When someone dies, the last thing a grieving family expects is a fight over the will. Yet inheritance disputes are becoming more common, and when they arrive – a will that does not look right, an executor who will not communicate, a relative left with far less than they were promised – they tend to be both legally technical and painfully personal. The choice of solicitor matters more than usual here, because contentious probate is a narrow speciality and the firms that do it well are not always the household names. The five firms below all take this work seriously. They simply do it from different places, in different ways, and for different kinds of dispute.
About this selection
These firms were drawn from publicly available information – the firms’ own published material and independent legal directories such as the Legal 500 and Chambers – and from how they appear for contentious probate searches in the UK. It is an editorial selection rather than a ranked verdict on legal quality, and none of the firms was instructed or assessed first-hand. The numbering below is for ease of reference, not a league table. The aim is simply to show the range of what is out there, from regional specialists and large national teams to a top-tier London litigation practice, so readers can find something that fits their own situation.
1. Higgs LLP – a specialist disputes team inside a full-service firm
Higgs is a West Midlands full-service firm whose contentious probate solicitors work specifically on disputes over wills, inheritance, trusts and estates. The team is ranked by both the Legal 500 and the Chambers High Net Worth guide for inheritance disputes, and its members hold accreditations from STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and ACTAPS, the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists – the recognised marks of a genuine specialist in this field.
Headed by Craig Ridge, the team covers the full range of disputes: challenges to the validity of a will, removing or challenging executors, Inheritance Act claims, contests where there is no will, trust disputes and proprietary estoppel, acting for executors and beneficiaries alike. What the firm emphasises in its own material is access and proportionality – a free, confidential initial consultation, pricing set out transparently from the start, and a preference for resolving disputes through negotiation and mediation before the expense of court. In a process that is usually as much about family as it is about law, that focus on early, cost-conscious resolution is a meaningful one.
West Midlands (Brierley Hill) · Head of contentious probate: Craig Ridge · Ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers High Net Worth · STEP and ACTAPS accredited · Free initial consultation
2. Irwin Mitchell – national scale and a nationwide team
Irwin Mitchell brings the reach of a large national firm to contentious probate, with offices across the UK and a team it describes as the largest private client and will-disputes practice in the country. The firm holds top-tier rankings in the Legal 500 for contentious trusts and probate, and its national will, trust and estate disputes team is led by Paula Myers.
The breadth here is the draw. The team advises on will-validity challenges, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, trust disputes, executor and trustee misconduct, proprietary estoppel and Court of Protection matters, acting for individuals, executors, trustees, charities and not-for-profit organisations. It points to particular experience in high-profile and complex disputes, including those involving rural and agricultural property or assets held overseas, and many of its specialists are ACTAPS members and qualified mediators. Like most of the firms here, it says it will try to resolve matters by mediation wherever possible, drawing on the firm’s national network when a case crosses regions or borders.
Offices across the UK · National head of will, trust and estate disputes: Paula Myers · Top-tier Legal 500 · ACTAPS members and qualified mediators · Resolves disputes by mediation where possible
3. Myerson – an award-winning team in the North West
Myerson is a Top 200 UK firm based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, whose contentious probate team was named Best Contentious Wills & Probate Team (Large) at the 2025 British Wills and Probate Awards. The team has also held a top-tier Legal 500 ranking for contentious trusts and probate for several years running.
Led by Partner Helen Thompson, the 18-strong team – which the firm describes as the largest of its kind in the North West – works across will-validity challenges, Inheritance Act claims, trust and executor disputes, Court of Protection matters, proprietary estoppel and disputes over lifetime gifts. All of its contentious probate solicitors are ACTAPS members. Because Myerson is a full-service firm operating from a single site, its disputes lawyers can pull in colleagues from property, agricultural, family and private client teams when a case needs it, and the firm sets out costs transparently, with no win, no fee available in suitable cases. Its caseload runs from everyday family disputes to high-value, cross-border and rural-property matters.
Altrincham, Greater Manchester · Head of contentious probate: Helen Thompson · “Best Contentious Wills & Probate Team (Large)”, 2025 British Wills and Probate Awards · Top-tier Legal 500 · all-ACTAPS team · No win, no fee available
4. Slee Blackwell – a national specialist built around funding options
Slee Blackwell runs a national inheritance-disputes practice that has built its reputation partly on how it funds claims. The firm – which also operates the long-running inheritancedisputes.co.uk – says it has one of the largest contentious probate teams in the country and reports an independent top-10 UK ranking on the review platform ReviewSolicitors.
The team, led by Naomi Ireson and Lee Dawkins, handles Inheritance Act 1975 claims, will-validity challenges on grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence and fraud, executor and beneficiary disputes, trust disputes, proprietary estoppel and TOLATA claims, for clients across England and Wales and with overseas elements. Its solicitors include ACTAPS members and it is recommended by the Legal 500. What sets the offering apart is funding flexibility: alongside a free initial consultation, it offers No Win, No Fee agreements, deferred fees and fixed-fee limits – an approach that can open up a claim for someone who could not otherwise fund one – with a strong emphasis on resolving matters at mediation.
