The number of London High Court actions over disputed wills has increased by 700% over 5 years, according to the Independent. There has been almost a doubling of the number of cases challenging the validity of a will.
The newspaper speculates on possible reasons for this increase in litigation:
- The recession - which has seen the values of assets such as shares and property decrease, leading heirs to inherit less than they had expected and therefore, it is thought, making them more likely to argue.
- The more complicated families of today, with co-habitees and step-families, which contribute to rising tensions over the value of estates.
The report highlights the importance of having a validly drafted, properly signed, up-to-date will.