Solicitor Advice for Probate Disputes and Stalled Estates
A caveat is blocking probate, a co-executor will not act or beneficiary demands keep returning. Justin Patten reviews the evidence, advises you and undertakes focused correspondence, negotiation and Probate Registry work to help move the estate forward. You work directly with Justin, at a fixed fee agreed before work starts.
We mainly act for executors and administrators. We also help beneficiaries seeking estate accounts or advice and negotiation about replacing an executor before court proceedings.
Prefer to speak? 01279 215580 Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.
Or email Justin at advice@human-law.co.uk with a short note about the problem. Enquiring is free.
What Is Holding the Estate Up?
A caveat is blocking probate
Get advice on the caveat and instruct the correspondence or Registry step needed, at a fixed fee for each stage.
An executor will not cooperate
A co-executor will not act, respond or sign. Justin prepares a focused request for the decision needed, at a fixed fee.
I'm an executor facing an accounts request
Get a solicitor’s response addressing the accounts questions and your position.
I'm a beneficiary seeking estate accounts
An executor has not provided the accounts you requested. Beneficiary accounts: formal request letter — £780 including VAT.
A property sale is blocked
A co-executor or beneficiary will not agree to sell, let or transfer a property. Get advice and a proposal to move the decision forward.
A beneficiary is missing or not responding
Get advice on the evidence, entitlement and steps needed before the estate can be distributed.
An executor is threatened with removal
Get advice on the allegations and a focused response to the removal threat.
Trustees cannot agree
A trust decision is blocked. Get advice on the trustees’ powers and a proposal to break the deadlock.
Browse all guidance and free tools →
We can advise on enquiries about how a will was made. When a caveat is blocking probate, we act for executors and administrators through advice, negotiation and Probate Registry work, including contested Registry applications. Read our services and scope →
Work Directly with Justin Patten
Justin Patten is a practising solicitor with more than 20 years’ experience in dispute resolution and private-client law. He founded Human Law in 2002. Justin personally carries out your document review and consultation.
Also author of A Practical Guide to Elderly Law (2nd ed.) and A Practical Guide to Elderly Fraud · Former legal adviser to Which? members · Featured in Legal Futures and Today’s Wills & Probate.
Justin Patten
Solicitor · Human Law
Watch Justin’s 54-second introduction
Read the video transcript
Hello, my name is Justin Patten. I'm a solicitor and principal at Human Law.
When you have a problem on a deceased person's estate, it's difficult, it's emotional and it can sometimes appear that a solution is not in sight.
What we try and do is provide a straightforward approach to resolving the situation. What is exactly the problem which is causing the estate not to move? What is required to resolve it? What steps can we take to sort this matter out as quickly and as effectively as possible?
If you think that we can help, by all means contact me. You can do so by email or during office hours you can call me and I'll try and come back to you as quickly as possible. Hope to hear from you soon.
Fixed fees, agreed before any work starts
Tell Justin what is stuck. He will explain the work he recommends and its fixed fee before you decide. Your first enquiry is free, and a short call can be arranged.
Want advice before deciding? The optional Dispute Assessment & Action Plan costs £480 including VAT: review of up to 40 selected core pages on one main issue, a 30-minute consultation and a two-page Action Plan.
Any further work has a fixed fee that we tell you before it starts. You decide whether to go ahead. How our stage fees work →
What Clients Say
“Justin has a calm professional manner, we would highly recommend him.”
Read client reviews on ReviewSolicitors (opens in a new tab) →
Tell us what is stuck
Call 01279 215580 · Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.
Tell Justin your role, what is holding matters up and what you need to achieve.