I'd really appreciate a bit of advice if anyone works in this area or just understands the processes.
I'm administrator for an estate. The partner of the person who died didn't inherit anything, nor would they have been left anything if there was a will. They are indpendently wealthy, the total estate is quite small and doesn't involve their home.
They told me approximately 8 months ago they believed they might be entitled to make an inheritance act claim. Around 1.5 months ago they said via text they were "putting me on notice" they would be making a claim. I've discussed it with a solicitor who basically says a claim would have no merit.
It has now been over 6 months since probate was granted. I've not had any sort of official communication regarding a claim. I've had no solicitors letters, no sort of pre-action stuff.
I'm not worried about distributing the estate. The beneficiaries are understanding and happy to wait another 4 months to see if any court papers are actually served. I'm just wondering what the liklihood of that actually happening at this point is?
Would pre-action things normally occur before the claimant took their claim to court or could it happen within this 4 month period of them having possibly been to court and serving papers? Obviously, it's possible they have not bothered with any pre-action and gone directly to court. I'm just trying to understand what order things would normally be done in?
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Legal matters
Inheritance Act Claim
VerityUnreasonble · 06/04/2024 00:25
prh47bridge · 06/04/2024 08:57
As it is over 6 months since probate was granted, it is now too late for them to take action. They would need the court's permission to start action now. In this situation, it is highly unlikely they would get permission.
They can't go to court without serving you, as executor, with the necessary papers.
prh47bridge · 06/04/2024 12:06
No, this is not a case where they can get an ex parte hearing, i.e. a hearing without you present. The 4 months you quote is the time they have from filing the claim to giving you the claim form. This simply shows that they have started a claim and prompts you to file a defence. Court hearings would come after that.
It is possible they have filed a claim but haven't given you the papers yet. However, once it is 10 months since probate was granted, it will be clear that they haven't started legal proceedings. This is one of the reasons executors don't have to start distributing the estate until one year from the date of death.
prh47bridge · 06/04/2024 14:47
The pre-action protocol should come before a claim is filed.
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