Bereavement (sort of contesting a will)

[Notnowjo]

My Mother had been with her partner for 17 years until he died (recently). They mostly lived in her house, She tells me he contributed something towards bills but she paid for all her house maintenance etc. She also tells me that they had discussed marriage but never got round to it (though he referred to her as his wife) and that he had told her he was changing his will to leave her his house. The day he died his brother drove 400 miles, removed all the personal papers he could find belonging to his brother but none of his effects or his car. He bullied my Mother into paying for the death certificate to be changed and had her provide him with 7 copies, since then she has heard nothing from the brother. (He didn’t return her Merry Christmas or Happy New Year call).

I suppose I’m asking whether it is worth contesting the will based on the fact that he intended to change it or whether there is anything else she could do?

(may be worth mentioning brother knew of his intention to change will and works as a barrister!)

Thanks

Thanks everyone I’m not sure there is anything to be gained by going over things any more, we certainly didn’t have any real intention of contesting the will (and won’t be) but I was interested to hear most thoughts and thought it’s always worth reminding (younger) women just how vulnerable they are.
So was your mum a lot younger than him? Could that be the brothers issue? How old was the partner? 17 years together you'd think that he could know your mum well enough to have a civil conversation with her though!

I really need some solid advice please.
My son is a beneficiary to a fairly modest estate (property). The executor is doing everything possible to delay things (almost 3 years now). She has lied repeatedly, with held information and has now refused an offer on the house despite my son accepting. Solicitor is involved but she ignores his requests. Court costs would be in excess of 20k with no guarantee.
My son has piles of evidence of wrongdoings and yet she carries on.
How on earth can he move forward and insist the offer be accepted? His anxiety is through the roof, as is mine , but she seems to enjoy this.
Help.

@Beechbaby

Sorry to hear this. I suggest starting your own thread to get advice on your situation; otherwise this one will get very complicated.

@MichelleScarn Apologies I hadn’t intended to come back to this but did want to answer your question. No I think my Mum is about 9 months younger.

He probably wanted your mum to change the address so he could claim that they weren’t living together as a couple. It might be worth seeing a solicitor, your mum might get an out of court settlement if she made a modest claim, a larger claim could be more drawn out an stressful