A person must have the mental capacity to make a Will for it to be valid. If it can be proven that the testator did not have the mental capacity (e.g. due to dementia) to make a Will then it may be deemed invalid. All solicitors, when making a Will for a client, are expected to follow the 'golden rule', this means if they doubt their client's mental capacity, a medical opinion should be sought.

An example of this can be if the person who made the Will was led to believe that the Will left gifts to certain beneficiaries when it does not, or they may not have understood its contents due to a disability (e.g. deafness or blindness). Another example of lack of knowledge would be if they did not speak or read the language that the Will was written in.

When a person is making or changing a Will, they cannot be pressured or unduly influenced into it.

If a Will or the signature on the Will, has been forged then it is not valid. This can be difficult to prove in court, however, we have handwriting experts that can help prove if a signature has been forged.

Certain formalities must be adhered to for a Will to be valid. This is why it is always recommended to have a Solicitor help you draw up a Will.

To successfully contest a Will, you will either need to prove that the Will is invalid or that you have not been given reasonable provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. Our expert Yorkshire Wills and Probate solicitors will help you conduct investigations and gather the evidence needed for a strong case.

Yes, in some circumstances, family members can contest a Will. Generally, if you are a child of the Deceased (including adult child), a spouse or former spouse or civil partner, or if you were financially dependent on the Deceased, you are eligible to bring a claim under the Inheritance Act. You may also be able to dispute a relative's Will if you stood to benefit under the terms of a previous Will, but not under a current one, or if you stand to benefit under the rules of intestacy.

As each Will is unique to the testator situation, each claim will be different, so it's imperative that you seek the expertise and advice of a specialist contesting a Will solicitor for advice on your specific case. If you wish to contest a Will, contact us on 0800 689 3206 and we will discuss with you whether you have a claim.

The time frame for contesting a Will will depend on how complex the case is and whether a resolution can be found in mediation. If all interested parties can come to an agreement, then it may only take a few months for the case to come to a successful conclusion. However, if an agreement cannot be found, the other party defends the Will and the case goes to court, it can take many months, or even years, for a Will dispute case to come to its conclusion.

If you want to contest a Will in Yorkshire, then contact our contesting a Will Solicitors today on 0800 689 3206, who will listen to your story and give you tailored legal advice to help you get the best possible outcome.

There is no accurate way of predicting the exact cost of contesting a Will. At Forbes, we are flexible with fees in order to suit your needs. We often pursue matters on a "no win, no fee" basis and can defer costs if necessary. We work with clients to ensure their matter is pursued as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.