Every year, Suicide Prevention Day serves as an important reminder of the mental health challenges many face. It’s a day to raise awareness, encourage support, and highlight resources for those who may be struggling. But what happens when someone is suffering in silence, and their struggles end in tragedy? How does this intersect with contentious probate and intestacy? These legal issues may not seem directly linked to mental health at first, but they are deeply connected.

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person, known as the donor, to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to make decisions on their behalf if they lose the mental capacity to do so themselves. There are two types of LPA, one dealing with property and financial affairs and the other with health and welfare. Attorneys must always act in the donor’s best interests and within the scope of the powers granted to them.

If an individual loses the capacity to make their own decisions, someone else may need to step in to manage their affairs. Two of the most common roles in these situations are a deputy and an attorney. While they can have similar responsibilities, the way they are appointed and the powers they have are different.

When you lose someone close, the last thing you expect is to become involved in a legal dispute over their estate. Yet for many families, inheritance disputes arise unexpectedly in these circumstances. It may be because a will seems out of character, incomplete or improperly executed. You may be worried the document doesn’t reflect the deceased’s wishes, or that a loved one was pressured into signing something under undue influence.

When someone passes away, finding out that you’ve been left out of their will - or that the contents don’t reflect what you were led to expect - can be deeply upsetting. For many, this concern only becomes real after the probate process begins and a copy of the will becomes available.

Even if you have genuine concerns about whether or not a will reflects the deceased person's wishes, the law in England and Wales sets out strict rules about who can bring a claim, and what circumstances can give rise to a valid challenge. If you are in this position, you might be worried about whether you have any rights at all, or whether taking action will only make things harder. However, understanding how the process of challenging a will works is the first step towards deciding what legal steps you can take next.

We examine proposed Wills Act reforms and the risk they may increase probate disputes. Key changes, like electronic wills and reduced formalities, could lead to confusion over testators’ intentions.

When someone dies, the executor named in their will is responsible for administering their estate. Administration of the deceased's estate must be carried out in accordance with the instructions left in their will, and in line with the legal obligations associated with the role.