Step-Daughter Wins Claim Against Step-Mother’s Estate
Hayley Bundey, a specialist contentious probate Senior Consultancy Solicitor working in association with Slee Blackwell, settled a claim at mediation on behalf of a step-child of the deceased who had been promised by their parent and step-parent they would receive an equal share of their joint estates on the survivor’s death along with their step-siblings but with both parents failing to put their wishes into Wills thus leaving our client out of provision being made on the intestacy of the step-parent who was the second to pass away.
Belated claims against the parent’s estate and the step-parent’s estate were pursued under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 with the latter being in the alternative to a proprietary estoppel claim for the equal share promised.
This was a rare example of a claim which when mediated revealed that the opponent appeared to recognise the moral aspect of the claim made and consequently a settlement for a substantial 6 figure sum was achieved even having factored in payment of legal costs.
The client was delighted with the outcome and felt that justice had been achieved with the settlement being a “life-changing” sum to enable them to move on from the stress and grief of the whole unfortunate dispute.
Hayley acted on a conditional fee agreement basis in this instance and she offers various forms of funding for these types of claims.
This excellent result shows the importance of clients using specialists who know what they are doing not only in building a case but in knowing how to manage the approach to be made at mediation to maximise not only the chances of it being successful but also the sum which our clients walk away with in their back pocket even after costs are factored in.
Hayley’s Consultancy Team are specialist in managing these cases to a successful outcome, often at mediation. In the last year the team’s success rate at mediation has been 100%.
If you would like to read more about Hayley’s experience and specialist areas of consultancy practice as an ACTAPS member, you can find further details on her dedicated webpage.
Hayley’s consultancy team are happy to offer a free case assessment to discuss how they may be able to help you in your own situation, including the various funding options open to you, such as no win no fee agreements, to achieve your own successful outcome.
Call Hayley and her specialist consultancy team on 0333 888 0554 or email them at [email protected] today.