National (England and Wales) · Contentious probate team led by Naomi Ireson and Lee Dawkins · Legal 500 recommended · ACTAPS members · No win, no fee, deferred and fixed-fee options · Free initial consultation
5. Stewarts – a top-tier London team for high-value, complex disputes
Stewarts is the UK’s largest litigation-only firm, and its Trust and Probate Litigation team sits firmly at the top tier of the market. Established by James Price in 2016, the team is top-ranked by both the Chambers High Net Worth guide and the Legal 500, and was named Contentious Trusts & Estates Team of the Year at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
This is the firm for the largest and most complex disputes. It acts for high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, trustees, trust companies and charities on UK inheritance claims, will-validity disputes involving testamentary capacity and undue influence, professional-negligence claims in estate administration, and onshore and offshore trust litigation, frequently across multiple jurisdictions. Its lawyers include ACTAPS and STEP members, and the firm’s purely litigation model – together with experience in structuring costs and after-the-event insurance – is geared to clients who need to litigate substantial, often international, estate and trust disputes from a position of strength. For an everyday family will dispute it may be more than is needed; for a high-value or cross-border one, it is squarely in its element.
London · Head of trust and probate litigation: James Price · Top-ranked by Chambers High Net Worth and the Legal 500 · Chambers HNW “Contentious Trusts & Estates Team of the Year”, 2020 and 2021 · Focus on high-value, complex and cross-border disputes
What to look for when choosing a contentious probate solicitor
Contentious probate sits apart from ordinary estate work, so a few things are worth weighing before instructing anyone.
The first is genuine specialism. This is a narrow, fast-moving area, and a firm that handles it day in, day out will spot the pitfalls earlier than a general practice picking up the odd dispute. Accreditation from STEP and, especially, ACTAPS is a useful shorthand – every firm above has it – as is recognition in the Legal 500 or Chambers.
The second is funding, because these disputes can be expensive and the cost frightens people off claims they would otherwise win. It is reasonable to ask, at the outset, whether the firm offers a free or fixed-fee consultation, whether costs can be met from the estate, and whether No Win, No Fee, deferred payment, after-the-event insurance or other arrangements might be available. Approaches differ widely from firm to firm.
The third is appetite for settlement. Most contentious probate matters resolve through negotiation or mediation rather than a courtroom, which usually means lower cost and less damage to family relationships; a firm that reaches for litigation only when it has to is generally a good sign. It is also worth being honest about scale – a high-value, cross-border estate and a disputed homemade will call for very different firms. Finally, act promptly: some claims carry strict deadlines – an Inheritance Act claim, for instance, must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate – so early advice protects your options.
Common questions
What is contentious probate? Contentious probate is the term for disputes that arise around a person’s will or the administration of their estate after they die. It covers challenges to the validity of a will, disagreements between executors and beneficiaries, claims that an estate is being mishandled, and claims by people who feel they were left out or not properly provided for.
Who can contest a will or bring a claim? It depends on the type of claim. A will’s validity can be challenged by someone who would inherit under an earlier will or under the intestacy rules, while a claim for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 can be brought by a defined group, including spouses, former spouses, children and certain dependants. A solicitor can quickly tell you whether you have standing.
How long do I have to act? Some claims are subject to strict time limits. An Inheritance Act claim, for example, must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate, and other claims can also be time-sensitive. Because deadlines can be tight and evidence is easier to gather early, it is sensible to take advice as soon as a dispute looks likely.
How much does it cost, and can the estate pay? Costs vary with the complexity of the dispute and how far it goes. Many firms offer a free or fixed-fee initial consultation, and depending on the circumstances the options can include payment from the estate, No Win, No Fee, deferred payment or after-the-event insurance. It is worth asking about funding at the first meeting.
Do these disputes always end up in court? No. The majority settle through negotiation or mediation, which is usually quicker, cheaper and less bruising than a trial. Court proceedings tend to be a last resort, used when the other side will not engage or the issues genuinely need a judge to decide.
A final word
There is no single right contentious probate solicitor for every dispute, which is why this list runs from a regional specialist team to a national heavyweight, an award-winning northern practice, a funding-led national specialist and a top-tier London litigation firm. The right choice will come down to the nature of the dispute, where you are, and how the work can be funded.
This article is an editorial selection based on publicly available information, including the firms’ own published material and independent legal directories; it reflects an editorial opinion rather than a ranked or verified assessment of legal quality, the firms were not instructed or assessed first-hand, and inclusion is not an endorsement. It is general information, not legal advice, and should not be relied upon when dealing with a will, estate or inheritance dispute – and as strict time limits can apply (an Inheritance Act claim, for example, must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate), anyone considering a dispute should seek independent legal advice promptly.
