Success in a Will Forgery Case
Hayley Bundey, a contentious probate specialist Senior Consultancy Solicitor working in association with Slee Blackwell, discusses the recent rare example of a successful challenge to a will on the basis of forgery.
Mr Monir Jaman Shaikh passed away on 7 April 2020, leaving a Will dated 19 September 2019. This Will left his entire estate – which included four properties and his solicitor’s practice – to a Mr Shamin Hasan, who claimed to be “like a son or nephew” to the deceased.
The Claimant was the deceased’s only child and argued that the Will was forged. The Will contained a number of spelling mistakes and referenced properties in Pakistan, though there was no evidence to suggest that the deceased owned such assets. The Claimant also sought assistance from a handwriting expert, who concluded that the signature on the Will was likely to have been forged.
The Court ruled in favour of the deceased’s daughter and concluded that the defendants failed to prove the authenticity of the disputed Will. The Court also rejected the defendant’s claim of a close relationship between the deceased and the defendant. See Khatun v Hasan and Another [2025] EWHC 1658 (Ch).
Successful challenges to Wills on grounds of forgery are rare and for that reason it is important that claimants seek specialist advice to guide them through this complex area of the law to achieve the best outcome.
We have seen an increase in enquiries relating to forged Wills, particularly since the covid pandemic when it has been more common for testators to have executed homemade Wills without the benefit of legal assistance.
If you have concerns about a deceased relative’s Will, or you have been excluded from a Will, Hayley’s consultancy team are happy to offer a free case assessment to discuss how they may be able to help you. We offer various funding options, including No Win No Fee, to help you achieve the just outcome you deserve.
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.
