What To Look For In A Solicitor When You Have An Estate Dispute

It is often the case that, by the time we realise that we have reached the point where we really need to bring a solicitor on board, the situation has become quite fraught, to say the least.

Most people will do whatever it takes to avoid bringing an outside party in to help settle a dispute, particularly if it is something personal such as a family matter. But there are a wide range of issues that can really benefit from having a solicitor take the reins and find the shortest route to a solution.

When it comes to personal family matters, there are very few issues as complicated as settling the estate of a deceased loved one. It will be especially difficult if they have been in a care home during the pandemic and you have all been keeping a worried eye on the government visiting guidelines. It is the kind of situation where everyone has their own perspective, where everyone has something that they want to gain or someone that they want to protect, and it is made all the more complicated because the one person who could provide definitive answers to settle everything is no longer with us.

It is perfectly understandable why you would want to settle an estate dispute within the family but an issue such as contentious probate or removing an executor has the potential to get more and more difficult the longer it goes on for. That is why it makes a lot of sense to look for a solicitor to get everything settled. But what should you look for, and where should you start?

Look For A Firm With Relevant Experience

We do not need to tell you how many different legal firms there are out there, and we also do not need to tell you how many different areas there are that require a solicitor. If you do a quick search for “legal firm near me” then you are going to be flooded with options and many of them may not be relevant. However, it is worth noting that a firm with diverse expertise and experience is not a bad choice.

The most important thing to look for is demonstrable experience. Can they give you examples of how they have dealt with these kinds of issues before? Are there solicitors on their team who specialise in wills and contentious probate? A good legal firm will want to show you just how much experience they have to offer.

Look For A Firm That Has Excellent Reviews

When the world went into lockdown back in March 2020, we all started doing all of our business online. As a result, we all got much more comfortable leaving feedback and telling businesses and services exactly what we thought of our experience with them. A good legal firm should be proud of their work, and they should be able to demonstrate that their customers and clients are satisfied too. Something as simple as a Trustpilot or Google reviews score could be a good indicator that you are on the right path. Hugh James has an excellent Trust Pilot rating and they have a track record of success in cases relating to contesting a will and contentious probate proceedings.

Look For A Firm That Values Customer And Client Satisfaction

We all know how frantic things have been out there during the course of the pandemic. We have all been rushing around trying to keep our heads above water and we have all been struggling to get through to the end of the month. With Autumn on the way and infections rising, it is fair to say that we are not out of the pandemic woods yet. One of the most important things that a good solicitor can offer you is peace of mind. They need to be offering you reassurance that your case is in safe hands.

When you are dealing with something that is as emotionally complex as a will, you are not going to be having an easy time of it. A good legal firm will make sure that you are comfortable with every step that they are taking, and they will keep you in the loop. Which brings us to our next point.

Look For A Legal Firm That Helps You Understand The Process

Some people out there just want to wash their hands of the whole business when they bring a solicitor on board. They want to pay someone to take their problem away and deal with it. But when it comes to something like contentious probate, it might not be that easy. You need to be crystal clear on what exactly it is that you are trying to achieve, what this problem is that you want to resolve.

A good legal firm will give you the resources that you need to understand the legal requirements for raising this kind of issue in the first place, what grounds you have for making a case, and how quickly you need to act. Even though we are placing our trust in the solicitor to resolve the issue, it is a tremendous help to have a good understanding of it and what the next steps will be.