infant party and protected party.

Matter value: £2.3m