Contentious landed estates

Landed estates often involve complex legal, familial and financial issues that require sensitive yet strategic handling. Whether you’re facing a dispute over inheritance, ownership rights, trust management, or agricultural tenancies, our experienced team can provide clear, decisive advice tailored to your unique situation.

The vast and complex nature of landed estates means that there is often a high potential for disputes to arise in relation to estate planning.

Examples of such disputes include:

Claims by disappointed beneficiaries
Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Proprietary estoppel
Challenges to the validity of a will
Trust disputes
Co-ownership and property trusts

If you're the owner of an estate which is subject to a trust or succession dispute, contact our team to find out how we can help. We work closely with our specialist landed estates colleagues, drawing on expertise in charitable trusts and companies, private trusts, high net-worth individuals, land consortia and family partnerships.

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Our team of legal experts are here to support you.
Contact one of our lawyers today.

Our clients

We act for landowners, trustees, beneficiaries in all aspects of trust and succession disputes for landed estates.

Did you know?

Record-breaking

Nearly all of our work is confidential but last year we helped a record number of clients resolve their disputes.

Nationwide

We have specialist solicitors across multiple offices, from London to Norwich to Manchester.

Legal directories

The team is proud to be top rated in the legal directories across large parts of the country.

Our expertise

Agricultural inheritance disputes

Contesting the validity of a will

Contentious probate

Defending an estate

Disputes concerning charities

Estate, trust and will disputes

Gifts and financial abuse

Proprietary estoppel

Trust disputes

What our clients say about us

Dealing with complex matters but simplifying them so the client can understand is a key strength of Mills & Reeve.
Chambers UK
I am consistently impressed by the quality, intelligence and knowledge of fee-earners and the courteous, professional and civilised manner in which even highly contentious matters are conducted. Highly recommended.
Legal 500
Mills & Reeve is really efficient in their use of resources. I rate them on complex matters too, especially technical issues and urgent matters. The team is top of the game.
Chambers UK
Excellent quality across the board and across offices nationwide.
Legal 500

Meet our estate, trust and will disputes team

Lucinda Brown
Partner
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David Catchpole
Partner
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Lucy Howard (Partner)
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Simon Pedley
Partner
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Claims under the Inheritance Act 1975

Understand your rights under the Inheritance Act. Explore our guide for key steps and considerations.

Read the article

Disputes in the Court of Protection

Protect your loved one’s rights with expert guidance on capacity, deputyship, statutory wills and more.

Read the article

Frequently asked questions

What is a landed estate?

A landed estate refers to a property contained within an extensive area of land. Over time, landed estates have evolved from simple rural property into commercial businesses comprising of investments ranging from farming to sporting interests. As a result, they can provide a source of significant income. Often, the ownership of landed estates is structured through various trusts.

What are the benefits and risks of putting landed estates into trusts?

Putting landed estates into the ownership of a trust allows the transfer of the ownership from one person into multiple trustees, who can be professionals. Such trusts are usually discretionary, allowing the trustees to have broad powers in relation to the property and who benefits from it. Through such powers, the trustees can manage the estate and ensure that it is preserved for later generations via comprehensive succession planning, prioritising the beneficiaries who are most in need.

However, transferring the estate out of family ownership can lead to possible disputes if the beneficiaries believe that the trustees are not managing the estate correctly. Although trustees usually consider the wishes of the settlor, they aren’t bound to them and may digress where they consider it necessary or appropriate.

How can I avoid potential disputes arising?

There are a number of steps that can be taken to help reduce the prospect of a claim arising.

These include:

Executing a valid and thorough will that deals with your assets
Providing a letter of wishes to explain the terms of your will and give comprehensive guidance to your executors on how to administer your estate
Ensuring that any trustee understands the needs of the estate and your family and are transparent in their management of the estate
Being clear in your estate planning and ensuring that your family are aware of your plans so that any disputes can be addressed before the estate planning comes into effect