No Win No Fee Solicitors

fleur

Has anyone ever used a no win no fee solicitor to contest a will? I've seen adverts on TV for these companies but only for accidents etc. Also, are they actually no fee or are there hidden extras.

g6jns_2

fleur wrote: »

Has anyone ever used a no win no fee solicitor to contest a will? I've seen adverts on TV for these companies but only for accidents etc. Also, are they actually no fee or are there hidden extras.

The fee if you win can be substantial. Contesting a will is not an easy thing because there are limited grounds to do so? Is this a theoretical question?

fleur

Its not a theoretical question, but I would rather not go into details, its also rather long winded. I've been cut out of a will, no reason given by my father, he didn't even say my daughter just my name.

g6jns_2

fleur wrote: »

Its not a theoretical question, but I would rather not go into details, its also rather long winded. I've been cut out of a will, no reason given by my father, he didn't even say my daughter just my name.

Unless you can prove some form of financial dependence on your late father then you don't have a case. If you will not give any detail then there is little anyone on here can do to give anything but general advice.

fleur

I'm the youngest of 4, my Dad was never a Dad to me, total disinterest. My parents divorced I stayed with my Mum, who is now in poor health. Never had any contact with my Dad and very little contact with my two brothers and sister. Did no now that my Dad had died until 4 days after his death, was never told when or where the funeral was, I wouldn't have gone but would have sent flowers as a sign of respect ( he was my Dad as well). Never told anything about the Will had to apply to the probate people to find out that I have been written out. It states "my two and my daughter", I'm just by name he doesn't even acknowledge me as his daughter which *** ing hurts, even after all this time. Because of my childhood I have had mental health problems and even when diagnosed with cancer my Dad or brothers/sister never got intouch.

g6jns_2

fleur wrote: »

I'm the youngest of 4, my Dad was never a Dad to me, total disinterest. My parents divorced I stayed with my Mum, who is now in poor health. Never had any contact with my Dad and very little contact with my two brothers and sister. Did no now that my Dad had died until 4 days after his death, was never told when or where the funeral was, I wouldn't have gone but would have sent flowers as a sign of respect ( he was my Dad as well). Never told anything about the Will had to apply to the probate people to find out that I have been written out. It states "my two and my daughter", I'm just by name he doesn't even acknowledge me as his daughter which *** ing hurts, even after all this time. Because of my childhood I have had mental health problems and even when diagnosed with cancer my Dad or brothers/sister never got intouch.

It is all very sad but there does not seem to be any grounds to dispute the will assuming you are in England or Wales. In Scotland the rules are different.

gettingtheresometime

Fleur

I think you need to take a step back and try to think unemotionally,if that's possible.

For me the hurt would have been not having contact/being interested in me whilst he was alive....to have been left something would have been 'blood money' to ease his conscious.

Walk away with your head held high - hard I know but it will be worth it,if only for your peace of mind

g6jns_2

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Fleur

I think you need to take a step back and try to think unemotionally,if that's possible.

For me the hurt would have been not having contact/being interested in me whilst he was alive....to have been left something would have been 'blood money' to ease his conscious.

Walk away with your head held high - hard I know but it will be worth it,if only for your peace of mind

Very sound advice.

Peter333

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Fleur

I think you need to take a step back and try to think unemotionally,if that's possible.

For me the hurt would have been not having contact/being interested in me whilst he was alive....to have been left something would have been 'blood money' to ease his conscious.

Walk away with your head held high - hard I know but it will be worth it,if only for your peace of mind

I have to agree with this Fleur.

I am really very very sorry for your hurt and upset, and the fact that your father has never bothered with you, but I don't think that you have a case.

Also, why would you even WANT anything from this man? I wouldn't take anything even if it had been left.

My wife's friend (let's call her Lynda,) has a birth mother (let's call her Barbara,) who has never acknowledged her as a daughter, dumped her on Lynda's nan, and rarely spoke to her, only to shout at her or critisize her..

They stopped speaking in 1984, when Lynda was 22, after something happened. (I won't go into it what it was.) She said that Barbara was toxic anyway, and made her feel lousy half the time, so in some ways, it was a relief. In 1998, Lynda's grandparents (who had raised her,) died, and around 2002, Lynda did offer an olive branch, and sent Barbara a Christmas card with a suggestion they meet for coffee, and Barbara could meet her 2 grand-daughters.

Barbara ignored it.

12 years later - Just a month or so ago - one of Lynda's cousins found her on facebook and messaged her. She said 'Barbara' wants to see you and speak to you; she has terminal cancer, and only has a few months to live. She's an old lady now, around 70, so have some compassion and go and see her!'

Cheeky mare. The cousin hadn't even spoken to or been in touch with Lynda for 25 years! Lynda said that she has no intention of seeing her birth mother Barbara, and letting her ease her conscience, and make peace with God. She has had all her life to make things right, and has never bothered. So she needn't bother now. (She has deactivated her facebook now too!)

Rightly or wrongly, she blames her birth mother, and her rejection of her, for her low self esteem, and insecurities, and difficulties in forming friendships and relationships, and difficulty in showing love and affection towards people.

I wish people would think things through before they behave so appallingly towards their children. It can mess them up emotionally and psychologically for life.

I hope you find peace Fleur, but trying to get some money from your deceased father, who you were estranged from, is not the way to do it. IMO.

fleur

Thankyou for your replies. I think you all said what I already know. Mum is struggling with the stairs & the house is on the market, but bungalows are expensive, so I wanted some money to help towards that. thankyou again, you can choose your friends but not your relations.