Successful estoppel claim against father’s estate

For informal initial guidance on making an estoppel claim or a claim under the Inheritance Act contact our free legal helpline by phone or email.

We have recently won a proprietary estoppel claim brought by a daughter against her late father’s estate.

The claim settled at mediation with our client receiving a six-figure sum, including payment of her legal costs.

Her claim was for proprietary estoppel. She had worked with her father for many years. During this time she had been paid very low wages as her father promised her that she would inherit his business and the majority of his estate when he died.

However, when he did eventually pass away our client was shocked to discover that she wold only receive her promised inheritance after her stepmother had also died. This meant that our client would potentially have to wait many years before she would receive any benefit from her father’s business and all the work and effort she had put into it.

Our client was in immediate financial need and felt that it was unfair to be kept waiting for her promised inheritance that she had worked so hard for, especially as it might be a very long time before she received it.

She consulted specialist inheritance lawyer Naomi Ireson who advised her to make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975, combined with a claim for proprietary estoppel.

Proprietary estoppel claims can be made when promises are made which are relied upon but which are not honoured.

Naomi prepared the case and presented it to the estate. To avoid the costs of formal court proceedings an agreement was reached to hold a mediation and this resulted in an out of court settlement being reached.

Naomi’s client was delighted with the outcome of the mediation as the settlement reached provided her with an immediate and significant six-figure sum without having to wait for her stepmother to pass away.

If you think you are entitled to make a claim for proprietary estoppel and would like informal initial guidance on making an Inheritance Act claim then contact our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0404. Alternatively you can send brief details of your case to us by email at [email protected].

 

Naomi Ireson

Naomi Ireson

Naomi is a specialist inheritance dispute lawyer and one of England’s leading practitioners in this complex field.Her areas of practice include claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, challenges to the validity of wills and beneficial interest claims involving estoppel and constructive trusts. She also deals with Court of Protection cases.
Naomi Ireson

Naomi Ireson

Naomi is a specialist inheritance dispute lawyer and one of England’s leading practitioners in this complex field.Her areas of practice include claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, challenges to the validity of wills and beneficial interest claims involving estoppel and constructive trusts. She also deals with Court of Protection cases.

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