Angela has a diploma in contentious trust and probate litigation and was named 'Contentious Solicitor of the Year' in the first year of the ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) Awards.
She leads our team of specialists dealing with contested legacy work on behalf of charities. The team deals with the full remit of claims against estates involving charity beneficiaries, including but not limited to:
- Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
- Challenges to the validity of wills, on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity, want of knowledge and approval and/or undue influence
- Proprietary estoppel claims
- Applications for the rectification of wills, where there has been a clerical error or failure on the part of the draftsman to properly understand the testator's instructions
- Construction claims, where clauses in wills are ambiguous or otherwise difficult to interpret
- Applications to remove executors and trustees who are not properly fulfilling their legal obligations
- Inventory and accounts applications against executors
- Professional negligence claims arising out of wills and trusts, where there has been negligence on the part of the firm involved.
We are seeing an increase in the number of claims involving wills and estates. Rising property values, complicated family arrangements, people living longer and an increase in the number of elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related illnesses have all contributed to the rising number of disputes. This trend looks set to continue, given the economic downturn and likely increase in financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, as a result; and the anticipated increase in challenges to the validity of wills made during the COVID-19 crisis, even allowing for the temporary relaxation of the rules over the witnessing of wills.
Charities have to tread a fine line between upholding the wishes of testators/testatrixes on the one hand and maintaining their reputation in the eyes of the public on the other. Angela Bowman has been widely praised by charities for adopting a firm, but fair approach towards the resolution of charity legacy disputes. Angela and her team achieve excellent results on behalf of charities - crucially without damaging their reputation in the process - and are very mindful in current times of the importance to charities of progressing matters expeditiously, in order to secure their legacy entitlements in a timely fashion.
For further information about how we can assist your charity or not-for-profit organisation in respect of its legacy work, please contact Angela Bowman on 03700 868 244 or by email at [email protected].
