Specialist support when a probate file stalls
Specialist support for non-contentious solicitors and accountancy practices when an estate dispute exceeds your usual work or available capacity. If correspondence is consuming time and the next step is unclear, Justin can assess the problem and undertake an agreed piece of specialist work.
Keep the administration and client relationship wherever your practice can properly continue. Choose firm instruction, a defined stage of work, or a separate direct-client referral below.
No referral fees or commissions. Suitability, conflicts, communication and handover arrangements are agreed before instruction.
Resources for difficult estate files
Explore practitioner questions, working aids, beneficiary-complaints guidance and selected reading from Justin.
Browse professional resources → · Read the ten practitioner questions → · Discuss a file with Justin →
Three Ways to Use Human Law
Professional File Review
£850 + VAT
For practices needing a reasoned assessment before the next letter or procedural step. The review covers up to 60 selected core pages and a 30-minute consultation with the responsible fee-earner. We agree whether the instruction is advice to your practice or outsourced work on its client’s matter.
The instructing practice is responsible for our fee. Any proposed recovery from the estate should be considered and agreed separately.
Review deliverables and document preparation
- Review of up to 60 selected core pages, together with any concise chronology or file summary supplied by the instructing practice;
- Focused strictly on one main procedural or contentious issue;
- 30-minute consultation with the responsible fee-earner;
- A written assessment of the blockage, what the evidence supports, realistic options, material uncertainties, evidence that could change the advice and the recommended next step;
- Actions for the instructing practice or a separately instructed specialist, with any relevant deadlines identified;
- Recommended route: retain in-house, instruct a defined Human Law stage, or refer to litigation.
Help with an agreed procedural step or negotiation
Human Law can undertake a separately scoped procedural stage addressing the identified blockage. This may include caveat warning procedure, citation procedure concerning an inactive executor, estate information and accounts, or defined pre-action settlement negotiations.
Direct Client Referral
The executor or administrator instructs Human Law separately for the disputed element. The assessment includes up to 40 selected pages, a 30-minute consultation and a two-page Action Plan.
How direct instructions differ from a firm review
Where the practice does not wish to remain the instructing client for the disputed element, the executor or administrator may instruct Human Law directly. Direct instructions ordinarily begin with the narrower Dispute Assessment & Action Plan: an initial assessment for the individual client, including review of up to 40 selected pages and a 30-minute client consultation. This is distinct from the firm-directed Professional File Review, which provides a deeper review of up to 60 selected core pages and collaboration with the responsible fee-earner.
Referral scope and handover arrangements
We agree who instructs us, responsibility for fees, communication arrangements and the handover point before work begins. Human Law handles the agreed blockage; your practice retains appropriate administration work, subject to authorisation, competence and conflicts. If wider proceedings are needed, we can help prepare a handover to your litigation team or another appropriate specialist.
The review helps you decide whether a further letter, a Registry step, negotiation or litigation advice is worthwhile, with responsibility for the next action identified. Choose the appropriate level of support →
Solicitor and accountancy practices: different retained roles
Non-contentious solicitors can seek focused input while retaining work they can properly handle. An ICAEW probate authorisation covers non-contentious probate only; contentious probate requires an appropriate referral, with return once the point of contention is settled. Accountants providing related tax or accounting services should distinguish that role from authorised probate work. Each practice must assess its own authorisation, competence, conflicts and engagement. ICAEW guidance.
Advice to a practice, outsourced client work and a direct referral involve different arrangements. See instruction models and communication and complaints responsibilities.
Conflict, identity and suitability checks come before substantive document transfer. We also assess suitable beneficiary accounts referrals.
Discuss a file with Justin → · Read the professional referral guide →
A distribution obstacle needs a focused review
The Professional File Review can assess incomplete tracing evidence, uncertain entitlement, disputed retentions or a beneficiary who will not engage. It identifies evidence gaps and practical next steps for your practice or a separately instructed specialist. Read the distribution guidance →
Defined areas of support
Please flag any deadline when enquiring. Wider proceedings, urgent injunctions or representation beyond agreed Registry work need prompt advice from your litigation team or an appropriate specialist.
| Blockage | Possible Support |
|---|---|
| Caveat preventing a Grant | Pre-warning review, warning procedure, post-Appearance assessment or agreed disposal |
| Inactive executor | Formal notice, citation preparation or Registry application |
| Estate information and accounts | Review and clarification of estate information, existing accounts or a proportionate response to identified concerns |
| Threatened 1975 Act claim | Standstill, evidence review or defined settlement work |
| Disputed gift or lifetime transaction | Evidence review, ADR preparation or settlement documentation |
Larke v Nugus Requests: Support for Will Drafters
If your practice receives a request about a will it prepared, Justin can advise on the questions raised, the relevant records, confidentiality and disclosure authority, and help prepare or review a response. The drafter’s own evidence should distinguish contemporaneous records from later recollection and identify material that is no longer available.
Send a brief outline of the request and any deadline. Where the work can be defined, we can agree a fixed fee directly. Any implications for your practice’s complaints or insurer arrangements should be considered alongside the response.
Discuss a professional instruction with Justin → · Read the guide to requests and responses
Additional documents and complex files
The Professional File Review covers up to 60 selected core pages concerning one main issue. Where the relevant material exceeds 60 pages, Human Law will agree either additional document review (£360 including VAT per 30 pages) or a bespoke fixed fee before reviewing:
- £1,020 including VAT: up to 60 pages
- £1,380 including VAT: up to 90 pages
- £1,740 including VAT: up to 120 pages
Substantially larger files, unindexed historic records, several parties or overlapping multi-issue disputes fall outside modular expansion and may be more suitable for a separately scoped Complex file report (detailed estate review report).
The complex file report is quoted following an initial scope assessment. No work begins until the scope, deliverables and fixed fee are confirmed in writing.
Book a Professional File Review (£1,020 including VAT)
The review is a standalone paid service. You can use its recommendations without instructing further work. Any further work is quoted separately, taking account of the assessment already completed.
The fee includes reasonable, brief clarification of the written recommendations. Reviewing additional material or undertaking further substantive work requires a separately agreed scope and fixed fee.
Submit your matter details below. Conflict and suitability checks are conducted prior to document transfer. Do not upload sensitive or unredacted material through this preliminary form.
The Professional File Review is £1,020 including VAT (£850 + VAT). We confirm the client, permitted use of the advice and work your practice can retain. Suitability and conflicts are checked first; further work requires separate approval of scope and fee.
Further work and fees
Further work is quoted as a defined package or fixed next stage with an indicative overall budget. There is no recurring charge simply for waiting for a Registry or third-party response. Each Registry instruction specifies preparation, issue, service and any hearing responsibilities. See pricing and scope →
Discuss a Stalled Probate File
If an otherwise routine administration has encountered a caveat, executor standstill, accounting disagreement or threatened claim, begin with a Professional File Review or use a free Suitability Enquiry to check whether the matter falls within Human Law’s scope.
Led by Justin Patten, Solicitor, with More Than 20 Years’ Experience
Justin founded Human Law in 2002 and previously worked as a legal adviser to Which? members for two years. He provides defined fixed-fee support to solicitors and accountants, with scope, responsibilities and handover arrangements agreed before instruction. Where litigation is needed, he can help prepare a clear handover to the referring practice’s litigation team or another litigation solicitor.
A concise handbook using the Six Pillars diagnostic approach. Buy on Amazon →
His Law Brief Publishing books are A Practical Guide to Elderly Law (2nd edition) and A Practical Guide to Elderly Fraud. He also wrote The Out-of-Court Executor: How to Defuse Family Disputes, Protect Yourself, and Settle the Estate.